Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Left Alone

Once Maeva Squiban had crashed, Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) had no choice but to try and hold off the closing peloton.  With ten kilometers to race she now only had thirty seconds on the motivated peloton behind.  Without anyone to help in the effort, her day long breakaway was certainly doomed.  While she didn't wreck, as far as the stage victory was concerned, she might as well have.  This is my first, and probably last attempt to paint the rather spectacular paint job on the trek bikes.  They have out done themselves to celebrate the company's fiftieth anniversary.

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: "Left Alone TdFF26-52" (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 →

Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Flying Over the Col

It was quite the costume that greeted the breakaway over the top of the Col de Toutes Aures.  I guess he is supposed to be an angel and antecedent to the Devil we are used to see along the mountain roads in the Alps.  Regardless, he was cheering the breakaway of Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'IMAD) and Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek).  As they went over the summit that had built up a little over six minutes lead over the peloton. Would it be enough to hold off a peloton that is riding for their sprinters despite the couple of short climbs that face them as the ride into Nice.

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: "Flying Over the Col TdFF26-48" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 6: Letting Them Go

Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) went out today on a mission.  While she didn't score points on the first climb of the day, she got maximum Queen of the Mountain points on the next three climbs thus far.  However, as her breakaway companions, Katrine Aalerud (Uno X-Mobility) and Loes Adegeest m(Lidl-Trek), upped the pace, she dropped away.  She had picked up a total of seven QOM points in the effort, but alas, the current Queen scored ten points on the day.  Still, she did increase her advantage over the erstwhile Maillot Jaune and Aalerud's teammate Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset.  

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: "Letting Them Go TdFF26-33" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 2: Calm and Controlled

With twenty-eight kilometers until the finish in Geneva, SD Worx-Protime had control on the front of the peloton as they chased the lone woman up the road.  At this point Lorena Wiebes in her Maillot Jaune following the wheels of her teammates including Micha Bredewold and Nienke Vinke, felt comfortable in her team's ability to reel in Riejanne Markus.  Tucked in behind the work of the team of the yellow jersey were Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) and her teammate Amanda Spratt.  Those two weren't going to help in the chase since Markus was on Lidl-Trek, too.  It wasn't until they hadn't gotten any closer in the next fifteen kilometers that the team began to lose the coolness and feared they may not have things under control after all.

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: "Calm and Controlled TdFF26-10" (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 de France Femmes '24, Stage 5: Building Their Advantage

Twenty-four kilometers later Loes Adegeest (FDJ-Suez) was joined by Julie Van de Velde (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Fem Van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike).  Once the two women arrived, the trio started building on their lead over the peloton.  They were able to stretch out a two minute lead on the peloton before it started to chase them in earnest.   With forty-nine kilometers to race, they have a slim chance of making it all of the way to the finish in Amneville.  While they ended up not taking the stage, Adegeest was awarded the most combative rider of the stage.  Tomorrow we will find her with a green bib number as a marker for her guts 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.

"Building Their Advantage TdFF24-24" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 5: One for the Road

Loes Adegeest (FDJ-Suez) went off the front of the peloton on her own.  As she built up a seventeen second lead on the peloton she found one of her soigneurs waiting to pass her a bidon.  The bidon most likely had a gel attached to give her some extra energy for the task ahead.  She has another 76 kilometers to race yet.  I believe she is exactly halfway through the stage.  I'm sure she is hoping that some others will come join her in the effort.  Holding her off the peloton for the next two and a half hours on her own is a rather tall order.  However, it should be noted that she led the time trial for almost the entire day until the final ten riders came home to knock her out of the hot seat.  It is clear from that she can ride well on her own.

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.

"One for the Road TdFF24-22" (Original art by Greig Leach)