Tour Femmes '25, Stage 9: The Final Descent

Both Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) used the final descent off of the Col du Corbier to try and put pressure on the Maillot Jaune.  It didn't work, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot was right behind the Polish Champion all of the way down and across the valley.  On the other hand, they put even more time into the former holder of second place.  There efforts did move them into second and third respectively for the fourth Tour de France Femmes.  That means that the two have been on the podium of every reincarnation of the women's Tour.  Both have won the race once each, 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.

"The Final Descent TdFF25-57" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 9: Applying Some Pressure

With another five kilometers of the Col de Joux Plane Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal) went to the front and upped the pace.  With her lack of descending skill, she was hoping to shed as many of her rivals as possible while the road was still going up.  To her dismay, she wasn't able to get rid of the Maillot Jaune, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike), nor any of the others like Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez), Katarzyna Niweiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-xondacrypto), and yesterday's most aggressive rider Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek).  It turned out that her fears were well founded, she was dropped on the way down the other side of the climb.  She never caught back up to the group.  She started the day in second place, but will finish the Tour in sixth once everyone finished in Chatel.

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.

"Applying Some Pressure TdFF25-55" (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 8: The Mountains Are Waiting

Well, technically, more mountains are waiting for the peloton since they have already been over a category one climb already today.  Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) in her French National Champion's kit is coming back up to her teammates ladened with water bottles from her team car.  Today's stage still includes a climb over the category two climb of the Cote de Saint Georges d'Hurtieres and then the mountain top finish on the haute catagorie climb of the Col de la Madeleine.  With that much still facing these women, it is imperative that they be fueled up for what lays ahead.  

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 Mountains Are Waiting TdFF25-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 6: A Few More Seconds

With the lone attacker up the road, the favorites for the Tour were sprinting for four and two seconds bonus in Valcivieres.  This was anyone's last chance to pick up a few seconds in the middle of the stage.  For the remaining stages bonuses will only be rewarded for at the finish line.  Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) added even more seconds to her lead, with Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) mopping up the remaining bonus.  Yet again, Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) missed out in the bonus sprint, but on the other hand she is right there with the favorites for the over-all victory.  The three were a minute and seventeen seconds behind the lone leader with another twelve kilometers to race.  I'm sure they won't see Maeva Squiban again.  That means when this sprint happens again at the line in Amberet it will be for second place.

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. 

"A Few More Seconds TdFF25-34" (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 6: Running with the Polka Dots

There are millions and millions of cycling fans that line the roadways of grand tours and all of the other races in the ProTour calendar, this is another that seems to be making a name for himself like Didi Stenft as the Devil has.  Problem is, I don't know who he is.  I saw him most every day on the men's Tour, and here he is running with the women's Tour as well.  I have seen him way back at the US Pro Challenge and the Tour of California when those races still existed.  Today he was running along with the lead group.  He does seem to give the riders their space, even being sure to go behind the soigneurs waiting to pass bidons to their riders.  Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) seems to be more concerned about QOM points with both Brodie Chapman (UAE Tema ADQ) and Liane Lippert (Movistar) on her wheel than the man with the antlers on a football helmet.  Another watching both the uber fan and the Maillot a Pois is Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco) who is vying for the polka dots, 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. 

"Running with Polka Dots TdFF25-31" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 6: Who's Still Here?

With another five kilometers to the summit of the Col de Beal, Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) in her Maillot a Pois, looks around attempting to access who will challenge her for the QOM points at the top.  On her elbow is Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ).  The pair were watched by Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck), Morgane Coston (Roland-Le Devoluy), and Liane Lippert (Movistar).  Chabbey has a good lead in the race for the Queen of the Mountains but she wants to gain as many points as possible on every stage.  This group is also hoping to hold off the closing peloton.  They have a mere forty-one seconds on the Maillot Jaune peloton.  If she doesn't keep this group motivated, she may not get any points 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Who's Still Here? TdFF25-30" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 5: Back into Yellow

