Tour '26, Stage 13: He Chased Them Down

Somehow, Mads Pedersen nor any of his Lidl-Trek teammates made the very large breakaway today.  He helped to form another break of about 26 riders, and with was mainly his effort, the two groups came together before the intermediate sprint.  The sprint came late in this the longest Tour de France stage this year, so he had plenty of time to set things to rights.  He chased because is primary rival for the Maillot Vert was in that front group.  Downside, he pulled his other rival along with him.  Once merging to the two groups, he rode up to the front to see just who was were.  He found Fred Wright (Pinarello-Q36.5) in his new British Champion's Jersey, along with Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Raul Garcia Pierna (Movistar) on the front of the now very, very large escape.  With fifty-six guys in the front, it wasn't much smaller than the peloton that was now just shy of seven minutes back down the road.  I think it is safe to say, that today will be a day for the breakaway.

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: "He Chased Them Down TdF26-86" (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 5: Filming the Counter Move

Just after the peloton sprinted to the summit of the only climb of the day, Fred Wright (Pinarello-Q36.5) went of the attack.  He was quickly joined by the Dane Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost).  Seeing the danger of the move, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) went with the two as a spoiler.  It is common for a teammate to join and attack and sit on as a discouragement for the effort.  Paret-Peintre was spoiling for his sprinter Tim Merlier.  Soudal-Quick Step wanted the whole peloton to come together into Pau for a mass sprint in hopes that Merlier would get the best of the other sprinters in this Tour.

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: "Filming the Counter Move TdF26-35" (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 16: The Monster Is Waiting

These six had broken free of the breakaway and were speeding their way to Mont Ventoux.  The mountain has the eerie nickname of the Monster of Provenance, and for those racing in the Tour de France, that is an apt name.  Undaunted, Thymen Arensmen (Ineos-Grenadiers) pushes on followed by Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) with his teammate Matteo Trentin, Enric Mas (Movistar), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Mobility) and Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious).  With fifty-three kilometers to the summit of the monster it is likely that these guys may well vie for stage honors.

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 Monster Is Waiting TdF25-104" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 11: Holding Off the Chasers

It was the three that got away at the start and the pair that joined them that were still holding off the chases from behind.  There was a group of five a half of a minute behind them unable to close the gap.  The peloton sat another two minutes further back equally unable to close up to these five.  With twenty-one kilometers to race it was looking like Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Mobility), Davide Ballerini (XDS-Astana), Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies), Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) and Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) were going to fight it out for the victory back into Toulouse.

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. 

"Holding Off the Chaser TdF25-70" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 

Tour '25, Stage 11: Sprinting Across the Gap

Realizing that there was a good chance that the breakaway was going to succeed in vying for the stage victory today, Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) and Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) sprinted across the gap to join those up front.  It was the right move.  The peloton was close, but they continued to lose a second here, and a second there on the breakaway that went from kilometer zero.  Behind the duo, the neutral support motorcycle provided by Shimano is ever ready to provide mechanical assistance should it be needed.

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 Across the Gap TdF25-68" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 2: Worth the Wait

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) paid back all of his teammates work (and faith in him) in spades!  With fifty kilometers to race, he was off the back with his team desperately trying to pull him back up to the peloton.  Obviously, they succeeded.  It may have been that extra incentive he needed to out sprint Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Stian Fredheim (Uno X-Mobility).  His stage win came with ten bonus seconds which made him equal on time with Tadej Pogacar who started the day in the Maillot Jaune.  But since Milan has won the most recent stage, it is Italian who will be wearing the coveted yellow jersey tomorrow.  I can't think of a better way to thank your team for their help.  Van Der Poel's second third place in a row is enough for him to wear the Maillot Vert of most consistent sprinter at the start line 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.

"Worth the Wait CdD25-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 1: Continuing On

As he went over the penultimate climb of the day, Pierre Thierry (Arkea-B&B Hotels) sprinted to get the King of the Mountain points, but then that was all he had left.  He had been off the front all day.  His breakaway effort was extended once he had been joined by Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), but he was no longer able to hold onto the wheel of the fresh Brit.  Wright continued on with his effort hoping the general classification riders would be too busy watching each other to bother chasing him down.  That wasn't exactly how the finale played out, but more on that later.

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.

"Continuing On CdD25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 7: Some Big Names Out Front

It was a large group of fifteen riders that got off of the front of the peloton today.  It was a shorten stage due to the foul weather.  With only 110 kilometers to race, these guys building an over three-minute lead on the peloton containing the Maillot Jaune was significant.  To names that I was surprised to see let lose were Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost).  The former was here riding for his teammate Michael Storer, but Powless was hoping to make up for suffering so much in the cold these past two stages.  Joining these two are Josh Tarling (Ineos-Grenadiers), Fred Wrightk (Bahrain-Victorious) and Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) amongst others.  With just thirteen kilometers of climbing left, it was looking likely that one of these fifteen would be vying for stage honors in the Queen Stage of Paris 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Some Big Names Out Front PN25-30" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 8: Covering the Move

Once everyone from the break away had been caught with just over seven kilometers to go, it was time for others to see if they could escape off the front.  The first to try was Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) who was joined in the effort by the new British National Champion, Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious).  Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) wasn't having it.  It fell to the Frenchman on the Dutch team to chase down these moves in hopes that his teammate, Wout Van Aert, would be able to win the sprint to the line in Limoges.  Laporte would shortly be aided by members of Alpecin-Deceuninck in defense of their teammate in the Green Jersey, Jasper Philipsen.

