Tour '26, Stage 15: In the Blink of an Eye

Whatever the plan was for Jonas Vingegaard and his Visma=Lease a Bike team was, this surely wasn't it!  I don't normally paint the crashes, but this one set the 113th Tour de France on its ear.  As the peloton came into a right-hand bend littered with traffic furniture Vingegaard lost his front wheel and went down hard into the curbing on the side of the road.  Several others went down with him including Fellix Grosschartner and Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) who piled on top of each other and a couple fans who got a little closer to the racers than anyone wanted.  Vingegaard's teammate Sepp Kuss went down as well, but he was back up almost instantly.  Not so for Vingegaard.  The longer he sat on the roadside, the worse we all knew it was.  When I saw the medical team bring over an arm sling, I knew his Tour was over.  He has never finished worse than second (and has one twice) but this is the first time he has ever crashed out of the Tour.  The peloton slowed and waited to see if he would remount.  Once Del Toro caught back up to Pogacar (who had just barely avoided going down as well) he let the Maillot Jaune know that Vingegaard wasn't coming back.  Once everyone knew, it was back to racing.

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: "In the Blink of an Eye TdF26-110" (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 14: Maintaining

As the peloton containing all of the race favorites climbed the Ballon d'Alsace for the second time this Tour de France, it seems everyone was comfortable to maintain their positions in the general classification.  The group a was being led by the UAE Team Emirates trio of Isaac Del Toro, Felix Grosschartner, and Tadej Pogacar in his Maillot Jaune.  Next in line were Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).  He is wearing the Maillot a Pois on loan from Pogacar since he is in second place in the competition for the King of the Mountains title.  Vingegaard is looking back to his teammate the American Sepp Kuss.  I wonder what the conversation was about.  It is usual Kuss who sets up an attack for Jonas, just as Del Toro does for Tadej.

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: "Maintaining TdF26-97" (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 9: What Are They Up To?

It is beyond me why Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) has his team chasing on the front.  Seriously, why are Felix Grosschartner, Brandon McNulty, Adam Yates and Isaac Del Toro buring energy on chasing down a breakaway when the best placed member is almost ten minutes behind him?  Is he setting himself or one of his teammates up for a stage win?  Or perhaps he wants his team to take over the lead in the team competition.  I guess the critics while begin complaining that the team is too greedy again.  Just in case Pogacar makes a move, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) is keeping close to his main rival.  All of the other GC guys are in this group, just out of my sight for this painting.  The peloton has all of the leaders' jerseys, including the Maillot Jaune, the Maillot Blanc, and the Maillot a Pois that we can see now.  But Mads Pedersen in his Maillot Vert is the only sprinter still in the peloton.  Admittedly, he has been dangling a bit everytime the road goes up.

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: "What Are They Up To? TdF26-61" (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 1: Losing Some Time

It was a bit of a surprise to see Tadej Pogacar's team, UAE Team Emirates, losing time against their main rivals.  As they went through the second time check led by the American Brandon McNulty, followed in turn by the Mexican Champion Isaac del Toro, the Austrian Champion Felix Grosschartner, and then Tadej Pogacar himself, they have already dropped fourteen seconds off of the best time.  It is Tim Wellens who has just swung off the front of the UAE line preparing to slot back into the line in hopes of being able to give it another turn in the wind.  Pogacar closed a little bit of time on the final climb ascending at the fastest pace from the final time check to the finish line.  That feat was enough to give him the first Maillot a Pois but dropped him into third place in the 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.

Purchase this painting here: "Losing Some Time TdF26-6" (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 de France 23, Stage 13: Stocking Up

Now that the road was beginning to head up despite that this is not a categorized climb, Felix Grosschartner (UAE Team Emirates) dropped back to the team car for some bidons for his teammates.  Grosschartner has the job description of Domestique.  It is on him to drop back to the team car to get food and bottles for his team leader or to get onto the front of the group and ride tempo.  It is a tough job where the only glory is the success of others on your team.  Given that his team leader, Tadej Pogacar has won a stage and sits just seventeen seconds off the lead, he has certainly done his job well.

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-2023/3965429-77-297438/Painting/stocking-up-tdf23-77.html

Paris Nice 23, Stage 3: “How Are We Doing?”

It seemed like UAE Team Emirates was struggling to keep their leader, Tadej Pogacar in contention.  As Matteo Trentin slid back from his pull on the from of the now four man group, he seemed to be asking how they were doing.  Or perhaps, just checking in with Tadej to make sure the pace was right for him.  Mikkel Berg was setting the pace now, with Felix Grosschartner waiting to take his turn in the wind.  Groacchartner had lost the wheels in the first kilometer or two, but was able to get back on and finish strong, dropping Bjerg and Pogacar off with just two kilometers to go.  Pogacar finished just 18 seconds off of the best time of the day.  He did lose a bit to two of his main rivals but still well within striking distance.  He also lost ownership of the Maillot Blanc, the jersey awarded to the best young rider.  The white tunic will now go over to Kellan O’Brien (Jayco-Alula).

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 $90 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3938700-89-272742/Painting/how-are-we-doing-pn23-7.html

 

Tour '22, Stage 14: Three Away

Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco) was joined by three others, yet one had an ill timed flat tire.  With under fifteen kilometers to race the threesome that included Matthews as well as Luis Leon Sanchez (Bahrain-Victorious) and the Austrian champion Felix Grosschartner (Bora-Hansgrohe).  They had 41 seconds on those behind.  It was looking good but they did have a steep climb up to the finish through the town of Mende.  The climb may allow those behind to bridge up to this trio.

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 $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3894003-87-294403/Painting/three-away-tdf22-88.html

Giro, Stage 7: On the Job

Race mechanics are tasked with a very difficult job.  Their mistakes can effect the results of their team, and naturally, their quality work can effect things as well.  One of the team mechanics will ride in the team car ready to jump out and change wheels, bikes or repair whatever is broken within seconds.  Here the CCC Sprandi Polkowice man is swapping the rear wheel of Felix Grosschartner.  Once the switch is made, he will help push Grosschartner to get him back up to speed and back into the peloton.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2965563-46-235247/PaintingOn-the-Job-G17-47.html