Tour Femmes '26, Stage 9: Above the Sea

You know the song I am referencing with this title... and now it is stuck in your head, too.  On the second trip up the Col d'Eze it was the British Champion Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM) burying herself for her teammates Antonia Niedwrmaier (in the Maillot Blanc) and Kasia Niewiadoma.  On their wheels are Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) in the Maillot Jaune and Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek).  Under the relentless pace set by Backstedt, many more were dropped from the ever-reducing peloton.  Her pace also meant that she and her teammates need not fear any attacks either.  The added bonus is that they got rid of one of Vollering's strongest teammates.  The flip side is that the British Champion's work meant she was gone at the summit, too.  With two more climbs up Col d'Eze, the last one even steeper, this stage is more about attrition than attacking moves... thus far.

I guess I should mention that the view of the Mediterranean Sea was stunning up here above Nice. 

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: "Above the Sea TdFF26-58" (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 5: Filming the Counter Move

Just after the peloton sprinted to the summit of the only climb of the day, Fred Wright (Pinarello-Q36.5) went of the attack.  He was quickly joined by the Dane Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost).  Seeing the danger of the move, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) went with the two as a spoiler.  It is common for a teammate to join and attack and sit on as a discouragement for the effort.  Paret-Peintre was spoiling for his sprinter Tim Merlier.  Soudal-Quick Step wanted the whole peloton to come together into Pau for a mass sprint in hopes that Merlier would get the best of the other sprinters in 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Filming the Counter Move TdF26-35" (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 Femmes '25: Needing Help

Before painting this I kept seeing Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic-PostNL) gesture that she needed help from her team car. After the end of each pave section, teams place soigneurs loaded with bottles and wheels to help out their riders.  After painting and titling this artwork, I discovered that she had already swapped her race bike for her spare from her following team car.  At this point the British Champion is trying to catch back up with the leading peloton.  Side note, she did get back there, making the final selection vying for the podium in Roubaix.

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.

"Needing Help PR25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 8: Covering the Move

Once everyone from the break away had been caught with just over seven kilometers to go, it was time for others to see if they could escape off the front.  The first to try was Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) who was joined in the effort by the new British National Champion, Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious).  Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) wasn't having it.  It fell to the Frenchman on the Dutch team to chase down these moves in hopes that his teammate, Wout Van Aert, would be able to win the sprint to the line in Limoges.  Laporte would shortly be aided by members of Alpecin-Deceuninck in defense of their teammate in the Green Jersey, Jasper Philipsen.

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 $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3964394-46-297438/Painting/covering-the-move-tdf23-46.html

Ruta del Sol Stage 4: Sky Ups the Pace

Team Sky wasn't happy with how they got out played by Tinkoff Saxo at the finish of Stage 3.   So they decided they would hope that their rivals pace setting before the final climb would leave Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) isolated on the ascent.  Team Sky had the luxury of multiple cards to play since they started the day with three riders in the top ten on the General Classification.  Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) was the first to lift the pace, with Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky) in his British National Championship jersey being the first to attack the peloton and the leader's jersey.  Sitting in reserve was Konstanstin Siutsou all in hopes of getting Chris Froome on top of the leader board.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.


If you like reading about cycling along with original art, be sure to check out my "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available online world wide through Amazon and other online book retailers.


http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Other%202015%20Cycling%20Art/2515230---206768/Painting.html#.VOqAKU05DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 3: Fighting for Position

The run in to Paracombe included a very fast descent before a sharp right hand bend.  The last two kilometers must have felt like they were straight up a wall.  So if you wanted to have a chance of victory, you had to be at the very front of the peloton at the start of the climb.  I know that the only way I have a chance of being with the group at the top of a hill is for me to go down as fast as I possibly can.  So it was that Michael Schar led his team leader Cadel Evans (BMC) right to the front of the group.  They had just gotten around Peter Kennaugh (Sky), who was doing the same for Richie Porte (Sky).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you enjoy reading about important bike races this way, be sure to check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France."  The book is available world wide, just google the title to find an online store where you won't have to pay international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2500058---194179/Painting.html#.VMCX2k05DIU