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-2023/3964394-46-297438/Painting/covering-the-move-tdf23-46.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen 23, Men's Race: Racing for Third

With Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) off the road and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) up the road by about 45 seconds, this group knew they wouldn't be catching either of them in the final six kilometers.  It looked liked the two Americans, Matteo Jorgensen (Movistar) and Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) seemed to be having a bit of a chat at the back of the group.  They, along with Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) and Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) were going to have to resign themselves to racing for the bottom step of the podium.  That honor did end up going to Mads. With the third of the three who were most frequently named to win to day, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) claiming fourth on the day.  Fred Wright has to continue to look for that elusive race victory, but he has been close so many times.  The Americans managed nineth and fifth respectively.

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-/3943949-519-195767/Painting/racing-for-third-rvv23-6.html

Tour '22, Stage 19, I Know They Are Coming

Sorry that this is out of focus, but then this deep into the Tour I am nearly as exhausted as the racers.  So I just didn't feel like re-shooting the artwork.  The actual painting isn't blurring, just the photograph and since I am not going to offer this as a print, I thought I would just let it go.  The peloton wasn't going to let these three go either.  But Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious), Alexis Gougeard (B&B Hotels-KTM), and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) weren't going to make it easy for those behind.  They only had 14 seconds with 9 kilometers left to go.  They did manage to stay off the front until the last kilometer of the stage.  It actually looked like Wright might be able to win the stage with just 500 meters to race.  But the sprinters were set to have their 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 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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895290-125-294403/Painting/i-know-they-are-coming-tdf22-126.html

 

Tour '22, Stage 13: A Danish Fairy Tale Continues

The down side of changing your mind half way through titling a work of art, you end up with an odd one.  Since the start of the Tour in Demark, the Danes have been having a great Tour.  Their countrymen have worn the Maillot a Pois for eight days, they have now one three of thirteen stages, and most importantly, they have the Maillot Jaune of race leader for the second day in a row.  Today's part of the fairy tale goes to Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) who out sprinted his other two remaining break away companions for stage victory.  Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) finished second and the Canadian Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech) claimed the third step of the podium.  It was a great result for the Danish fans waving their flags near the finish line.

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-2022/3893933-83-294403/Painting/a-danish-fairy-tale-continues-tdf22-84.html

Tour '22, Stage 13: One of Us

With the attack of Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) the break was reduce to these three.  It was only Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech) and Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) that were able to get back onto the Dane's wheel.  As they got to the five kilometers to go banner, Pedersen kept looking at his two companions to see who and/or when they would attack.  While each would be on the podium for the stage, only one is going to go down as a stage winner in the 2022 Tour de France.  Behind, their former companions were desperately trying to get back to contest for stage honors.  Spoiler, it didn't happen.  Nor was Matteo Jorgensen able to get another fourth place finish - he was fifth this time.  Still, not too shabby for a Tour neophyte.

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-2022/3893932-82-294403/Painting/one-of-us-tdf22-83.html

Tour '22' Stage 8: Left to Do It Alone

One by one Fred Wright's (Bahrain-Victorious) break away companions either sat up or gave out in their collective effort to hold off the charge of the peloton.  Wright kept going and still had 34 seconds with just eight kilometers to race.  Alas, the combination of a five kilometer climb to finish the stage and a possible GC battle on the way up, it is a sure bet that Wright will not be off the front at the end of the day.  Nevertheless, he will wear the red bib number of the most combative rider on the stage 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 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-2022/3892803-44-294403/Painting/left-to-do-it-alone-tdf22-44.html

Tour '22, Stage 8: Not Much Chance

Well, yes, a break away has made it all of the way to the end of a stage to sprint for stage honors, but it is rare.  The peloton hasn't let these three build up much of a lead.  So it is unlikely that Mattia Cattaneo (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl), Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) nor Frederik Frison (Lotto Soudal) would manage to outwit the peloton.  Still they have no chance of winning the day if they don't try to go in the break, the peloton is just too strong and too deep with talent for them to have a chance in sprinting up the final climb.

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-2022/3892801-42-294403/Painting/not-much-chance-tdf22-42.html

TDF, Stage 16: Assistance Required

Toms Skijns (Trek-Segafredo) raises his arm to let the race director know that his team car will be coming up alongside this group to help him out.  The guy on the back, Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) had been doing the same gesture of Skijns, but was now tacked onto the back as he waited for assistance.  Just ahead of Wright is Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels) who is having a great Tour, although neither he, nor his team, have yet to win a stage.  This group is now the lead group on the road.  Since none of them are within twenty-five minutes of the top of the leader board, the peloton was competely disinterested in chasing them down.  The guy on the front is David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) the best placed of the bunch.  He will be moving back up the board, but a top ten is is best hope for the day.  What is surprising is that the sprinters Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) and Michael Matthews (BikeExchange) are in this lead group on a rather lumpy day.  It will be a good chance to close the gap on the Maillot Vert in the sprinters' competition.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.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/2021-Tour-de-France/3823766-102-291436/Painting/assistance-required-tdf21-101.html