Tour '26, Stage 19: The Devil Shows the Way

I think that even the gendarmes like the devil or perhaps I should say they enjoy Didi Senft. It seems he was the only person allowed on the inside of the barriers once passed the Four-Kilometer Banner.  Has he saluted every rider, it seems he was showing Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) showing just were those that had dropped off the leaders were at up the road.  With three-and-a-half kilometers left to the mountain top finish the Maillot Jaune could almost see his quarry for stage honors.  Not only was he on his way to an almost sure stage win atop Alpe d'Huez, he was also recording the fastest ever ascent of the fable climb eclipsing Marco Pantini's record by three minutes I believe.  Maybe he has made a deal with the Devil to be this amazingly good.

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 Devil Shows the Way TdF26-141" (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 10: The Devil Awaits

It was a bit odd to see Didi Senft (aka The Devil) out alone on the side of the road.  NBC/Universal did a story that feature Didi long before the peloton got to him.  He was set up to cheer the Tour at roughly 42 kilometers to go.  I am glad I painted this one, since the race coverage didn't pick up this icon of the Tour on the side of the road.  Apparently, he has been going to the race as the Devil for 33 years now.  Now that is some serious devotion to the Grand Boucle.

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 Devil Awaits TdF26-67" (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 '25, Stage 19: Shelter from the Devil

I don't think I have ever seen Didi Stenft (aka 'The Devil') hold anything besides his trident before, but then the final climb has been rather raining most of the day.  I imagine that the publicity caravan handed that umbrella to him several hours earlier.  I was playing around with the idea for the title and then this variation of sheltering from the devil occurred to me.  I found it amusing, I hope you do, too.  These five were chasing just one man up the road by a half of a minute. Felix Gall (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) was setting the pace in hopes of moving up the general classification.  Everyone else was watching their nearest competitors in a defensive slosh up to La Plagne.  Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was closely watched by Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), one in the Maillot Jaune and the other in the Maillot a Pois.  Behind it was a battle for the final possession of the Maillot Blanc of best young rider.  The jersey is currently on the shoulders of Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who is also third on the GC.  He has a twenty-one second advantage over the man in front of him in both the GC and the Maillot Blanc, Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL).  The fact that these two young guys are stuck to the wheels of the best two riders in modern cycling speaks of great battles yet to come.

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. 

"Shelter from the Devil TdF25-130" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Tour de France 23, Stage 17: Flying Up the Mountain

It is always a treat to see the leaping Devil in the Alps.  Didi Stenft leapt as the lead group went by on the Cormet de Roseland lead my Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek).  The Devil had some extra vigor in his leap as one of the press photographers capture much the same image I am.  Skjelmose's teammate Guilio Ciccone was hoping to get another ten points to add to his hold on the Maillot a Pois.  On his wheel is one of the French favorites, Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) looking for a stage win in his final Tour de France.  Just peeking over the shoulder of Pinot is the Australian, Ben O'Connor riding for the French team Ag2r-Citroen.

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-2023/3966332-111-297438/Painting/flying-up-the-mountain-tdf23-111.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 14: Inspired by the Devil

I'm sure 'The Devil' aka Didi Stenft wasn't the one who got Jumbo-Visma to get onto the front of the peloton and push the pace to make the race as hard as possible in hopes of isolating their team leader's main rival.  But Didi was more than happy to run along side Wilco Kelderman and the Dutch Champion, Dylan Van Baarle as they lead the climb up the Col de la Ramez.  The team was hoping to put more than the eight seconds between their guy, Jonas Vingegaard, and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).  It is what UAE tried to do to them just the stage before.

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-2023/3965623-88-297438/Painting/inspired-by-the-devil-tdf23-88.html

Flanders 2021: Passing the Devil

He had to show up after all these Worlds are being raced in his home country.  The male half of the Spanish team, Xavier Mikel Azparren, Diego Lopez and Lluis Mas, seemed to take no notice of Didi Senft as the sped by.  Senft is a long time fixture on the side of the road at most major European cycling events. It always warms my heart to see him bedecked in his Devil’s outfit leaping high in the air as he cheers on every cyclists as they ride pass him.  The Spanish trio was on a good ride but didn’t managed to finish in the top ten at the end of the day.  Hopefully, both the Spanish men and women will fair better in there respective road races on the weekend. 

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 from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3838529-15-292177/Painting/passing-the-devil.-uci21-15.html

TDF, Stage 15: Running with the Devil

I realize the title really should be, "The Devil Is Running with Them" but I was going for the song title.  Or at least I think it is a song title.  It is certainly a common phrase for hanging with a bad crowd.  I wonder how David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Sepp Kuss (Jumbo Visma) felt when they looked over to see the Devil running along side them.  Dieter "Didi" Senft has been dressing as the devil and leaping wildly as the peloton races by in the mountains for as long as I can remember.  So it was just a little odd to see him running instead of jumping insanely high for a man of his years (hell, for anyone who isn't a gymnast). I feel like I have seen the Tour now that I have seen Didi.  There were other contenders still in this break away going past the Devil, but I liked this composition for the painting.

Side note: The Devil is still wearing a mask to help stop the spread of Covid.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.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 from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3823342-96-291436/Painting/running-with-the-devil-tdf21-95.html

Tour, Stage 2: The Devil Wears a Mask

For as long as I have been watching the Tour (and that is decades, almost half a century) I have always enjoyed seeing Didi Senft leaping in the air bedecked as the Devil.  I am in awe of his energy, and his commitment to the cause, as it were.  He can always be found ahead of the big climbs perhaps as a warning to the hell the riders are about to go through.  Today, I caught him leaping for one of the race photographers as the peloton rode by.  UAE-Team Emirates was doing the work of pacing the peloton.  It is considered the responsiblity of the team with the Maillot Jaune to do the work on the front.  It is unlikely Alexander Kristoff will have Yellow after this climbing stage, but traditions must be kept.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

This original has sold, but prints are available at the link below.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3687316-13-282744/Painting/the-devil-wears-a-mask-tdf20-7.html