Tour '26, Stage 16 ITT: Can He Regain White?

The short answer is, "No."  Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) was on a good ride, good enough to stay in third place in the race for the Maillot Blanc of best young rider.  He has worn the jersey on two different occasions this Tour four a total of five stages thus far.  He finished fifteenth on the day dropping a minute or more to the two guys ahead of him in the race to be named the "Best Young Rider" of the 113th 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.

Purchase this painting here: "Can He Regain White? TdF26-117" (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 14: Now He Goes!

After Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had been isolated others had tried to go on the offensive.  But once everyone was on their own without teammates to aid them, that is when Pogacar took off.  For a few seconds it looked like Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) were going to be able to hold onto the wheel of the Maillot Jaune.  They could not. Behind them in his Maillot Blanc Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) was finding the pace just too much to handle.  Once he has gone it is very rare that Pogacar is seen again.  Today was no exception.  I wasn't pleased with the camera angles when he won the stage, so this will have to do for his victory painting.  Let's face it, this is when he won the stage.  I do think he has already won the Tour.  Although today he seemed weaker, but then he could have been doing the 'rope a dope' move of feinting weakness in order to get his rivals to over commit.  That may have been what happened to Vingegaard 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Now He Goes! TdF26-102" (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 10: Anticipating

On the last Category One climb of the day, Tadej Pogacar and his UAE Team Emirates dropped off the front of the reduced peloton.  It led us all to wonder if he was having a rough day.  It was three years ago here that he fell apart and Jonas Vingegaard went on to win the stage (and the Tour). That history may be why Davide Piganzoli (Visma-Lease a Bike) went to the front with Vingegaard on his wheel.  Both Remeco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and his teammate (team rival) pulled up alongside Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) and Isaac Del Toro, his teammate wearing the Miallot Blanc. Mixing in with the leaders on the Col du Pertus was Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek).  All were anticipating an attack from the other.  Is Tadej actually cracking or is he taking a play out of Lance Armstrongs playbook and feinting his condition before going on the attack.  The peloton will know soon since we are just two-and-a-half kilometers from the summit.   Remember, there is one guy a minute up the road, 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: "Anticipating TdF26-70" (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 →