The Art of Cycling: Alpe d'Huez

Showing posts with label Alpe d'Huez. Show all posts

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Tour '26, Stage 20: Teammates

After a rather silly salute to the crowd while crossing the line together, Tadej Pogacar and Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) shared a hug before the throng of press photographers just out of sight to us here. I thought their celebrations were a little odd since they finished fourth and fifth on the stage, but I now realize that they were celebrating the collaboration and their Maillots Juane and Blanc. And of course, they will both finish on the podium in first and third assuming nothing terrible happens on the streets of Paris. It is forecasted to rain for the cobbled finale on both the climb of Montmartre and the Champs Elysees. Let's all hope they and the rest of the peloton all finish safely!

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Teammates TdF26-153" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →

Tour '26, Stage 20: Super Domestique

Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) could not have asked for a better member of the peloton to help him on the final climb of the final mountain stage of the 113th Tour de France! Tadej Pogacar was sacrificing his chance to claim the first ever back-to-back wins atop Alpe d'Huez to make sure that his teammate stayed in third place on the general classification and kept his Maillot Blanc of the best young rider of the Tour. This is not normal activities for the Maillot Jaune, but then I think Pogacar has established that he is not a mere mortal cyclist. I should note that Pogacar's lead is so large that he can afford this generous act despite the guy in second place has gone up the road. In fact, Evenepoel finished second on the stage, but only forty seconds ahead of this jerseyed duo. As long as they both finished the stage tomorrow, they will finish in first and third in Paris wearing their yellow and white jerseys in Paris.

Purchase this painting here: "Super Domestique TdF26-151" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →

Tour '26, Stage 20: Into the Net

I have always wondered about Phil and Bob crying out when something goes wrong for a rider in the Tour, now I know. I cried out as Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) fought and lost his bike on a fast corner on the loop around the resort town of Alpe d'Huez. Kuss was off the front by over twenty seconds even after hitting the ground through the tunnel under a section of the town. He pressed even harder down the descent in hopes of making up time he lost in the previous fall. He finished this tumble sitting on the cement wall just at the end of the safety net. While he never went into it, thank God (or the ASO) that it was there. As he was on the ground, Richard Carapaz who had been chasing passed by. Kuss got up and gave chase, but never saw the man in the Maillot a Pois again. He still finished third on the stage!

In the post-race interview, Kuss laughed and apologized to his wife and his fans for scaring the hell out of them. He really didn't want to put her through that. And then said, "But, that is racing." I am sure with the luck that Visma has had this Tour, they will hope not to have the bib number "13" on a teammates back next year. The way the numbering works, they won't. That auspicious number will fall to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.

Purchase this painting here: "Into the Net TdF26-150" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →

Friday, July 24, 2026

Tour '26, Stage 19: You Were Expecting...

I love the almost teenage shrug that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) gave before going into a more tradition victory salute. He seemed to say, with this gesture, you were expecting a different result? It has been since Bradley Wiggins that the guy wearing the Maillot Jaune won the stage atop Alpe d'Huez. And you have to go back to Marco Pantani to find someone who has climbed this famous Tour climb anywhere near as quickly. Let's face it, Pogacar is setting new Tour records throughout this Tour. Let's hope he doesn't go the way of Pantani. Behind the gesture, you can just see the two guys he left inside of the final kilometer, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) takes second place and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and by so doing takes the lead in the King of the Mountains competition away from the guy who now leads the Tour by a little over seven minutes. I think he was also letting us know that despite there being some illness hitting his team... he is just fine!

Purchase this painting here: "You Were Expecting... TdF26-142" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →

Tour '26, Stage 19: The Devil Shows the Way

I think that even the gendarmes like the devil or perhaps I should say they enjoy Didi Senft. It seems he was the only person allowed on the inside of the barriers once passed the Four-Kilometer Banner. Has he saluted every rider, it seems he was showing Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) showing just were those that had dropped off the leaders were at up the road. With three-and-a-half kilometers left to the mountain top finish the Maillot Jaune could almost see his quarry for stage honors. Not only was he on his way to an almost sure stage win atop Alpe d'Huez, he was also recording the fastest ever ascent of the fable climb eclipsing Marco Pantini's record by three minutes I believe. Maybe he has made a deal with the Devil to be this amazingly good.

Purchase this painting here: "The Devil Shows the Way TdF26-141" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →

Tour '26, Stage 19: Through the Tifosi

These three still had forty-four seconds on the fast-closing Tadej Pogacar as they forced their way through the throngs of fans with another five kilometers to climb. With everyone pressing so close, it was impossible for either Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) nor Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) to even think about passing Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious). At least, the leader of the trio was putting in a good pace prior to the four-kilometer banner when the barriers will hold the crowd back for the rest of the way to the summit of the Alpe d'Huez. This has often been described as a corridor of noise. I would add that it is one of fear as well. At any moment an over exuberant fan could fall into a rider or knock them off their bike (either intentionally or unintentionally). Fortunately, as far as I know that didn't happen anywhere on this iconic Tour de France mountain. And to think, we come back up to the summit from another direction tomorrow!

