Tour Femmes '26, Stage 9: How Much?

As the peloton came through Nice to start the second of four laps, both Malwina Mul (Cofidis) and Paula Ortiz (Movistar) had managed to get off the front of the of the reduced group.  They each peeked to see if they were getting much of an advantage.  Racing through the downtown area it was Ostiz's turned to peer back to assess where the chasers were.  The peloton wasn't too concerned.  The first trip up Col d'Eze had dropped about have of the one hundred and twenty some women who had started the final stage.  It was safe to assume that these two would most likely suffer the same fate.

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: "How Much? TdFF26-57" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Not a Bad Set of Wheels

After goofing around with the cameraman and toasting her teammates with a small can of Coke, Alison Jackson (Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) sped pass Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) and crouched down to draft off of the Gendarmes' motorcycles.  I suspect she was just continuing her goofing which is part of her cycling persona.  It is the first day that the women have had even the slightest chance to relax a bit, but again, there will be some racing when we get closer to 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: "Not a Bad Set of Wheels TdFF26-50" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 7: Tete de la Course

I do realize I used this title in the men's race, but these women are the front of this race.  In the leading group that has just over two minutes on the peloton with only forty-four kilometer to race are Mia Griffin (Picnic-PostNL), Romina Hinojosa (Lotto-Intermarche) and her team leader Sandrine Tas, along with Fiona Mangan (Mayene Monbana My Pie) and Amalie Dideriksen (Cofidis).  It is nice to see that two Irish women along with the first Mexican were out in front of the peloton on the Queen Stage of the Tour de France Femmes.  Of course, the sting is in the end of this stage, and Mont Ventoux will be a rather vicious sting at that.

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: "Tete de la Course TdFF26-40" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 6: Letting Them Go

Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) went out today on a mission.  While she didn't score points on the first climb of the day, she got maximum Queen of the Mountain points on the next three climbs thus far.  However, as her breakaway companions, Katrine Aalerud (Uno X-Mobility) and Loes Adegeest m(Lidl-Trek), upped the pace, she dropped away.  She had picked up a total of seven QOM points in the effort, but alas, the current Queen scored ten points on the day.  Still, she did increase her advantage over the erstwhile Maillot Jaune and Aalerud's teammate Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset.  

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: "Letting Them Go TdFF26-33" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 3: Time to Chase

I'm not sure why it took so long, but with thirty-eight kilometers to race, the peloton finally started to chase the two women up the road.  With the increase in pace, the peloton stretched out into a fast single-file line with those at the back wondering what happened.  Paula Ostiz (Movistar) popped off the back just after I painted this.  Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'IMAD) - who had won a stage so beautifully last year - hung onto the wheel of Laura Ascencio (Ma Petite Entreprise) with Malwina Mul (Cofidis) and Emilie Morier (St Michel-Home Preference-Auber93) hanging onto the wheels in front of them. Everyone but Ostiz finished with the peloton, but none ever caught the two up the road.

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: "Time to Chase TdFF26-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 3: Are You Good?

Lotto-Intermarche seems to be having illness running through their team.  They started the day with three women out of the race from yesterday, today one more dropped out of the Tour de France Femmes.  With that background, it seems that the Mexican on the team, Romina Hinojosa, looked to her German teammate, Linda Riedman, asking if she felt good.  The two finished the day in the grupetto a few minutes behind the group with the now erstwhile Maillot Jaune.  They were riding with the Danish Champion, Amalie Dideriksen (Cofidis) with Letizia Borghesi (AG Insurance-Soudal) just behind them.  The day started with multiple hard climbs that we didn't get to see on air.  Much of the day was set including the new Maillot a Pois, prior to the coverage in the USA going on air.  So it goes, but really, this is a stage that should have been shown from the start.

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: "Are You Good? TdFF26-13" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 2: Building an Advantage

This quintet took some time to get away from the peloton which seemed in little mood to let anyone escape today.  It was nice to see the Ukrainian champion, Yulia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi) off the front along with Anouska Koster (Uno X-Mobility), Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels), Ema Comte (Cofidis) and Carlotta Cipressi (Human Powered Health).  They have managed to build a bit over two minutes on the peloton, but they weren't allowed much more.  After the long chase from yesterday, the peloton decided to keep these ladies inside of three minutes before catching them on one of the final categorized climbs of the day.  Koster came close to becoming the new queen of the mountains save for one moment's inattention on the third climb 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.

