Tour Femmes '25, Stage 7: With a Solid Lead

As the breakaway went up the Cote de Saint Franc, they had shed about half of original group.  Some of those still there on the climb were the two Americans, Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) and Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) along with Celia Le Mouel (Ceratizit), Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and the ever-aggressive Maeva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ).  The group increase their advantage on the way up the first categorized climb of the day.  They now have over four minutes on the peloton that includes the Maillot Jaune, the Maillot Vert, and the Maillot a Pois.  Is this the move that will win the stage?

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.

"With a Solid Lead TdFF25-37" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 6: Going Out the Back

As the peloton climbed the first Category 1 col of this Tour de France Femmes many found the pace a bit too high for them.  In fact, Celia Le Mouel (Ceratizit) and Emma Norsgaard (Lidl-Trek) came off the back during the climb before the official start of the Col de Beal.

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.

"Going Out the Back TdFF25-29" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 5: Backwards & Forwards

First, I have to talk about the fan in front of her hedge on the side of the road.  She represents something I have never done before in thirteen years of painting bike races.  Without realizing I was doing this, this painting is from the exact same spot on course as the painting prior.  It wasn't until I was drawing the fan shielding her eyes that I realized it was the same person.  Then I worked on the same stonewall topped by the same hedge.

Okay, now on to the title.  Marion Brunel (Visma-Lease a Bike) was coming back to the peloton through the race caravan (chasing the Lidl-Trek team car) as the Czechian champion Kristyna Burlova (Ceratizit) was drifting back pressured by the pace of the peloton chasing the breakaway.

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.

"Backwards & Forwards TdFF25-24" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 3: Third Is Enough

It may not have been absolutely necessary, but finishing third in Stirling gave Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatley) three extra bonus seconds ensuring her final victory of the 25th Women's Tour Down Under.  Her nearest competitor, Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco) was trying to sprint for the win on the stage, but came second.  While that position gave her six bonus seconds and she managed to finish one second ahead of this sprinting trio, it still allowed Ruegg to win the race by thirteen seconds.  Ruegg proved she could climb yesterday with the win on Willunga Hill, but she put up a fierce sprint to best Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) and Sarah Van Dam (Ceratizit) to get third on the day.  

It was a great three days of racing!  I'll be back in a couple of days to paint the six days of the men's Tour Down Under.

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.

"Third Is Enough TDU25-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: We Can Do This!

Despite having only about two or three seconds on the chasing peloton, Ella Simpson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) yells encouragement to Sarah Van Dam (Ceratizit) in hopes that the two could slip away at the foot of the final climb of Willunga Hill.  Naturally, the peloton and the overall contenders weren't going to let these two spoil their party.  They were caught (and dropped) by the peloton mere moments after I painted this.  With only seven kilometers until the end of the stage, there was no time for messing about.

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. 

"We Can Do This! TDU25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Who Do We Have Here?

With another 77 kilometers to race, 10 women escape the clutches of the peloton.  As they built up a 21 second advantage, Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) dropped back along the line checking out who had managed to join in the effort.  She found Rachel Barbieri (Picnic-PostNL) at the rear.  The Italian was led in turn by Greta Marturano (UAE Team ADQ), Babette van der Wolf (EF Education-Oatley), Kristyna Burlova (Ceratizit) and Katia Ragusa (Human Powered Health) amongst some others.  The group was hoping to get a head start for the two trips up Willunga Hill that awaits them in the last twenty kilometers of the stage.  Footnote, it didn't work.

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.

"Who Do We Have Here? TDU24-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 1: Another to Roll the Dice

Shortly after the peloton went over the only catagorized climb of Stage One of the Tour Down Under, it was Daniek Hengeveld (Ceratizit) who went off on a solo attack.  At first, the peloton only gave her a few seconds so her effort looked to be in vain.  However, they seemed to have underestimated her strength and resolve.  At this point she has two minutes on the rest of the Tour.  With another twenty-seven kilometers left to ride it was a bit of a roll of the dice whether this effort would pay dividends.  Spoiler, the peloton never saw the Dutch woman again.  Hengeveld will be starting stage two in the Ochre Jersey of race leader with about thirty seconds in hand.

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. 

"Another to Roll the Dice TDU25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)