Tour Femmes '26, Stage 5: Every Climb!

Over the top of the Cote de Pruzily, it was Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) taking the maximum Queen of the Mountain points, again.  That makes six climbs out of six where she claimed the max points on offer.  She started the day in the Maillot a Pois of best climber, but she has spent seventy-six kilometers proving it today.  I am afraid I cursed her with this title, after this climb, she didn't figure in the points over the remaining two climbs of the fifth stage of the fifth Tour de France Femmes.  She was followed over the climb by the reigning UCI Women's Road Race Champion Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly).  With four more stages to race her twenty-three-point advantage won't be enough to hold the Polka Dots on the end of the final day in 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: "Every Climb! TdFF26-28" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 5: Unchallenged

Despite one rider being up the road, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) was unchallenged for the remaining sprint points available in Monsols.  Just as Mads Pedersen had done in the men's Tour, she got herself over the opening climbs of the day with the peloton just so she could grab these sprint points.  She had her teammate, Elena Cecchini on her wheel just to make sure no one tried to come around her.  On their wheels were Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'IMAD) and the Women's World Champion Magdeleine Valliers (EF Education-Oatly).  I think this is the first time I have had the opportunity to paint her since she claim the title in Rwanda last fall.  The rainbow stripes look good on her!

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: "Unchallenged TdFF26-26" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 5: Hoarding Polka Dots

As the peloton neared the summit of the Cote de Saint Christophe Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) jumped free to claim the maximum Queen of the Mountain points at the summit.  This makes the third out of three climbs in this stage that she was the first over the top.  While she is already Queen, she clearly wants to put her hold on the Maillot a Pois out of reach for anyone else.  In other words, she is hoarding all of the points available today.  It looks like no one in this group has much interest in trying to deny her her quest.

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: "Hoarding Polka Dots TdFF26-25" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 4 ITT: Catching Her Teammate

During the individual time trial riders start at one-minute intervals until the top twenty riders, then it shifts to two minutes.  When Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly) looked behind her, she saw her teammate in her Luxembourg Champion's jersey Nina Berton.  Having ridden one time trial in my life, I can tell you it is very demoralizing to be caught by the person who started behind you.  Since it was her teammate, I doubt she was that surprised.  Breton finished in ninth place but move much further down the rankings on the stage as those that started later set better and better times as the day wore on.

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: "Catching Her Teammate TdFF26-19" (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 Femmes 26, Stage 1: Minor Adjustments

At the end of the men's Tour de France, I realized that I had neither seen nor painted a mechanic hanging out of the car adjusting something on their rider's equipment.  Today in the early kilometers of the Tour de France Femmes, I saw the EF Education-Oatly mechanic leaning out to of the window to fix Cedrine Kerboal's race radio.  That is when I learned through Anthony McCrossan that it is no longer permitted for safety reasons.  That is a rule I can agree with, but apparently, not EF's mechanic nor Director Sportif.  I guess they won't mind paying the fine they are sure to face either.  It did save time, and Kerboal was swiftly back into the peloton.

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: "Minor Adjustments TdFF26-1" (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 →    

Strade Bianche Donne 2026: Chasing Champions

With a nineteen second gap up to the leaders with only seventeen kilometers to race, it was the current World Champion, Magdeleine Vallieries (EF Educations-Oatley) going to the front to chase down the leaders.  She was followed by the German National Champion, Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) and the Polish Champion, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto).  It was going to take some strong legs and a bit of luck for these women to rejoin the leaders by the time they arrive in the grand piazza in Siena.

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.

"Chasing Champions SB26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Strade Bianche Donne 2026: Pushing Her Advantage

With some of her main competitors over three minutes back, the Italian Champion Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) presses her advantage pulling a rather elite quartet along with her with just under twenty kilometers still to race.  Joining her in the effort to add to their seven second advantage was Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatley), Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), Elise Chabbey (FDJ United-SUEZ).  Keeping a close eye on them all is the ever-wise Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike).  It was beginning to look like these would be the women that would vie for victory in roughly another half hour.

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.

"Pushing Her Advantage SB26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 9: Favorites

With seventy-eight kilometers left, the favorites (meaning those high up in the general classification) all had their eyes on each other.  Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez) was coming back up to the front to take over the pace making for her teammate Demi Vollering.  On her wheel is the defending Tour Femmes champion, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) followed in turn by Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) and Pauline Ferran-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the Maillot Jaune.  Sadly, Kerbaol and Niewiadoma crashed on a sharp turn at the base of the climb of the Col de Joux Plane.  While the Polish Champion was up and back in the group of favorites almost immediately, it took Kerbaol longer to get going.  Since the course when up immediately, despite her hard chase with two teammates, she never rejoined this group.  She dropped from her fifth place at the start of the stage to eighth in the final general classification.

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.

"Favorites TdFF25-54" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 5: Down to Three

After the ascent of the Cote de Charannes where two of their companions couldn't handle the pace, the breakaway is now just these three women. The gap has now narrowed to just under two minutes as they race down the other side of the climb.  As Francesca Barale (Picnic-PostNL) swings off the front she looks over at Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ) followed by Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatley).  The trio are now living in hope that they can stay away.  However, there are two more climbs and an all-important bonus sprint between here and the finish line in Gueret.  