Purchase this painting here: "Through the Tifosi TdF26-140" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →

Tour '26, Stage 19: Chasing Up Alpe d'Huez

Undaunted by the leaders' three-minute advantage, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) jumped clear of the group of race favorites in search of another stage victory. In just four kilometers of the twelve of the climb he has already pulled back half of the advantage of those up the road. At this point in the climb the crowds were very much under control. That may have something to do with the heavy presents of the Gendarmie. The only one in sight of the Maillot Jaune was one of the many press photographers on the back of a motorcycle.

Purchase this painting here: "Chasing Up d'Huez TdF26-139" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →

Tour '26, Stage 19: Starting Alpe d'Huez

This quartet that was led first by Thymen Arensman (Netcompany-Ineos) and followed by Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious), Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) with just over three minutes over the group that included the Maillot Jaune. They were looking at a climb of twelve kilometers they all were hoping that it was enough of a gap to be the ones to vie for the stage win at the summit of the fabled climb of the Alpe d'Huez. Carapaz was hoping to follow his stage victory with a second in a row. He also knows that he has the chance to hold the Maillot a Pois outright should he finish the stage in the top three. And that is true even should Tadej Pogacar be able to chase them down and win the stage. The crowds at the base of the climb were but a taste of the multitudes awaiting every single rider to scale the Alpe.

Purchase this painting here: "Starting Alpe d'Huez TdF26-138" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →

Monday, August 19, 2024

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: The Sprint of Her Life!

Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) had to sprint hard to the line atop the Alpe d'Huez if she wanted to save her Maillot Jaune. She was coming to the line with some time to spare, but not much, not much at all. To make matters a little finer, she was beaten to the line by Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) who grabbed the last bonus four bonus seconds on offer by taking third place in the stage. In the end, it was just enough for Niewiadoma to finally win the Maillot Jaune in the Tour de France Femmes. She has finished third in the first two editions of this incarnation of the women's Tour and had she been eleven seconds slower she would have been third for the third time. Muzic managed to finish fourth on the general classification, but since fifth was just shy of a minute behind her, she really didn't need to try and out sprint Niewiadoma. But then to paraphrase the use of an old saying goes, "no harm no foul."

This TdFF has had many things I have never seen before, but a four second differential on an eight day stage race is a first for me!

This does mark the end of my painting the 2024 Cycling Season, as far as I know... I might be back for the UCI World Road Championships in September, or not...

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The Sprint of Her Life! TdFF24-46" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: Winning Atop d'Huez!

Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) had done what she could to win today. She definitely won the stage, and by dropping Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) in the final meters to the line, she had set herself up to win the third Tour de France Femmes as well. She just now has to wait and see just how much time she put into Katarzyna Niewiadoma. That is what will determine who is the final Maillot Jaune this year. Spoiler, she did not win the overall, but she finished second with the woman behind her in this painting rounding out the final step of the Tour de France Femmes podium.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Winning Atop d'Huez TdFF24-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: Fighting to Keep Yellow

It wasn't until I saved this painting to my computer that I discovered that I had already used this title. That was a different woman in the yellow jersey that time. But how else could I describe the burst of speed that Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) put in when she went under the flame rouge, just as Demi Vollering had done almost a minute earlier. I don't doubt that her director sportif had told her she would need to do the same if she was going to keep the gap under a minute to the pair that were sure to win the stage. On the Maillot Jaune's wheel is the Frenchwoman Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) who is hoping to move up the general classification although it is unlikely she will be able to get onto the final podium.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Fighting to Keep Yellow TdFF24-44" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: The Hope of the Stage & the Tour

With seven kilometers left of climbing up the Alpe d'Huez and the Tour de France Femmes Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) and Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) were desperate to increase their advantage over the chasing group with the race leader. The pair currently have one minute and eleven seconds lead, but need another ten seconds and the time bonus at the finish to win the final Maillot Jaune. The pair sit just two seconds apart, so which ever woman wins the race will win the third Tour de France Femmes, assuming that Katarzyna Niewiadoma loses much more time to them.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The Hope of the Stage & the Tour TdFF24-43" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Tour '22, Stage 12: Coming Out on Top

Once away from all of those in the break Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers) seemingly flew up the Alpe d'Huez. He had flown down the first climb of the day to join his former break away companions. So somehow it seems fitting that he flew up the final climb. With this climb the Tour will put aside the Alps until next year. But for all of you climbing fans, the Pyrennes lie in wait next week.

There is a lot of racing yet to do. I, for one, am very excited at what lays ahead!

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893857-76-294403/Painting/coming-out-on-top-tdf22-76.html

Tour '22, Stage 12: Watching, Carefully

Once each GC hopeful was out of teammates on the Alpe d'Huez, it was Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) attacked, as expected. But Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) was up to the challenge, twice. So once he was back on the front he kept a very close eye on the Maillot Blanc. As I painted this I thought Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers) was about to attack next. I do paint these without knowing what is going to happen next. I was wrong. The Welschman had clawed his way back each time one of these attacks went, so he may well have not had the legs to launch one of his own. So as they came to the line, Pogacar tried one more time, and yet again, he couldn't get away from Vingegaard. Without any time bonuses left on offer, the GC stays the same as you see here.

