Tour '26, Stage 20: Flying Down the Galibier

Attacking, or more accurately, just out riding the rest of the peloton over the summit of the Galibier the top five of the general classification flew back down the other side.  With fifty-two kilometers to race the quintet of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) along with his teammate Isaac Del Toro, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CGA CMA), and Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) still had another four-and-a-half minutes to bridge up to the still cohesive breakaway.  I have always looked at descent as a reward for all of the struggles climbing a mountain, I'm not so sure about these twisty roads with the sheer drop-offs.  But I am willing to give it a try.

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: "Flying Down the Galibier TdF26-147" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

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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!

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: "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: 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.

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: "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

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Learn More About the Artist →   

Tour '26, Stage 12: What Are We Thinking?

Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarche) was trying to discover what is fellow members of the breakaway were talking about.  The two up front, Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) seemed to be laying plans with sixty-three kilometers to race.  Ewen Costiou (Groupama FDJ-United) was eavesdropping hoping to find out whether they were going to attack, or just what they were up to.  I wonder whether the conversation was in Italian or French.  Although it does seem like the drop back language that most everyone knows is English.  With just thirty-eight seconds on the peloton, the decision that was reached was to sit up and wait for the peloton.  Well, at least that is what Caruso and Vercher did.  The other two Frenchmen, Veistroffer and Costiou pressed on with their efforts.

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: "What Are We Thinking? TdF26-80" (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 6: The Race for Third

With Tadej Pogacar up the road about to win the stage and Jonas Vingegaard in between this sextet was racing for third place on the stage.  They may also be racing for third place in the Tour de France as well.  Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) was using his time trial prowess in hopes of pulling those two back.  He may have been riding for himself or, perhaps, for his teammate Florian Lipowitz.  Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) was riding in case they do catch Vingegaard.  Should they, he would be ready to bury himself for his team leader.  Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) were riding to minimize their disadvantage to Pogacar and Vingegaard.  Just out of frame is Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) who was the one who managed third on the stage, and now sits third on the general classification as well.

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: "The Race for Third TdF26-44" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

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Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour '26, Stage 6: Sprinting Over the Aspin

Having caught, and dropped, the lone attacker Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrian-Victorious) sprinted for the ten King of the Mountain points over the summit of the Col d'Aspin.  Martinez won the sprint by a tire width.  He was hoping to build points towards wearing the Maillot a Pois like he did when the Tour came over this same climb last year.  Should he manage to go over the next two climbs in first, he will accomplish that goal.  He didn't, but he now sits in third behind the two big names in contemporary cycling, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.  No shame in trailing those two.

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: "Sprinting Over the Aspin TdF26-40" (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 4: Adding to His Total

It was great to see Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros) back vying to reclaim his Maillot a Pois that he earned back in Stage 2.  He fell apart and cede the jersey to Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost).  He was able to out sprint Baudin's teammate Georg Steinhauser to get the maximum points atop the Col du Paradis.  The Bahrain-Victorious duo Robert Stannard and Vlad Van Mechelen were only able to watch the others earn points on the Category 3 climb.  

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: "Adding to His Total TdF26-25" (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 → 

Paris Roubaix '26: Forced to Chase

After he got back onto his own bike, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) set about the arduous task of chasing down the leaders on the road.  In the eighteen kilometers since he had his mechanical he has pulled himself within nineteen seconds as he bumped across another pave sector.  Behind him Max Walscheid (Lidl-Trek), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) and Rasmus Pedersen (Decathlon CMA CGM) were thrilled to have such a strong rider to help pull them along.  Will they still be on his wheel when he rejoins the front of the race?

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. 

"Forced to Chase PR26-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 19: You Wouldn't Dare

Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) looks back at Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) as they approach the summit of the Cormet de Roselend.  He seems to say, "You wouldn't dare!" as he sprints for the maximum points on offer.  He got there relatively unchallenged by Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) nor Paret-Peintre.  Had he not been docked KOM points for a way too sticky bottle yesterday, he would now be back even on points with the race leader, Tadej Pogacar.  It did help that neither of his two breakaway companions were interested in the Maillot a Pois.  They were racing for stage honors instead.