Purchase this painting here: "Building an Advantage TdFF26-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 1: She Will Still Be Queen

Despite being outsprinted to the top of the Cote de Vullieres by Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) Oceane Mahe (Ma Petite Entreprise) will be the first Queen of the Mountains of the fifth Tour de France Femmes.  She had gone over the first two climbs of the day first, so with this second place she has a lead that no one can overtake today.  Shortly after the climb, she sat up and drifted back to the chasing peloton.  She finished the day almost six minutes behind the winner of the stage, but it matters little since she will start the day tomorrow in the Maillot a Pois of the best climber thus far in this Tour de France Femmes.  Noskova sits third in the Queen of the Mountains competition after one stage completed.

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: "She Will Still Be Queen TdFF26-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 1: Down into the Valley

The course out through the countryside around Lusanne, Switzerland was just breathtakingly beautiful.  I doubt the quartet of Idora Eraso (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi), Nikola Noskova (Cofidis), Maud Rijnbeek (VolkerWessels), and Oceane Mahe (Ma Petite Enterprise) had much time to soak in the vistas as they built their advantage over the peloton.  With eighty-five kilometers yet to race, they have built up and a lead of almost five minutes on the confident peloton.  They were claiming all of the Queen of the Mountain points out on course, and managed to suck up the sprint points as well.  Would they be able to hold off the peloton up the final rise to the finish?

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: "Down into the Vallery TdFF26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 11: Never Doubt

In his post-race interview, stage winner Soren Waerenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) confessed that he wasn't confident about being able to win a Tour de France stage, but in Nevers, he overcame that doubt.  He took the stage in a longer than usual sprint ahead of Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) - he is still looking for that Tour stage win this year - and Milan Fretin (Cofidis).  It must have been that much more special to know that he had the best sprint after racing the fastest Tour de France stage ever.  Uno X-Mobility are having an exceptional Tour.  They now have a stage victory, and they have held the Maillot Jaune for two days.  Most teams cannot boast of either.

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: "Never Doubt TdF26-78" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 11: Nature Break

The question you never really wanted to know the answer to, "How does the peloton deal with the 'call of nature' during a one-hundred-mile stage?"  Usually, the TV camera men (or women - although I do thing they are all men) swing away from any riders relieving themself on the side of the road.  If the race is really on, they will pee as they roll along.  Out of courteousness, they will get out of the peloton so as not to spray those behind them.  Despite the speed of today's stage, Alex Kirsch (Cofidis) pulled over to the side of the road.  As he took care of business, the following caravan of team cars rolled pass.  He will be able to use the draft the cars provide as he works his way back up to the tail of the peloton.  I can't help but sing "Pink Cadillac" every time I see EF Education's team car.  Yes, they were clever enough to get Cadillac to be the car sponsor for the team, after all, the team color is pink.  It was just too good of a fit for all involved.

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: "Nature Break TdF26-75" (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 4: Hot as Hell

I'm always excited to spot Didi Stenft aka 'The Devil' out along the side of the road during the Tour de France.  It seemed appropriate to find the Devil on the hottest Tour stage in the 113-year history of the race.  I think the temperatures had even gotten to Didi.  Rather than his traditional, and impressive, high leaps into the air, he opted instead to stand atop something along the side of the road as the peloton sped by.  I did spy him during yesterday's stage, but he was so mashed in with fellow cycling fans that all I could see was his trident and the tips of his horns.  It is a bit odd to see him so early in the Tour, too.

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: "Hot as Hell TdF26-27" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour '26, Stage 3: Looking for Assistance

Fifty kilometers into the race the breakaway had yet to form.  Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) the USA Champion tried to get another attempt going without much success.  He was looking back to see if the guys from EF Education-EasyPost, Cofidis, and Uno X-Mobility would contribute to the effort.  Sadly for the American champion, or the rest of this group, this was not the move to get away from the peloton.  Nor when the breakaway did get free were any of them in it.  It takes legs and luck to make it into the breakaway, and luck was not with Quinn today.

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: "Looking for Assitance TdF26_16" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

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Paris Roubaix '26: Bringing Wout Back

It is said of Paris Roubaix, "it isn't a question of if you will have bad luck, it is only a question of when."  Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) had an early mechanical and was paced back to the peloton by his teammate Christophe Laporte with another 147 kilometers to race.  Clearly, he has plenty of time to get back on, but it is never good to have to use energy chasing that you are going to need at the end of the day.  Alexis Renard (Cofidis) was thrilled to have a strong duo to pull him back to the peloton over one of the early cobbled sectors.