Not only did Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) take the bonus sprint, she also had the legs to just hold off Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) to claim the stage victory.  While it looks like she is wearing the UCI World Champion Rainbow Jersey, it is actually the Mauritius National Champion's jersey.  But you don't need to remember that tomorrow, the bonus seconds from the sprint and the stage win means she will be pulling the Maillot Jaune back on after ceding it to Marianne Vos in stage two.  They are the only two women to have the leader's jersey thus far in the Tour de France Femmes this edition.  Clearly, Demi Vollering is doing much better than we all feared after being helped home by her teammates just two stages ago.  Le Court was so sure she had the victory that she celebrated a bit early, but still won the stage by three-quarters of a bike length.

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.

"Back into Yellow TdFF25-28" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 5: Chasing the Bonus

With the breakaway now back in the fold, or on out the back of the peloton, it was time to wind up the time bonus sprint.  In three separate stages of this Tour, there are sprints late in the stage that award bonus seconds.  Actually, they give you a bonus of subtracted seconds from your overall time.  The American Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) was leading out her teammate in the Polish National Champion's Jersey, Katarzyna Niewiadoma who was chased in turn by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike), an apparently recovered Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez). Pauline took second in the sprint, followed by Katarzyna getting four seconds and two seconds removed from their overall time respectively.  Demi just missed out getting a bonus.  It is Anna Van Der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) who is just sneaking into the frame of this painting.

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 the Bonus TdFF25-27" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 3: She Has to Finish

Around four kilometers from the finish in Angers there was a large crash leaving twenty riders on the ground and many more held up behind the bikes and bodies strewn across the road.  One of the many hurt, was Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez).  It took her some time to get back up and underway. At first, she couldn't turn over the pedals, so two of her teammates Juliette Labous and Amber Kraak pushed her along until she felt good enough to ride under her own power.  There are two rules at play here.  First, every rider must cross the finish line, with a bike, or they are out of the race.  Two, if there is a crash or a mechanical problem inside of the final five kilometers (sometimes it is a shorter distance) they will be given the same time as the group they had been with before the incident.  So, for now, Vollering's Tour is safe.  We will have to wait and see if she is okay to start tomorrow.  And if she does start how well she be able to race and just how bad was the fall.  I should point out that Amber Kraak has the bib number thirteen.  It is tradition to turn the numbers, or at least one of them upside to counter the bad luck.  It is so common that her numbers are printed upside down (notice the blue stripe that should be on the bottom of the race number bib.)  I guess the upside-down number didn't work for the luck of the team 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.

"She Has to Finish TdFF25-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 2: Sprinting for More

Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) wasn't about to lose the sprint for maximum Queen of the Mountains points again.  As she and Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco) approached the summit of the Cote de Locronan she jumped hard on the pedals to secure her Maillot a Pois for tomorrow's stage.  I continue to be impressed with just how many fans have turned out to watch the women's ProTour race through northern France.  The pair will need to continue to work together if they want to get to the final two climbs on the finish circuit.  The peloton is still just forty-one seconds behind although they have stretched out their advantage since the previous painting.

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. 

"Sprinting for More TdFF25-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 2: Keep It Going

Even though Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) had been outsprinted over the first climb of the day she encouraged Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco) to press on in their breakaway.  The pair only had seventeen seconds on the peloton, but they were beginning to increase the gap now.  The have another fifty-seven kilometers to race, and three more categorized climbs, so there is plenty to race for.  Earlier, Chabbey's team had told her to sit up, but then changed their mind as the second climb approached.

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.

"Keep It Going TdFF25-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 1: Our First Queen

Despite having not scored any points at the first climb of the day, Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) went across the eventual finish line first claiming one more point than the erstwhile leader in the Queen of the Mountains competition.  Since this is the last categorized climb of the day she will be wearing the Maillot a Pois tomorrow.  Taking second over the climb that will later be the finish line was Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels Cycling) whose teammate had been leading before now.

