Tour '26, Stage 21: The Team that Won the Tour

Despite starting on the Champs Elysees in the heart of Paris, the teams made sure to have the ceremonial traditions before they got down to race for victory in the final stage of the Tour.  Tadej Pogacar poses with his six UAE Teammates that made it to ride up and down the Champs Elysees.  Starting from his left it is Isaac Del Toro in the Maillot Blanc, then Tim Wellens and Felix Grosschartner.  One Tadej's right side his Nils Politt, then Florian Vermeesch and finally, Adam Yates.  The team has changed to an all-white jersey with yellow high lights and a big yellow number five along with white shorts.  Only Del Toro opted for black shorts perhaps to contrast with his Maillot Blanc.  The team was also riding new yellow bikes, with again the exception of Del Toro, who opted for a white bike to match his white jersey.  The one teammate missing is the American Brandon McNulty.  He had to drop out of the raced due to illness during stage 18.

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 Team that Won the Tour TdF26-155" (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

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Paris Roubaix '25: Sprinting for Third

Had it not been for an ill-timed flat tire, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) may well have been sprinting for the win with Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel.  Instead, he led out the sprint (and took it) in the Roubaix velodrome for third place.  Try as he might, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), couldn't get around the Dane.  Claiming fifth was Pogacar's teammate Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates).  Both van Aert and Vermeersch had crashes over the 259 kilometers of the Hell of the North.  So, all of the top six finishers had either crashes, mechanicals, or both, proving again that it takes both luck and strength to win this iconic Spring Classic.

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.

"Sprinting for Third PR25-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix 23: More Bad Luck

Coming out of the Forest of Arenberg Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) had a flat tire which dropped him out of the front group.  And then again, while coming out to another section of pave he had another flat.  At least this time he was able to catch back up to this chase group containing his teammate, Nathan Van Hooydonck along with Sjoerd Bax (UAE Team Emirates), Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Dstny), and Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Both of the Jumbo-Visma guys were desperate to catch back up to the front group to help out their guy Wout Van Aert.  They had the problem of towing Gianni back up to his two teammates without doing any of the work to get there.  Spoiler, they never got there.  Jumbo-Visma was using an automatic inflation system in their tires, but it didn’t seem to be helping at all.  In fact, Van Aert suffered a flat near the finale which cost him the chance to vie for the win.

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/Spring-Classics-/3945313-534-195767/Painting/more-bad-luck-pr23-14.html

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Men's Race: Sneaking Off the Front

As the peloton got within a minute of the early break away this group of four managed to slide off of the fornt in hopes of bridging across the gap.  Kim Heiduk (Ineos-Grenadiers) looks back over his shoulder to find that he, Nathan Van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma), Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Dstny) and Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) have gotten about a four second gap on those behind.  If they are able to bridge across to those ahead their added numbers should be able to open up a more sustaintial on those behind losing touch 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 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/Spring-Classics-/3942423-508-195767/Painting/sneaking-off-the-front-gw23-1.html

Paris Roubaix: Sprinting in Roubaix

Riders caked in mud and sprinting on a velodrome could only happen at Paris Roubaix.  Try as they might neither Matthieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Felix) nor Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) could get rid of Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) on the final kilometer before the Roubaix velodrome.  Both knew that they were going to have and out sprint a well known sprinter if they wanted to win since they couldn’t shed themselves of the European Champion before the finale.  So when these three came around the bell lap it went down as most would have expected.  Sonny Colbrelli won his first attempt at the Hell of the North, with Florian Vermeersch just nipping Matthieu Van Der Poel for second.  In the back ground you can see Gianni Moscon (Ineos-Grenadiers) having been lapped by the podium trio.  He risked losing in hopes of winning and claims fourth in his last race for Ineos-Grenadiers. 

This is most likely my last paintings for a remarkable 2021 season.  I hope to be able to paint the opening race of 2022, the Tour Down Under.  But it was canceled last year, and Australia is still being very strict with their travel restrictions, so here’s hoping it will happen.  If not I’ll be back for the Spring Classics.  Thank you all for your support of my cycling art!

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/Spring-Classics-2021/3840269-63-290150/Painting/sprinting-in-roubaix-pr21-16.html

Paris Roubaix: Who’s Who

Is this not the most iconic image of all that is Paris Roubaix?  As Phil Liggett and Bob Roll commented on the race, one of their main difficulties was figuring out who was who the more the riders got caked with mud.  This is yet another title that is a bit of a play on words.  First it was very difficult to tell who was who, and these three men, Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious), Matthieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Felix), and just peaking over their shoulders, Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Sousa) were looking to be the who’s  who of this Paris Roubaix.  The trio caught and dispatched Gianni Moscon on the fabled Carrefour de l’Arbre and were now vying to find their places on the podium.  The fans crowded the course as they too tried to make out just who was their man for the race.

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/Spring-Classics-2021/3840265-62-290150/Painting/whos-who-pr21-15.html

Paris Roubaix: Can It Get Worse?

It should come as a surprise to no one that with all of the rain last night and during the race today large puddles formed along the course.  Just before the entrance to Section 23, the Artres a Querenaing, the railroad crossing had helped to form a huge deep puddle at the start of the cobblestones.  First Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) and then Nils Eekhoff (DSM) road through unable to see their feet nor almost the hubs of their wheels.  Fortunately there wasn’t any potholes hidden beneath the surface of the small pond.  Fortunately, they and the rest of the peloton got through the slough without more than muddy soaking wet feet.

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/Spring-Classics-2021/3840221-58-290150/Painting/can-it-get-worse-pr21-11.html

Paris Roubaix: Cold and Wet

By the time the men hit the first section of pave, #30 the Troisvilles a Inchy, there was already a large group off the front of the peloton.  Leading the group on the first of many cobble stoned sections was Florian (Lotto Soudal) with Nils Eekhoff (DSM) and Gianni Moscon (Ineos-Grenadiers).  By the time they had reached this point the temperature was dropping rather than raising.  As if that wasn’t enough to make the peloton uncomfortable, now it was starting to rain.  All of us cycling fans have been waiting almost twenty years for a wet Paris Roubaix.  Today was going to be that day.  I do feel a bit guilty for wishing this on every man in the race, but it is going to be exciting!

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/Spring-Classics-2021/3840219-56-290150/Painting/cold-and-wet-pr21-9.html

Gent-Wevelgem 2021: Keeping Upright

 Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) struggled to keep himself from crashing as he rounded a corner in the Plugstreet.  He was one of at least a half dozen guys to have fallen (sorry I didn't intend that pun) prey to punctures on the gravel sections and rough roads of this stretch of the race.  Vermeersch was able to stay upright and to get a quick wheel change.  However, I don't recall seeing him for the rest of the race.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3802939-20-290150/Painting/keeping-upright-gw21-2.html