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)

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Paris Roubaix Femmes '26: On to the Velodrome

It was just three women who came onto the fable velodrome at the end of Paris Roubaix Femmes.  They were led into the first lap by the defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike).  She has made it clear throughout the race that she is here to ride for her teammate Marianne Vos who amazingly has yet to win in Roubaix.  The duo was going to have to contend with the German champion Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ).  The odds were clearly in the favor of the Visma women, but it still was uncertain who would be crowned the next Queen of Paris Roubaix.  However, it was certain that all three will be on the podium in just over a lap around the Roubaix velodrome.

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.

"On to the Velodrome PRF26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '26: Getting Off the Front

Despite not going live with the race coverage until just 50 kilometers in the women's Paris Roubaix, there was still a lot of racing (and cobbles) yet to go.  Just before the coverage came on air, this foursome led by the defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) had managed to get off the front of the main peloton.  Her move was covered by her teammate, Marianne Vos, along with the Hungarian champion, Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime) and the German champion, Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ).  With just over 44 kilometers to Roubaix, they have opened up a sixteen second advantage over the other hopefuls.

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.

"Getting Off the Front PRF26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 8: For the Honor in It

Franziska Koch (Picnic-PostNL) and Maeva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ) jumped out of the breakaway to sprint for the intermediate sprint in Chateauneuf.  Neither feature much in the race for the Maillot Vert of the sprint competition, Koch is now over a hundred points behind the leader in green, Lorena Wiebes.  Still there is a nice cash bonus for being first across the line in every sprint point on the road.  The price money goes into the team kitty and is then shared out amongst the riders and the team support personnel in some kind of ethical distribution methodology, either at the end of the race, or the end of the season.  I do think this sprint was more about honoring the fans waiting to see the peloton sprint than much else.

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.

"For the Honor in It TdFF25-47" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 4: Flying Across the Gap

Franziska Koch (Picnic-PostNL) joined up with the Brazilian Ana Vitoria Magalhaes (Movistar) as they left the peloton and chased done the lone leader, Maud Rijnbeek.  They didn't hang around, immediately dropping the Dutch woman as they went off it hopes of beating the odds.  They had another seventy-eight kilometers to race, so it would be a long effort, and a long shot, to vie for stage victory.  Since their team cars couldn't get through the tightly packed peloton, they were being looked after by the Shimano neutral service moto.  

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.

"Flying Across the Gap TdFF25-19" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 5: Chasing Champions

I suppose I should have titled this "Champions Chasing."  This duo used the final descent to break free of the peloton and go after the lone break away.  The two had ten seconds on the peloton but still had to make up another twenty-three seconds on Ricarda Bauerfiend with just two and a half kilometers to race.  The German Champion, Laine Lippert (Moivstar) and the Swiss Champion, Marlen Reusser (SD Worx-Protime) seemed to be more concerned about trying to out smart the other to be able to work together to chase the rider up the road.  In addition, each were riding in defense of their respective team leaders, so at least they can hope to suck up any remaining bonus seconds at the finish line.  

The two never got closer than twenty-two seconds to Bauerfiend, and the peloton never got closer than the ten seconds that they have right now.

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-2023/3968195-174-297438/Painting/chasing-champions-tdff23-30.html

 

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 5: Seconds Matter

With two riders up the road there was just one more time bonus of two seconds still available as this trio broke free of the peloton of favorites.  Ashleigh Moolman-Passio (AG Insurance-Soudal-Quick Step) sprinted for the seconds despite Liane Lippert (Movistar) trying to grab the bonus in defense of her teammate Annemeik Van Vleutin.  Also vying for the bonus is Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime).  Moolman-Pasio got there first (well third actually) moving her into second place just two seconds ahead of three others and just over a minute ahead of Vollering.  She is still trailing the Maillot Jaune by forty-nine seconds.

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-2023/3968190-171-297438/Painting/seconds-matter-tdff23-27.html