Tour '26, Stage 2: A Costal Break

The first road stage of the Tour also meant it was time for the first breakaway of the 113th Tour de France.  This trio of Frank Van Den Broek (Picnic-PostNL), Felix Englehardt (Jayco-Alula) and Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros) got away after about six kilometers as they left Tarragone.  I thought I'd try and make a joke about the breakaway riding along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea with the title.  I'm not sure I succeed.  It was a great day out for Molenaar.  By being in the break, he won the intermediate sprint and claimed the next Maillot a Pois of best climber in the Tour.  Poor Ban Den Broek cramped as he tried to sprint for those mountain points and quickly found himself back in the peloton after seventy kilometers off the front.  The other two weren't caught by the peloton for an additional sixty kilometers.  I don't know which of the two will be awarded the most combative rider prize for the stage.  Look for one of them to have a red bib number 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "A Costal Break TdF26-8" (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 20: Who's Still Here?

After a treacherous wet corner that took out two and delayed a third of his breakaway companions, Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech) looks back to see who is still with him.  Along with him, Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Frank Van Dem Brock (Picnic-PostNL) stayed upright.  While everyone did get back up to finish the stage, their time in the front group was over.  I was really worried that the Movistar rider wasn't going to be able to continue, but he did finish the stage.  It would suck to have gotten this close to Paris and have to leave before seeing the Champs Elysees!

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? TdF25-136" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 1: Can It Be First & Second?

The short answer is, yes!  Romain Bardet and his teammate Frank Van Der Broek (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) were able to hold off the charging peloton of sprinters by five seconds.  It means that not only did the break away succeed in the opening stage of the Tour, but Van Der Broek is now the best place young rider, and Bardet takes the lead.  It also means that Van Der Broek is the leader in the sprint competition as well.  Since Bardet will start in the Maillot Jaune, and Van Der Broek in the Maillot Blanc, the Maillot Vert will fall to Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) since he finished third on the stage.  Or you could say he won the bunch sprint behind the break away duo.

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.

"Can It Be First & Second? TdF24-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 1: Teaming Up

Once his team leader, Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) jumped clear of the chasing peloton, Frank Van Der Broek dropped out of the break away to help out.  He quickly brought Bardet back to the break and then the pair dropped his former companions.  The two flew down the Cote de San Marino on their way to the finish in Rimini.  It was a tall order to hold of the chasing peloton, but thus far they seemed to be equal to the task.  It is just as easy for the break away as it is for the peloton on the descent, but the flats into down will be the real test.

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 TdF24-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 1: Working Together

The Tour started today in Italy (for the first time in the Tour's history) under sweltering heat in Florence.  It took a while, but the break away finally formed after about forty kilometers of racing.  TotalEnergies managed to get to of their guys into the break.  Matteo Vercher dropped back to the team car to get an ice bag for himself and then passed one to his teammate Sandy Dujardin.  They were joined by six others including Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) and Frank Van Der Broek (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL).  They managed to build a lead of almost six minutes before the peloton started to get nervous about some of the members of those in the break.

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.

"Working Together TdF24-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)