Tour '26, Stage 13: Over the Summit

I learned today that the Ballon d'Alsace was the first mountain ever climbed in the Tour de France.  It was introduced to the Grand Boucle back in 1905.  We just missed celebrating the 120th anniversary of this climb by a year.  I doubt that was foremost in the mind of Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) as he led the breakaway over the summit of the Category One climb.  Pidcock is known as an incredible descender so he may have wanted to be the first to start down the other side of the mountain.  He was followed in turn by Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula) and Plapp's teammate Mauro Schmid.  The next two over the summit were the two Frenchmen Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) and Kevin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineos).  As they crested the Ballon, the peloton was back down the mountain almost eight-and-a-half minutes behind.  At this point Pidcock has moved into second place virtually.  I suspect that the peloton will start chasing under the impetuous of those teams whose leaders are losing their places in 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.

Purchase this painting here: "Over the Summit TdF26-89" (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: The Next to Go

With the peloton out of the equation, the breakaway set about trying to shed the dead weight on the climb of the Ballon d'Alsace.  After multiple attacks, each counter by another, all of the sprinters and many of the domestiques were already off the back.  As they neared the summit, Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula) was the next to have a go.  He got clear of Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) whom no one else seemed willing to help in the chase.  Pidcock was marked by Kevin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineso), Maim Van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), and the other four guys left off the front of the splintering 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: "The Next to Go TdF26-88" (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 4: Down the Back

The story of today is the very large breakaway that got off the front of the peloton today.  At one point there were 34 men in the escape group representing all by five teams that started the Tour in Barcelona.  It was nice to see the tri-colore of the French Champion Romain Gregoire (Groupama FDJ-United).  He was hanging around the back of the group with his countryman Kevin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineos), the Czech Champion Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Nelson Oliviera (Movistar), and Michael Matthews (Jayco-Alula).  The group has built up just over five-and-a-half minutes on the peloton containing all of the race favorites.  It feels like the peloton is taking a big risk, but then the two guys that are currently in the virtual first and second places are not realistic threats to carry the Maillot Jaune all of the way to Paris.  Given that UAE Team Emirates chased down yesterday's breakaway (and got a lot of grief online about that) it remains to be seen if they will pull this group back.  Conversely, this many members of the break will make it difficult to reel them back in if they don't start chasing soon.

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: "Down the Back TdF26-24" (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 12: Recovering on the Climb

The young French rising star of this Tour, Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) had been dropped in the first kilometer or two of the Hautacam, but he found his climbing legs as the twelve-kilometer ascent sloughed on.  He settled himself, found his rhythm and started clawing back those who had dropped him not long ago.  He proved that one can recover in a race, even in the middle of a tough, long climb. He finished the day fifth on the stage. Coincidentally, he moved himself to fifth in the general classification as well.  He is now less than a minute off of the Tour podium, and the same amout of time needed to reclaim the Maillot Blanc of best young rider.  He is the best place Frenchman in the 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.

"Recovering on the Climb TdF25-79" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 7 ITT, Unexpectedly Good

I certainly didn't think that Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) would be one to post a new best time at the finish.  But then, he has already won a stage of this year's Tour by holding off the chasing peloton.  Perhaps, he has much better legs than any of us think.  Of course, he only held the hot seat for a few minutes before his time was beaten by three quarters of a second.  He finished the day in sixth place on the stage.  Naturally, he is still way down the leader board in 87th overall.

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.

"Unexpectedly Good TdF24-34" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 2: First for Him & the Team

Not only did Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) win his first stage in the Tour de France today.  It was also the first time his team has ever won a stage.  That now makes two out of two stage wins for the French.  Unlike, Bardet yesterday, Vauquelin will not be pulling on the Maillot Jaune.  He did manage to make the early break and then ride away from all of his erstwhile companions on the two climbs of the Cote de San Luca.  He did move up 68 places on the General Classification into 71st place, but as he said, he had a terrible first stage of the Tour.  Clearly, stage two was far superior for him and the team!

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.

"First for Him & the Team TdF24-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 2: They've Played Their Cards

With just one more climb up the Coite de San Luca, Nelson Oliviera (Movistar) jumped clear of the rest of the early break away.  Both Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) struggled, but finally caught the wheel of the Frenchman.  As they climb up the colannade lined hill out of Bologne, it was Vauquelin that went on the offensive.  That move was the end of Oliviera, but Abrahamsen was able to regain the slipstream of the Arkea man (for a little while anyway).

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.

"They've Played Their Cards TdF24-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 2: Double Checking

Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) worked hard to get into the early break away and he'd be damned if anyone was going to steal King of the Mountain points from him over the first climb of Stage 2.  He looked back over his shoulder as he neared the summit of the Cote de Monticino just to make sure no one was planning a 'cheeky move.'  He could see Nelso Oliveira (Movistar) and Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) just watching him ride off the front of the break.  He went on to be the first over every climb of the day except the last one (where he was second instead).  Coincidentally, he also finished second on the stage, 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Double Checking TdF24-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)