Tour '26, Stage 20: The King Wins, Again

Having stayed upright when the leader had not, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) thumps his chest in victory atop the final mountain top finish of the Tour.  In the process he claimed maximum points on every climb of the day but the last one where he went over in second place thus securing the Maillot a Pois.  At the start of the Tour he stated that this was his goal.  And he achieved it and picked up two stage wins in the process.  All he has to do is finish the stage tomorrow in Paris, and he will go out the King of the Mountains.

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 King Wins, Again TdF26-152" (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: Becoming King

Still fighting with each other to claim the Maillot a Pois, it is again Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) outsprinting Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) over the summit of the Ballon d'Alsace.  The pair were followed by Tobias Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility) and the rest of the eight-man breakaway.  With just one more climb in today's stage Paret-Peintre is the virtual Maillot a Pois, but the final climb is very close to the end of the stage.  He will need to still be off the front which may be tough if the guys fighting for a better position on the general classification attack on the way up the Col du Haag.  However, he may be wearing it tomorrow regardless assuming Pogacar keeps the lead in the King of the Mountains.  Only time, and climbing, will tell the tale.  Alas, the end of the stage, and Paret-Peintre's legs made it so he now sits second in his quest to own the Maillot a Pois.  Carapaz sits just four points behind him, now in the third ahead of Jonas Vingegaard.

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: "Becoming King TdF26-98" (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 1: Why Not?

As the peloton neared the top of the final climb of the day, there was no one off the front of the race.  It looked odd, but Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) saw the opportunity to gain a single point in the race for the King of the Mountains title.  He was followed by his teammate Matteo Jorgenson.  They team saw an opportunity to push the pace on the descent.  As they hit the base and the cross winds, they continued with the help of Alpecin-Deceuninck and UAE Team Emirates.  The result was they blew the peloton apart dropping both a couple of general classification hopefuls as well as some sprinters.  The early stages of the Tour are always referred to as the stages where you can't win the Tour, but you can definitely lose 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Why Not? TdF25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '24, Stage 2: It's Flat Now

While we didn't see the climbs (they came before the race came on air), Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies) took maximum points over both of them.  He is building on the lead that won him the Maillot a Pois in the opening stage.  The title refers to just how flat the stage was now with another 79 kilometers left to race.  He was joined in the breakaway by Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Mobility) and Samuel Fernandez (Caja Rural-Seguros).  At this point, the trio only has a minute on the chasing peloton, so I am guessing a stage victory is not in the cards for these guys 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.

"It's Flat Now PN25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Volta ao Algarve '25, Stage 4: Almost Over

I just love a title that has more than one meaning.  With just 22 kilometers left of the 175 kilometer stage to race in the final road stage of the 51st Volta ao Algarve clearly, this quartet's suffering was almost over.  In addition, the peloton was a mere twenty seconds behind so their time off the front was just about to come to an end.  For German Tivani (Aviludo-Louletano-Loule) had earned enough King of the Mountains points to make the jersey his for this edition of the race.  Warre Vangheluwe (Soudal-Quick Step), Johan Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ), and Gorka Sorarrain (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) don't have quite as much to show for their time in 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Almost Over VA25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Volta ao Algrave '25, Stage 3: Letting Him Have It

After his team had chased all day, the peloton seemed to let German Tivani (Aviludo-Louletano-Loule) take the maximum points over the last climb of the day, the Faz Fato.  Both EF Education-EasyPost and Ineos-Grenadiers were massed at the front just in case there was a move over the top.  It was just another twenty kilometers until the bonus sprint and neither team wanted to be caught napping on what should prove to be a sprint stage finale.

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.

"Letting Him Have It VA25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 3: Getting More

After the first climb, Fergus Browning (ARA Australian Cycling) erstwhile companion dropped back to the peloton leaving the Polka Dot Jersey off on his own.  As he started up the Knott Hill climb he was joined by Geoffrey Bouchard (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale).  Happily, for Browning, he went over the climb first unchallenged by the Frenchman.  It is still mathematically possible for someone to take the jersey off of the young Australian, but it is beginning to seem highly unlikely.