Tour of Britain Final Stage: Victory in London

There were two victors in London today, one finished wearing the Golden Jersey of race leader, Bradley Wiggins and the other wears the British National Championship Jersey, Mark Cavendish.  Cav was able to claim his third stage win in the 2013 Tour of Britain due largely to the strength of his lead out train and his final pilot fish, Alejandro Petacchi.  For the second day in a row, Petacchi gabbed the peloton and actually had to coast through the final turn so that Cavendish could catch back onto the wheel of his last lead out man.  Elia Viviani managed to pull a respectable third with two different local teams mixing it in with the pro tour teams.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 2013 Tour of Britain.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2215047---189075/Painting.html#.UkDBYc_D_IU

Tour of Britain Stage 7: Cav Takes His Second

Omega Pharma Quickstep put in some truly hard fast work for their sprinter, Mark Cavendish.  The final lead out man (and excellent sprinter in his own right) Alejandro Pettachi, was so fast that they gapped the rest of the peloton and every sprinter was left trying to chase back on when Cav opened up his sprint.  Amazingly enough, Elia Viviani, was able to chase back up to Cav, but ran out of room before he could catch the Manx Missile.  Today was Cavendish's second victory in the Tour and tenth over all for the Tour of Britain for the British National Champion road racer.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 2013 Tour of Britain and Cavendish's win.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20of%20Britain/2214829---189075/Painting.html#.Uj_Lw8_D_IU

Tour Stage Twenty: In the Autobus

Sprinters are not known for their climbing abilities so in these hard mountain stages that will gather together and ride the climbs at their own pace.  They are joined by the team helpers who have blown after doing what they can for their leaders, the riding wounded, and those having a bad day for one reason or another.  The Tour has a time limit based on a percentage of the winner's finishing time if a rider can't make that limit, they are out of the Tour.  One way (other than making the time cut) to avoid being ousted is to form a big enough group that the officials will not want to disqualify that many riders.  Back when Lance Armstrong was racing the Tour, a big break away got so far up the road that the entire peloton should have been out, but two more weeks of a tour with only twenty riders just wasn't thinkable.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183711---186227/Painting.html#.UfCYaMvD_IU


















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Tour Stage Thirteen: Worth It All

All of the action in stage 13 was started by Omega Pharma Quickstep and their sprinter, Mark Cavendish finished off all of the work they put in.  As he throws his arms up in a joyous celebration, you can see Kwiatowski joining in on the celebration.  I think Chavanel was a little too spent to even raise his arms, although he was the first to hug his team leader after the stage.  Peter Sagan got his fourth second place finish continuing to solidify his ownership of the Green Jersey.  However the victory belongs to Cavendish, and this one, his 25th creates a new Tour record of total road stage wins.  Argentil and Merckx have more stage wins, but they include time trials and team time trials.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding in a short 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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Tour Stage Six: One for Greipel

Andre Greipel pulls one off on Cavendish, Kittel and Sagan getting a jump on all of the marquee sprinter's of the pro-tour.  He has been announcing his prowess in the intermediated sprints taking nearly every one (or at least everyone after the break aways have gone through) including this stage.  It can be argued that Cav's late chase back on after his hitting the deck sapped too much energy to mount a full on counter sprint, but I think that Andre was just the stronger, faster man on the day.  Sagan must be getting a little frustrated with his continual second places.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short 3 day auction on ebay.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France, but act quickly, the auction begins as soon as this post is published.

This painting is sold.

Dauphine Stage Five: Setting It Up for the Climb

The peloton knows that they are end for a tough climb when Team Sky goes to the front like this.  This looks like a lead out train for a sprint, but instead the team has lined up in the order of their climbing abilities, poorest first and the best just ahead of the "protected" rider.  Garmin Sharp is also lined up to the right, keeping an eye on Froome for Dennis in the Malliot Jeune.  The peloton is crossing the river that usually signals the beginning of a climb.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161521---185083/Painting.html#.Ubp6IMvD_IU

Criterium du Dauphine Stage One: Peloton Going Up

The peloton let the leading break away get over 10 minutes up the road in the first stage of the Dauphine at that point two of the teams of the main contenders, came to the front to set about chasing them down.  Moviestar and Team Sky must feel they have the best chances for winning the Yellow Jersey, or at least they were willing to do the work to catch the break.  As rare as it is for a break to work, this was a day where it paid off for at least one of those up the road.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161003---185083/Painting.html#.Ubksz8_D_IU