Tour '26, Stage 21: Finishing It Off!

Amazingly, Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) found the legs after chasing Tadej Pogacar to hold off the fast-closing peloton in the finally six hundred meters of the Tour de France.  As he did the sprinter's bike throw he looked to his right to see his teammate Jasper Philipsen celebrating.  At first, I thought that Philipsen had outsprinted his teammate, but no, he was celebrating MDVP's stage victory on the Champs Elysees.  That means that their team went first and second in the final stage of the 113th Tour de France.  It was the Maillot Vert taking third on the stage.  Mads Pedersen gave up five points to Philipsen, but it was hardly enough points to change the final destination of the sprinters' jersey. Behind it was Biniam Girmay, Olav Kooij, Max Kanter, and Anthony Turgis with the less than successful sprints.  Nevertheless, it is no small feat to have made it over the alps and three times over the climb up Montmartre to even be in the top ten on the stage.

This is the last painting of this year's Tour de France.  I will have six days off and then I will be back with the Tour de France Femmes.  I hope you will read along with the women's race, too.

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: "Finishing It Off! TdF26-164" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 21: Desperately Close

The change in the lap up to Montmartre meant that there was a longer flatter stretch of road before the return to the Champs Elysees.  That gave the sprinters and their teams the opportunity to chase down anyone that got away on the narrow climb up to the summit of Butte Montmartre.  So it was for Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) as they made the final curve towards the line on the Champs Elysees.  Without any true need other than pride, Pogacar sat up once the chasers caught his wheel.  Tadej finished thirtieth on the stage but is still very much the winner of the Tour de France for the fifth time.  He is only the fifth to officially achieve that milestone.  Van Der Poel had a very different finish on the Champs Elysees than that of the Maillot Jaune.  The group that had chase these two down included all of the big-name sprinters that have gotten themselves over the alps just for this moment.  Lining up to fight it out for stage honors in Paris are Milan Fretin (Cofidis), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Mattieu's teammate Jasper Philipsen, Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) and Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) amongst others.

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: "Desperately Close TdF26-163" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 17: Without Disaster

I guess I should start with the title.  Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) has a nickname that he hates.  He is oft times called "Jasper Disaster."  He has a tendency to crash in sprints.  To be fair, that does seem to no longer be a thing.  Although, he has not been able to put together a successful sprint for a stage victory this Tour, until now.  He had to work hard in the early phase of the stage to stay with the peloton, most of his sprint rivals were dropped, fought back, and then stayed with the peloton when they let the breakaway go.  Philipsen stayed with the break and was there to fight for the stage.  He was delivered perfectly by his teammate Mathieu Van Der Poel (who has won a stage already).  Then he had the power to drop all of the others trying to win today.  Behind him it was Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) from an early painting. In third was Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM), the only other pure sprinter in the finale. Behind the podium were Lewis Adkey (NSN Cycling), Rick Pluimers (Tudor Pro Cycling), Clement Russo (Groupama FDJ-United), Huub Artz (Lotto-Intermarche) and in eighth was Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek).  Despite Philipsen getting the maximum points in the sprint finale, Pedersen's placing means he holds onto the Maillot Vert.  With the mountains to come, he most likely will hold it into Paris.  He will need to add to his total before the intermediate sprint on the Champs Elysees on Sunday.  Given the new final stage's climbs up Montmartre, it makes for a very different final sprint of the Tour.

As you have seen, I normally include all of scene, but sometimes less is more.  Therefore, as I worked on this, I realized all I needed to convey the story of the final sprint of Stage 17 was the riders, and nothing 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.

Purchase this painting here: "Without Disaster TdF26-127" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 13: Why He Chased

It was debated whether Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) would have anything left in his legs after the long chase down of the breakaway.  While he didn't win the intermediate sprint in Melisey, he did just manage to nip pass Biniam Girmay (NSN Pro Cycling) to take second with the maximum points going to Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech).  Pedersen needed to be up here to gain as many points as possible since Philipsen is closing in on the lead in the race for the Maillot Vert.  Pedersen's second goes a long way to keeping him in green.  Philipsen's successful intermediate sprint moves him to second in the sprinters' competition.  He has done well in the intermediate sprints, but Philipsen has yet to put together a sprint for a stage win this Tour.  It is unlikely that he, or any of the pure sprinters, will have another chance to win a stage with the possible exception of the final stage into Paris.

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: "Why He Chased TdF26-87" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 12: His Third

Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) came from a ways back to take out his third stage of this Tour de France.  Despite a crash not far from the front of the peloton, none of the marquee sprinters were involved in the mayhem.  Although, the first to go down was the sprinter for Caja Rural-Seguros, Fernando Gaviria.  The general classification riders were caught behind but all will be awarded the same time since the crash happened within the final five kilometers.  Merlier outsprinted Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) who was second followed by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech). Philipsen had a perfect lead-out but just doesn't have the punch to hold of the Belgium sprinter.  Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) was fourth.  A little further back you can spy Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek).  While I am sure Mads would have preferred to have done better, he did well enough in ninth to maintain a solid lead in the race for the Maillot Vert.  With no more pure sprint stages in the Tour (now that the final stage into Paris includes the climb up Montmartre), it seems that as long as he is able to stay in the race, the Green Jersey will be his.