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.

"Getting More TDU25-28" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Chasing More KOM Points

Fergus Browning (ARA Australian Cycling) sporting his King of the Mountians Polka Dot Jersey was out in the breakaway for the second day running.  Not only did he claim the jersey in stage one, he was also awarded the red bib number of most aggressive rider on stage one.  Kindly, the race organization awarded his breakaway companion and teammate Zacharie Marriage the same aggressive rider red bib, too.  Today Browning was joined by Patrick Konrad (Lidl-Trek) and Georg Zimmermann (Intermache-Wanty).  Do their credit, they didn't challenge Browning for the KOM points at the top of Mengler Hill either time the trio was off the front of the peloton.

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. 

"Chasing More KOM Points TDU25-22" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 1: The First to Get Away

Zachaire Marriage (ARA Australian Cycling) and his teammate Fergus Browning, along with Bastien Tronchon (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale) were the three to get away.  As in the women's race, it was the Australian national team that was lighting up the race.  The trio went through the first King of the Mountain climb without contesting the points on offer.  As they crested the climb to Kangaroo Creek Reservoir, it was Browning who grabbed the most points towards the Polka Dot Jersey of the best climber in the race.  It seems like Browning and Marriage had some sort of agreement about who would pull on the first KOM jersey.  After the first sprint, which Tronchon claimed and the three second time bonus that came with it, the Frenchman fist bumped the Aussies and drifted back to the peloton who were three and a half minutes back down the road.

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. 

"The First to Get Away TDU25-18" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 20: The King of the Mountains

By going over the Col de la Colmaine first Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) secured the Maillot a Pois for himself, his team, and the first for his homeland of Ecuador.  His point total is such that he doesn't need to score anymore points, and even if the man in second in this competition, Tadej Pogacar, scores all of the remaining points available through Sunday, the title is his.  Behind him, Enric Mas (Movistar) prepares to join Carapaz in a super-fast descent off of the mountain.  They have another 37 kilometers to race with the hopes of holding off the peloton of the top riders of 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"The King of the Mountains TdF24-127" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 19: Step A

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) went off from the start of the stage with a mission.  Now that he has his stage win in a Tour de France, he wants to pull on another leader's jersey.  He wore the second Maillot Jaune for one stage until the current leader of the Tour took it off of his shoulders way back in stage 3.  Ironically, the current holder of the Maillot a Pois for the best climber in the Tour is the same guy who took the jersey off of him, Tadej Pogacar.  Perhaps he will be able to take the polka dot jersey off of him at the end of the 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Step A TdF24-117" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 14: Kissing Polka Dots Goodbye

Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) has had a very long run in the Maillot a Pois.  While he did lose the lead in the King of the Mountains competition to Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) he stayed in the jersey because he was the next best and Tadej was in Yellow.  Yesterday, he used the small climbs to draw even with the leader of the Tour.  That effort may have been too much.  Today as the peloton started up the Haute Catagorie climb of the Col du Tourmalet, he lost the wheels and with it any hope of having the polka dots on his shoulders (or butt for that matter) 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. 

"Kissing Polka Dots Goodbye TdF24-78" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 12: Getting Things Done

Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) drops back off of the wheel of Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) and his other two breakaway companions to stock up on bottles and advice before the final climb of the day.  Abrahamsen his wearing the Maillot a Pois on loan from the leader of both the King of the Mountains competition and the leader of the Tour, Tadej Pogacar.  Abrahamsen has already gotten the two of the three points available out on the course.  If he manages to grab the last point in seventeen kilometers he will draw even with Pogacar.  Pogacar will remain in the lead tonight, but again, Abrahamsen will be wearing the Polka Dots at the start 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.

"Getting Things Done TdF24-67" (Original art by Greig Leach)