I am amused by FDJ's new kit.  The women's team's kit used to be superior to their male counterparts, Groupama-FDJ, but this all-black kit falls short of the men's kit unveiled at the Tour three weeks earlier.

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. 

"Our First Queen TdFF25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Attacking the Kapelmuur

As the peloton hit the fabled Kapelmuur, it was Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) in her new team's kit that attacked.  The only one able to go with the former Dutch Champion was her countrywoman, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck).  With just eleven kilometers and one more climb to race, it is unlikely that this effort will make up the five minutes the two leaders have.

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.

"Attacking the Kapelmuur OHN25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '24, Stage 3: Getting Something Started

With 77 kilometers left of the Women's Tour Down Under, Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) decided it was time to enliven the final stage.  Her move was quickly covered by a rider from Canyon/SRAM, Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) and someone from UAE Team ADQ.  A few others tacked onto their wheels as they escaped the clutches of the peloton.  Like other escape attempts, this one was chased down.  It was to risky to led Fisher-Black go given that she sits in ninth place at the start 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.

"Getting Something Started TDU25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Teaming Up

True to form for ARA Australian Cycling, they put a rider into the early break.  It didn't work the first time for Alli Anderson, but rather than give up, she went again.  She built up over a minute and a half lead on her own.  With another 35 kilometers to race, Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez) bridged up to her wearing the blue Sprinter's Jersey.  It may since for Wollaston to put in the effort to join Anderson now, there is an intermediate sprint just nine kilometers away in Willunga.  Wollaston is wearing the sprinter's jersey on loan and was hoping to take the lead in the sprint competition today.  Spoiler, it didn't quite work out for her today.  But hey, there is always tomorrow.

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.

"Teaming Up TDU25-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: The Sprint of Her Life!

Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) had to sprint hard to the line atop the Alpe d'Huez if she wanted to save her Maillot Jaune.  She was coming to the line with some time to spare, but not much, not much at all.  To make matters a little finer, she was beaten to the line by Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) who grabbed the last bonus four bonus seconds on offer by taking third place in the stage.  In the end, it was just enough for Niewiadoma to finally win the Maillot Jaune in the Tour de France Femmes.  She has finished third in the first two editions of this incarnation of the women's Tour and had she been eleven seconds slower she would have been third for the third time.  Muzic managed to finish fourth on the general classification, but since fifth was just shy of a minute behind her, she really didn't need to try and out sprint Niewiadoma.  But then to paraphrase the use of an old saying goes, "no harm no foul."

This TdFF has had many things I have never seen before, but a four second differential on an eight day stage race is a first for me!

This does mark the end of my painting the 2024 Cycling Season, as far as I know...   I might be back for the UCI World Road Championships in September, or not... 

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 Sprint of Her Life! TdFF24-46" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: Fighting to Keep Yellow

It wasn't until I saved this painting to my computer that I discovered that I had already used this title.  That was a different woman in the yellow jersey that time.  But how else could I describe the burst of speed that Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) put in when she went under the flame rouge, just as Demi Vollering had done almost a minute earlier.  I don't doubt that her director sportif had told her she would need to do the same if she was going to keep the gap under a minute to the pair that were sure to win the stage.  On the Maillot Jaune's wheel is the Frenchwoman Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) who is hoping to move up the general classification although it is unlikely she will be able to get onto the final podium.

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.

"Fighting to Keep Yellow TdFF24-44" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: Having to Chase

With the two up the road flirting with the virtual Maillot Jaune, the current Maillot Jaune on the shoulders of Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM).  She was getting some help from those with her each with their own ambitions for the stage and the Tour.  On the back of the group is Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) with her teammate Gaia Realini beside her.  Trying to slow the chase is Demi Vollering's teammate Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime).  Also in this chase group is Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez).  While it is Niewiadoma's race lead that is being threaten, all of these women have a vested interest in the chase, even if Fisher-Black's interest is to make it not succeed.

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.

"Having to Chase TdFF24-42" (Original art by Greig Leach)