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.

"Down to Three TdFF25-26" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 5: With a Big Advantage

Although you can only see four women, there is a fifth on the front of the group.  Anneke Dijkstra (VolkerWessels) has just swung off from doing her effort to maintain the three and a half minutes that she, along with Caralina Anais Soto Campos (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi), Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatley), and Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ) were defending.  It is a strong group, two are their nation's champions and one is the former champion of her nation.  I almost painted the peloton going through this same point but had decided the image wasn't strong enough before I realized I had almost done another repeat location.

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 Big Advantage TdFF25-25" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 3: Looking at Each Other

There is a saying in bike racing that states, "You have to be willing to lose in order to win."  I think the trio of Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatley), Catalina Anais Soto (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi), and Sara Martin (Movistar) were taking the saying to heart.  They along with the fourth companion had been working well together until Martin attacked the others.  Once done, no one was willing to work together.  Instead, each would attack the other.  They would come back together and then someone else would try again, and again, and again.  While they were doing this, the peloton was going about the business of chasing them down.  They were caught about two kilometers after I painted this moment.  Still each thought they couldn't afford to go to the line with the others, neither could they afford to risk trying to outsprint the marquee sprinters currently twenty-seven seconds behind them.

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.

"Looking at Each Other TdFF25-15" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 3: Analog

The breakaway was a strong one as evidenced by the fact that there were three national champions in the four-woman group.  They had built four minutes on the peloton and with forty-six kilometers they still had roughly two and a half minutes on the peloton.  They were working well together, each taking a pull than like Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatley) than dropping back to the back of the group to wait for their turn again.  Now it was Clemence Latimier (Arkea-B&B Hotels) on the front followed in turn Catalin Anais Soto (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi) and then Sara Martin (Movistar).  Martin is in her Spanish Champion's jersey, Soto in her Chilean jersey and Jackson her Canadian one.  The peloton wasn't gaining all that quickly mainly due to how well the quartet was working with each other.

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. 

"Analog TdFF25-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 3: Tightly Packed

The peloton had started the process of pulling back the breakaway when there was still another seventy-five kilometers to ride to Angers.  The gap had been out to four minutes but by now it was just over three minutes to the four-woman group off the front.  Inside the peloton Kimberley Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) was riding with her teammates shepherded by the Belgium Champion Justine Ghekiere.  Next to the Maillot Jaune Herietta Christie (EF Education-Oatley) passes a bottle over to her teammate (an USA National Champion) Kristen Faulkner.  Faulkner came to the world's notice when she won the Gold Medal in the Olympic Road Race on the same course that the men finished the Tour de France yesterday.

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. 

"Tightly Packed TdFF25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: They Caught Us

After the attack by Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and her teammate Lorena Wiebes were caught by the quartet containing Jelena Eric (Movistar), Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto), Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatley) and Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) the sextet didn't really seem to want to keep riding.  With a motivate group behind, it wasn't too long before Kopecky looked back to see the chasers almost on their wheels.  For the SD Worx-Protime duo and Eric, no help was arriving, but the rest found they now had reinforcements to help in their bids to win the fifth Paris Roubaix Femmes.  With just another thirty-three kilometers to race, I was a little surprised that they let themselves be caught by a group of another eight women.

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.

"They Caught Us PR24-4" (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: Alone at the Top

While on the climb it seemed to me that Noemi Reugg (EF Education-Oatley) was about to be dropped any moment.  She was pushing a big gear and looked to be using her shoulders to push her pedals over.  But once an attack was made by Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco) the Swiss Champion went on the offensive.  She dropped the Dutch woman and went on to win atop Willunga Hill by ten seconds.  Winning the stage moves out of her national champion's jersey and into the Ochre Jersey of race leader.  She also now sits third in the Queen of the Mountains competition, and she leads the Sprint Points competition as well.  Not a bad day out on the bike, at all.

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.

"Alone at the Top TDU25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: The Leading Four

As the peloton sped through Willunga at the base of the final climb, it was Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) who attacked first in hopes of climbing to the summit of Willunga Hill alone.  However, she was soon caught by Neve Bradbury (Canyon/SRAM-Zondacrypto), the Swiss Champion Noemi Reugg (EF Education-Oatley) and Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco).  The foursome shadow boxed up the two and a half kilometer climb, letting those behind catch back up.  Regardless of the delay, two of these women took the top to steps of the podium at the summit, all of them were in the top nine 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The Leading Four TDU25-10" (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: Rolling Adjustments

After getting both wheels changed, Megan Armitage (EF Education-Oatley) rode alongside her team car as the mechanic tried to make some further adjustments.  As they speed along the roads on the way back down to Snapper's Point, her mechanic leaned dangerously out of the car working on her gearing.  At one point, he snapped his hand back most likely having hit his knuckles in the spokes of her rear wheel.  It seems that with both the wheel change and the time spent with the mechanic trying to make adjustments, it would have been better to just give her her repalcement bike to begin with.

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. 

"Rolling Adjustments TDU25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)