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.

"Bringing Wout Back PR26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 6: Not too Far Back

This is the first time I've seen Julie Bego (Cofidis) in her Maillot Blanc that she has held since the very first day of this Tour Femmes.  As this group dropped off of the peloton on the Col du Chansert which might have been a bad sign, but Neinke Vinke (Picnic-PostNL) is her only real competition to keep the title of best young rider.  Beside Le Net is her countrywoman and French National Champion, Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez).  The trio is followed by Nadia Gontova (Winspace Orange Seal).  It wasn't long after I painted this that Gontova jumped free from this group and rode back up to the group of the yellow jersey.

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 too Far Back TdFF25-32" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 3: We're Good

Always a danger anywhere on race day (or any time one is out on the bike) Victoire Berteau (Cofidis) went down in a crash that sent a couple of women into the ditch.  As she was being helped back towards the peloton by her teammate Hannah Ludwig, she chatted with the ambulance team letting them know she was okay.  As they went on ahead (making sure not to provide her with a usable draft) she seemed to be looking for her team car.  She was able to finish the stage.  I don't know if she got caught up in the drama at the end of the stage in Angers.

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. 

"We're Good TdFF25-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 12: The Broom Wagon Lurks

As Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) road through the sprint point in Benejacq he had hoped to be sprinting for maximum points with the other sprinters in the early break.  Instead, he was riding alone behind the peloton with on the Voiture Balai to keep him company.  I am not sure exactly what happened, but he had pulled off the side of the road while in the break to seek medical help.  Since the doctor's car was behind the peloton, he was assisted by the medical moto, but couldn't be treated while rolling along as we have seen happening earlier.  Once his fingers had been taped together, he got back on the bike and rolled on.  I'm guessing he dislocated a finger grabbing his musette in the feed zone.  I did see him asking the medic to pull on his fingers.  And no, he didn't fart when they did.  I will tell you that he finished the stage inside of the time limit, just over forty-four minutes after the eventual stage winner.

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 Broom Wagon Lurks TdF25-74" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 1: At What Cost?

With the next climb looming, Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) jumped free of the peloton.  He was chased by Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) who hoped to gain just one more point in his quest to claim the Maillot a Pois of best climber (to date) of the Tour.  The two had been in the early break, but managed to get away the peloton for a second time - a rarity in the modern era of the Tour.  The two traded attacks on the way up the Sainte Marie Cappel.  It looked like it would go to Vercher, but with a final turn of the crank, Thomas got to the line first.  However, as I suspected when I paused the video to paint this, his effort made his rear wheel slide out on the cobblestones and over he went taking Vercher with him.  Depending on how he feels for the rest of the Tour, I guess the cost was worth the prize.  Vercher didn't go unrewarded.  He was named the most aggressive rider of the first stage of the 2025 Tour de France.

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.

"At What Cost? TdF25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 1: The First Sprint Points

Once the breakaway had been caught it meant that maximum points were available at the intermediate sprint in La Motte au Bois.  It was the Tour rookie, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) who claim the sprint and its twenty points towards the Green Jersey.  While I thought it was Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) that took second, it was in fact Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) who just beat out the Eritrean sprinter.  Oddly, it was Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) taking fourth.  Perhaps, he didn't want to go too deep, saving himself for stage honors in another 94 kilometers.  Even with winning this sprint, it will be the stage winner who will have not only the lead in the Maillot Vert competition, he will also wear the first Maillot Jaune of this Tour de France.

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 First Sprint Points TdF25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 1: Trying to Stay Away

With another 110 kilometers to race it was a bit of a surprise to see the breakaway's advantage drop to just twenty-two seconds.  As the peloton drew close, it was Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale) pushed the pace of his breakaway companions Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), Mathis Le Berre (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and Jonas Rutsch (Intermache-Wanty).  There had been a fifth escapee, but he found the pace too much and dropped back into the relative safety of the peloton.  Thomas had grabbed the one king of the mountain points over the first climb.  I am sure he hoped to stay away to vie for the points at the second and/or third climbs of the day.  It didn't look like those behind were going to let that happen.

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.

"Trying to Stay Away TdF25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)