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: "His Third TdF26-85" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 11: Never Doubt

In his post-race interview, stage winner Soren Waerenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) confessed that he wasn't confident about being able to win a Tour de France stage, but in Nevers, he overcame that doubt.  He took the stage in a longer than usual sprint ahead of Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) - he is still looking for that Tour stage win this year - and Milan Fretin (Cofidis).  It must have been that much more special to know that he had the best sprint after racing the fastest Tour de France stage ever.  Uno X-Mobility are having an exceptional Tour.  They now have a stage victory, and they have held the Maillot Jaune for two days.  Most teams cannot boast of either.

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: "Never Doubt TdF26-78" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 11: Flat Out

I had back issues and went to the ER today, I was worried that the medicine I was given would affect the way I painted.  If it did, I think it improve it.  This may be one of my most favorites of the fourteen years I have been painting the Tour.  Somehow even after a hundred miles at the fastest pace of any Tour stage in history, the sprinters were able to ramp it up just that much faster.  At just a hundred meters, Soren Waerenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) was on the front with Pascal Ackerman (Jayco-Alula), Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural-Seguros), Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling), Milan Fretin (Cofidis) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) were all hoping that they could get around the Norwegian to claim the stage in Nevers.  Warenskjold has finished second in two stages thus far, was this going to be the one that he got right?  Or was Philipsen finally going to get that elusive stage in this Tour. He has one ten stages in his career, but not yet in the 113th Tour.  Girmay is still looking for his first win in two years.

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: "Flat Out TdF26-77" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Learn More About the Artist →  

Tour '26, Stage 8: On the Outside

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Max Kanter (XDS-Astana) were pre-occupied with each other's sprinting for the points available at the intermediate sprint in Saint Cyprien that they were caught off guard by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech).  Pedersen has been collecting maximum available points at these intermediate sprints.  That combined with his one stage win is why he is wearing the Maillot Vert or the 'sprinter's jersey.'  Today he was just beat by the bike throw of Kanter.  However, both were caught off guard by the sprint of Philipsen.  He hasn't given this hard of a run for the intermediate sprint thus far instead choosing himself for finale instead.  That hasn't worked out for him yet either.  Maybe this sprint is a sign that his fortunes will change when the peloton gets to Bergerac.

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: "On the Outside TdF26-54" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 7: The Usual Suspects

I'm hoping you get the famous line from Casablanca that this title is referencing.  Or is my age showing, again.  Today's intermediate sprint in Landrias was for third best since the two-man break was still up the road.  It was the usual group of sprinters that we have seen most every stage vying for the most sprint points still up for grabs.  Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) added to his advantage and ensure that he would continue to wear the Maillot Vert even if he scores no points in Bordeaux at the end of the day.  He was followed across the line in turn by Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling), Max Kanter (XDS Astana) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech).  I admit that until this Tour I had never heard of Kanter, but he continues to impress me.  I wouldn't be surprised to see him take a stage in the near future.  Of course, my heart is pulling for Girmay.  Yes, I do have my favorites.  Admit it, you do, too.

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 Usual Suspects TdF26-48" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Learn More About the Artist →  

Tour '26, Stage 4: Maximum Points

Most of the marquee sprinters had managed to get into the large breakaway.  For the first time this Tour they were all able to sprint for maximum points at the intermediate sprint.  Again, it was Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) getting the better of both Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Mads Petersen (Lidl-Trek) at the line in Quillan.  Pedersen's third place moves him much closer to his target of wearing the Maillot Vert of the Green Jersey.  It is worth noting that all three of these guys have won the jersey in previous Tours.  Now that they have gotten what they hoped for out of the intermediate sprint, will they sit up and go back to the trailing peloton?  Only Pedersen pressed on in the breakaway, the other two went back in hopes of saving their energy for the sprint 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Maximum Points TdF26-26" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour '26, Stage 2: First Sprint

I was thrilled to see Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) take the best of the rest in the first intermediate sprint of this Tour de France.  He was chased to the line in Viladecans by Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Michael Matthews (Jayco-Alula), Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies), and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech).  With the breakaway still off the front, the peloton didn't get the chance to sprint for maximum points, so most likely, the next Maillot Vert will go to whomever wins today's stage.

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: "First Sprint TdF26-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour '25, Stage 3: Heartbreak Is the End of His Tour

Under normal circumstances, I never paint the crashes the plaque the Tour de France (and bike racing in general).  But this one will affect the rest of this race.  As the peloton ramped up to sprint of sprint points at the intermediate sprint in Isbergues, another sprinter bounced off of a lead out main on a third team.  His loss of control took out the front wheel of Jasper Philipsen (Alepcin-Deceuninck) has he prepared to add to his lead in the race for the Maillot Vert while wearing the green skin suit.  He went down hard onto his back.  Since it was at high speed, he scraped off not only his kit but quite a bit of skin too.  His teammate Gianni Veermeersch held his bike as he tried to help his sprinter.  Another of his teammates, Silvan Dillier came back to be ready to help pace Philipsen back into the peloton.  Alas, there was no remounting for the Belgium sprinter.  It was clear that he had broken or dislocated his shoulder.  I learned later that he also broke two ribs as well.  So, in just the blink of an eye, his Tour was over.