What will happen when we get to the Pyrennes?

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893854-75-294403/Painting/watching-carefully-tdf22-75.html

Tour '22, Stage 12: A Relentless Pace

Jumbo-Visma has already proven that they have brought the strongest team to this year's Tour. Now with the Maillot Jaune back on one of the team's shoulders, it was time to prove it. If you are not aware, they also have the Maillot Vert in the team as well. They controled the peloton on the first climb, and then ramped up the pace on the Col de Croix de Fer. But when they got to the Alpe d'Huez they just hammered it. The effect was those lower down on the GC began to drop off the back. And perhaps more importantly, no one could attack in hopes of either gaining time or stealing Jonas Vingegaard's (Jumbo-Visma) shoulders. By now it was down to their original team leader (now working on behalf of his teammate) Primoz Roglic and Sepp Kuss. So it was that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) back in the Maillot Blance could just hold onto the wheels. That was equally true for Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers). By the end of the day, these three became the top three on this Tour.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893853-74-294403/Painting/a-relentless-pace-tdf22-74.html

Tour '22, Stage 12: Not Gone, Yet

With just under ten kilometers left to climb of the fabled Alpe d'Huez Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers) was pushing his advantage over the remnants of the break. He looked back to see his erstwhile fellow attacker, Louis Meintjes (Intermache-Wanty Gobert) was dropping off the Brit's pace. With the group of the Maillot Jaune marking each other it look like this may well be the move that would win the day. Remember he flew down the Galibier like a ski racer to get into this move. Apparently, he can go up just as well as he goes down.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893851-73-294403/Painting/not-gone-yet-tdf22-73.html

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Tour, Stage 12: On Top of the World

While it was Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) who went first, it was Geraint Thomas (Sky) who took the stage win. Thomas takes his second stage win and increases his lead over his teammate and team captain Chris Froome. Froome was fourth on the day with Bardet holding on for third. For the second day in a row Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) took second on a mountain top finish. The Dutchman got two more real seconds on Froome and another six bonus seconds. However, Team Sky still has a very powerful one two to throw at any other GC hopefuls as we head down towards the Pyrennes. Tomorrow will be a day for the sprinters, at least those that are still left in the Tour.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post. Since it is an original it is first come first served. The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3190716-69-251072/PaintingOn-Top-of-the-World--T18-68.html

Tour, Stage 12: Lining Up for a Sprint

The finale of the 12th stage atop Alpe d'Huez was a bit uncommon. Normally, it is a sole rider that comes to the summit with a big gap on all of his competitors. Today that should have been Steven Kruijswijk (Lotto NL Jumbo) but he was caught by the big boys on GC with about 3 kilometers left to race. At one point the foursome of Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb), Geraint Thomas & Chris Froome (Sky) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) were riding four abreast, waiting to see who would go first. It was Bardet. While these four were shadow boxing, Mikel Landa (Movistar), rejoined and two more riders were fast closing in. It was looking like it was going to be a bunch sprint on a mountain top finish.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post. Since it is an original it is first come first served. The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3190140-68-251072/PaintingLining-Up-for-a-Sprint--T18-67.html

Tour, Stage 12: Cheers, Boos & Mayhem

The 21 corners of the climb up Alpe d'Huez are claimed by different nationalities. As Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) rode through the wild crowds of the Dutch Corner, the fans cheered, jeered and set of flares in a mainly drunken frenzy. They were all the more excited because it was a Dutchman, Steven Kruijswik (Lotto NL Jumbo) who was leading up the climb. They, unfortunately released a torrent of jeers and boos when Chris Froome (Sky) came through the crowd. Many are not satisfied with the results of his abnormal tests from the Veulta. Even worse, it appears that a fan knocked Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) off his bike on the climb. He wasn't hurt, but it did ruin his chances for the stage win.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post. Since it is an original it is first come first served. The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3190124-67-251072/PaintingCheers,-Boos-&-Mayhem--T18-66.html

Tour, Stage 12: What Sky Does

Team Sky is a very effective team. They have the budget and the riders to simply grind everyone else into dust. At the base of the Alpe d'Huez they still had four guys on the front. Michal Kwiatkowski was just about done doing what he could do, but that left Egan Bernal to take up the pace making. Still sitting in the wings were Geraint Thomas, in the Maillot Jaune, and Chris Froome the defending Tour champion. On their wheel was Primoz Roglic (Lotto NL Jumbo) happy that he has a man up the road, thus taking the pressure off of him to attack the Sky train. It does leave the other teams and riders trying to figure out just what they can do to take the stage and/or the Tour.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post. Since it is an original it is first come first served. The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3190084-66-251072/PaintingWhat-Sky-Does--T18-65.html