Tour '26, Stage 19: Banking Points

Now the virtual King of the Mountain, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) went for maximum KOM points over the top of the Col du Noyer.  He continues to add points in hopes of being the actual King of the Mountains at the end of the stage.  Yes, he is currently wearing the Maillot a Pois, but it is on loan from Tadej Pogacar.  Paret-Peintre would prefer to own it outright, rather than sitting second in the competition but wearing the best looking of the leaders' jerseys.  Behind him, yet again, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) continues to be second best over every climb.  He wants to stay close in the points tally, although he would love to follow yesterday's mountain top stage victory with another one 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: "Banking Points TdF26-136" (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: Climbing in Green

Traditionally, sprinters can't climb.  That is not the case with Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek).  While he has won a stage this Tour, most of his points towards his sprinters' jersey have come from winning (or at least scoring points) the intermediate sprints.  Yesterday, he went up the road over categorized climbs to score maximum points at the intermediate sprint knowing full well he wouldn't be there for the points at the mountain top finish.  His teammate Derek Gee-West has been assigned to help him carry the Maillot Vert all of the way to Paris.  Others on the team are shepherding there two guys that are in the top ten, Mattias Skjelmose and Juan Ayuso.  The USA champion Quinn Simmons seems to be on double duty and sometimes is left free to go for the stage win.  For Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) he is thrilled to have a good pair of wheels to carry him up the mountain.  He continues to chase the KOM points always going over the mountain behind the current wearer, and virtual, Maillot a Pois.

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: "Climbing in Green TdF26-135" (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 '24, Stage 17: Chasing Just One Guy

Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) had tried several times to get into the early breakaway, but the heads of state weren't having it.  After the sprint point, first a small group got up the road and then a much larger one went after them.  Apparently, the top riders in the general classification were happy with who went up the road, so they kind of sat up.  This Yates managed to get into the big group.  From there he was able to jump across to the four-man earlier break, and then drop them almost as quickly.  Alas, he couldn't hold the wheel of Richard Carapaz as he went by.  As the duo neared the top of the Col du Noyer he trailed the Ecuadorian by ten seconds with just twelve more kilometers to race.  

Spoiler:  He never caught Carapaz, but then, no one caught him either.  He did move up one spot in the GC but still sits just over 28 minutes off of the Maillot Jaune.

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.

"Chasing Just One Guy TdF24-106" (Original art by Greig Leach)

He 

Dauphine, Final Stage: Froome's Answer

Alberto Contador's (Tinkoff) attack of the main contenders on the ascent of the Col du Noyer gain him a few seconds to begin with, but Chris Froome (Sky) had the answer.  Froome was isolated by Contador's efforts, but he still had the legs to go around the former holder of the Maillot Jaune.  Richie Porte (BMC) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) were distanced by the attacks, but they are quickly pulling themselves back into contention.  It is beginning to feel like there may be no way to upset the very top slot of the General Classification.  There is still one climb left in this year's Dauphine and the finish is at its summit.  At this point it isn't looking like all of the efforts of Etixx-Quickstep are going to pay any dividends.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2807374-81-185083/Painting.html#.V12ZrfkrLIU

Dauphine, Final Stage: Here We Go Now

If any of the contenders wanted to take the Yellow Jersey away from Chris Froome (Sky) they were going to have to attack on the penultimate climb up the Col du Noyer.  Etixx-Quickstep had been laying the ground work across the valley before turning onto the mountain road, but it was Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) who was the first to strike out in hopes of reclaiming his leader's jersey that he put on after the Prologue.  The first to try to go with the Spaniard was Pierre Rolland (Cannondale), but he just doesn't have Contador's explosive climbing abilities.  Etixx-Quickstep didn't panic, they just kept on keeping on.  Froome didn't react immediately either, but then that is the metronome style of Team Sky.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2807371-80-185083/Painting.html#.V12V6fkrLIU