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.

"Heartbreak Is the End of His Tour TdF25-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 2: Pissed Off

Despite having won the intermediate sprint behind the four-man breakaway, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) was pissed off at Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) over some perceived infraction.  For the life of me I couldn't see what made him go full Italian waving his hands all over the place.  If anything, Grimay should have been the one with the complaint as the Italian had tried to push the Eritrean off of his lead-out man's wheel.  While they were arguing, Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) - the European Champion - had taken the spot in-between the two.  And the Maillot Jaune on the shoulders of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was the fourth across the intermediate sprint line of the peloton in  Enocq.  

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.

"Pissed Off TdF25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '25, Stage 1: Winding It Up

Alpecin-Deceuninck had led out the final fifteen kilometers of the opening stage of the Tour beautifully.  With just about 75 meters to go, the deliver Jasper Philipsen to the front at full speed.  Try as they might Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) wasn't able to come around him.  Jasper took the stage by roughly five bike lengths, with Girmay taking second.  Behind, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) was fourth, Matteo Trentin (Tudor) fifth, Clement Russo (Groupama-FDJ) sixth, and Soren Werenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) took the third step of the peloton.  The result puts Philipsen in both the Maillot Jaune and the Maillot Vert, with Girmay in the Maillot Blanc of best young rider.  Girmay sits second in both the sprint competition and 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.

"Winding It Up TdF25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 1: The First Sprint Points

Once the breakaway had been caught it meant that maximum points were available at the intermediate sprint in La Motte au Bois.  It was the Tour rookie, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) who claim the sprint and its twenty points towards the Green Jersey.  While I thought it was Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) that took second, it was in fact Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) who just beat out the Eritrean sprinter.  Oddly, it was Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) taking fourth.  Perhaps, he didn't want to go too deep, saving himself for stage honors in another 94 kilometers.  Even with winning this sprint, it will be the stage winner who will have not only the lead in the Maillot Vert competition, he will also wear the first Maillot Jaune of this Tour de France.

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 First Sprint Points TdF25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: A Tactical Advantage

As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers.  That was definitely the case for the closing kilometers of Paris Roubiax.  After a great chase back by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceunick) to catch back up to his teammate Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) found himself in a tough spot having two guys from the same team working against him.  Just the fact that Philipsen could drop back to the team car, leaving van der Poel free to keep applying the pressure.  It is no small factor that the Alpecin-Deceuninck duo have finished first and second for the past two years.  Would Pogacar be able to thwart that record?

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.

"A Tactical Advantage PR25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Photo Finish

Once we all looked at the photo finish, it was clear that Soren Werenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) has won the mass sprint, but in real time, no one was sure who had won.  It was interesting to watch Warenskjold listening to his race radio trying to discover whether he had gotten the better of Paul Magnier (Soudal-Quick Step) or not.  Hidden by Magnier is the powerful sprinter, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) whom many would have tapped to win a mass sprint today.  The extra icing on the cake for Warenskjold is that he was a very late call up to race Omloop Nieuwsblad for his team.  Way to step up to the plate (or bike cleat in this case)!

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.

"Photo Finish OHN25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Almost Up to the Kapel

With just sixteen kilometers to go, everyone was trying to make their move on the Kapelmuur.  While two or three had just crested the summit in front of the famed church, it was Sam Watson (Ineos-Grenadiers), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and the American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) who were the next to drop the majority of the peloton.  With so many still in touch, it was looking like it might be a mass sprint to finish this Omloop Nieuwsblad, a rarity for this race.  Surprisingly, I searched for the name of this church and could not find it.

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.

"Almost Up to the Kapel OHM25-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Open Road

The fun part of painting live (or as close to it as possible) is that I can only get what is going on by what I see when the camera man catches it.  So, as I painted this, I was assuming that Jasper Philipsen (Aplecin-Deceuninck) had been tailed off of the peloton and was looking at a long hard day trying to make the time limit.  But no, he was actually chasing back to the main peloton after having a wheel change.  What is the old saying about assuming?  I love the feeling this evokes.  The thought of being out riding on a wide-open road with mountains lurking on the horizon.  Well, maybe not the impending mountains part.

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.

"Open Road TdF24-109" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 17: Another Point in the Bag

After crashing and being helped to the finish by his teammates yesterday, it was a relief to see that Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) started stage 17.  It was even more pleasing to see him contesting the intermediate sprint for the remaining points not sucked up by the breakaway.  He had about a bike length on his main rival for the Maillot Vert, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) as he crossed the line in Veynes.  Taking third, and third in the competition was the French sprinter, Bryan Coquard (Cofidis).  All Girmay has to do to win the green jersey overall is keep finishing ahead of Philipsen in the next three intermediate sprints.  Given the coming stages neither are going to be vying for the stage victories, including today.

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.

"Another Point in the Bag TdF24-102" (Original art by Greig Leach)