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. 

"You Wouldn't Dare TdF25-128" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 19: From the Back of the Moto

I have truly enjoyed Christian Vande Velde's commentary from the back of the motorcycle from the middle of the race.  I have been looking for the right image to catch him with my paintbrush and feel pretty good about this one.  He and his driver had pulled over to watch the leaders as they were climbing up to the summit of the Cormet de Roselend.  Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) had managed to get over the first climb first in his quest to reclaim his Maillot a Pois.  He was joined in the effort by Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step).  Both of them were after a stage win.  Perhaps, Roglic was also looking to reclaim the title of team leader back from his young teammate Florian Lipowitz.  I admit I don't understand why he is being allowed to do this (he may not be). Lipowitz sits in third place and is wearing the Maillot Blanc of best young rider, but he only has fourteen seconds on his nearest rival for both honors.

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. 

"From the Back of the Moto TdF25-127" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 18: Needing to Hang On

With just two more kilometers to the summit of the Col du Glandon, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) was losing touch with the breakaway.  While he is in the Maillot a Pois, he is in second placed tied with Tadej Pogacar who is wearing the Maillot Jaune instead.  Just ahead of him is the tail of the break, Andreas Leknessund (Uno X-Mobility), Cristian Rodriguez (Arkea-B&B Hotels), and Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) who is one of the former wearers of the King of the Mountains Jersey.  Shockingly, the Frenchman with the Spanish name, rallied and took the maximum points at the first Haute Category Summit of the day.  He was the virtual leader in that competition until the final climb to the mountain top finish.  He was unable to score anymore points after this climb.

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.

"Needing to Hang On TdF25-117" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 16: Un Pour la France

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) launched his final attack on the final bend of the road up to the weather station atop Mont Ventoux.  The Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) was able to just get around the Irishman to claim the first stage victory of this Tour for his very happy countrymen.  Healy has now had a first, a second, and a third in stages in this Tour de France.  Four seconds behind was Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious).  He had been chasing the other two since they dropped him near the bottom of the stage.  He just barely ran out of roadway, or he may have been there for the sprint himself.  With Soudal-Quick Step losing there GC man two days before the rest day, this will go a long way to lighten the hearts of the team.  The French fans are displeased either.

He did just about lose his balance given the effort it took to win the stage.  I think he barely had the energy to salute the crowd, but needs must.

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.

"Un Pour la France TdF25-110" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 

Tour '25, Stage 16: The Monster Is Waiting

These six had broken free of the breakaway and were speeding their way to Mont Ventoux.  The mountain has the eerie nickname of the Monster of Provenance, and for those racing in the Tour de France, that is an apt name.  Undaunted, Thymen Arensmen (Ineos-Grenadiers) pushes on followed by Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) with his teammate Matteo Trentin, Enric Mas (Movistar), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Mobility) and Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious).  With fifty-three kilometers to the summit of the monster it is likely that these guys may well vie for stage honors.

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.

"The Monster Is Waiting TdF25-104" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 14: I'm Ready!

As the "peloton" of the leaders of the Tour approach Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) looks over his shoulder at his teammate Jonas Vingegaard.  He had been off the front all day, perhaps for just this moment to be there to help his team leader.  He was with Ben O'Connor (Jayco-Alula) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) who were clearly there for their own purposes.  I do believe that Martinez has already achieved his.  Alas, Kuss had spent too much energy already, so he was only able to join the back of the group for a little while.  He was soon spit off the back along with Martinez and O'Connor.  Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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.

"I'm Ready! TdF25-92" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 

Tour '25, Stage 14: Not Pleased!

