Tour '26, Stage 8: Inside of Two Kilometers

After going under the two kilometers banner Liam Stock (Lotto-Intermarche) looked back to see the peloton rounding the corner a mere ten seconds behind him.  The conventional theory is that the breakaway needs a minute's advantage for every ten kilometers left to race.  By that formula, Stock is right on the very edge of being able to make it to the finish line in Bergerac before being caught by the peloton.  Even before he got to the final kilometer flame rouge, he knew the catch was nigh and sat up in surrender to the inevitable. The catch translates to him having been off the front for 179 kilometers of an 180-kilometer 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: "Inside of Two Kilometers TdF26-56" (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 8: Holding Off the Peloton

Liam Stock (Lotto-Intermarche) had been attacked on the climb of the Cote du Buissen de Cadovia.  He countered and dropped his attacker over the summit.  Once he was free of his erstwhile companions he decided to see if he could get the surprise on the sprint team led peloton.  At seventeen kilometers to race he still had a minute and twenty-one seconds on those behind.  Of course, those off the front tend to have quite a caravan of race official vehicles, his team car, and a neutral service car as well.  With over a minute to the chasers all these vehicles were still allowed to be behind the leader on the stage.  Once it drops below a minute, everyone except a neutral service moto and perhaps a TV moto are allowed in the gap.  

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: "Holding Off the Peloton TdF26-55" (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 8: Three Debutantes

The trio of Liam Stock (Lotto-Intermarche), Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros), and Thibault Guernalec (TotalEnergies) went off the front from kilometer zero.  With eighty-three kilometers left to ride of the one-hundred-and-eighty-kilometer stage, they were holding a gap of nearly two minutes over the sprinters' teams.  The title I choose was because all three of them are riding their first ever Tour de France.  I would say that it was also their first ever breakaway, but Otruba was off the front for most of the stage yesterday.  He rode all day with Stock's teammate Viestroffer.  It seems another vain effort since the stage appears to be a perfect day for the sprinters to strut their stuff. 

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: "Three Debutantes TdF26-52" (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 →