I am not sure what Tobias Halland Johannesen (Uno X-Mobility) did to so piss off Thymen Arensman (Ineos-Grenadiers), but Arensman had quite a lot to say to the Norwegian.  Behind the two combatants, Lenny Martinez just got on with trying to gain as many King of the Mountains points as he could.  Perhaps Johannesen should have provoked the Belgium.  Just after I painted this, Arensman attacked, and neither of his current companions ever saw him again.  Martinez went over the Peyresourde second thus locking up his reclamations of his Maillot a Pois for at least one more day.

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.

"Not Pleased! TdF25-91" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 14: King of the Clouds

Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) started the day wearing the Maillot a Pois on loan from Tadej Pogacar who was busy wearing the Maillot Jaune.  When he went over the Col du Tourmalet ahead of the entire peloton by almost two minutes he took the virtual lead in the race for Polka Dots.  He will need to amass more points in the coming climbs to forestall Pogacar earning enough points by the end of the day to take the jersey back, again.  The top of the Tourmalet, and every other climb today, was shrouded in heavy cloud.  It was also the chilliest it has been thus far in the Tour.  Everyone was grabbing rain jackets for the fast wet descent back down the other side of the col.  Far superior to the old school method of taking newspapers from fans and sticking them down the front of their jerseys.  That being said, we did catch sight of Alaphilippe grabbing a cardboard sign from a fan, tearing it into the right size and sticking it down his front.  I guess his team support was nowhere to be found.

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.

"King of the Clouds TdF25-89" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 12: Losing Time on the Soulor

The peloton had race hard to the foot of the Col du Souler under the hot sun averaging just under thirty miles per hour.  When they hit the first Category 1 climb of the Tour many found the going rather tough.  Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) slipped away from the breakaway, through the peloton, and on out the back of the three just ahead of him.  He was also slipping out of his Maillot a Pois in the process.  He tried to latch onto the wheels of Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) paced by his teammate Ilan Van Wilder without success.  Warren Barquil (Picnic-PostNL) was able to hold onto the Maillot Blanc on the shoulders of Evenepoel just ahead of him.  If these guys can recuperate, it is going to be a very, very, very, long day.  Evenepoel did hold onto the White Jersey of best young rider in the Tour, but it was touch and go most of the day.

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.

"Losing Time on the Soulor TdF25-75" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

Tour '25, Stage 11: Sprinting Across the Gap

Realizing that there was a good chance that the breakaway was going to succeed in vying for the stage victory today, Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) and Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) sprinted across the gap to join those up front.  It was the right move.  The peloton was close, but they continued to lose a second here, and a second there on the breakaway that went from kilometer zero.  Behind the duo, the neutral support motorcycle provided by Shimano is ever ready to provide mechanical assistance should it be needed.

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. 

"Sprinting Across the Gap TdF25-68" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 10: Unchallenged

With the lone attack of Ben O'Connor pulled back into the leading breakaway, it was Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) who jumped clear in search of the King of the Mountain points just a few meters up the road.  He was unchallenged by the group behind containing Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech), Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike), and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost).  From this group he was the lone Frenchman hoping to make his mark on this Bastille Day.  In addition, with these points he becomes the virtual Maillot a Pois.  And with this climb, he is ensured that the French will have one of their own on the podium on their day of independence.  

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.

"Unchallenged TdF25-59" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 4: Staying Hydrated

The sun has returned to the Tour de France today!  With the sun comes an even bigger need to make sure one keeps topping up the fluids.  As the breakaway continued to push on despite now having only a minute-and-a-quarter on the peloton, the riders kept grabbing water bottles from their team cars.  Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost) reaches out to get a drink and a bit of advice from his sport director as he keeps the pace going.  Behind him it is the same trio off the front from the start of the stage, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Mobility) and Thomas Gachignard (TotalEnergies).  At this point, they are hoping to get over at least one of the climbs before they are swallowed up by the peloton.  Their problem there is that the intermediate sprint comes between the first and second (of four) climbs of the stage.  With all of sprinters still in the peloton, the pace is ratcheting up behind.

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.

"Staying Hydrated TdF25-19" (Original art by Greig Leach)