Tour '26, Stage 13: Not Closing

Despite their best efforts these eight guys were gaining on the two former companions now twenty-one seconds up the road.  Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) usually was most skilled at chasing down breaks, it is kind of his job on the UAE team.  His teammate the American Brandon McNulty was hoping that Wellens would spend the energy that allowed him to go for the stage victory.  Behind Wellens is Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) who is followed by his countryman Clement Braz Alfonso (Groupama FDJ-United).  The rest of the group was comprised of the man to be named the most combative rider of the day, Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5), Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula), Kevin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineos) and Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).  I suspect these eight will be vying for the final step of the podium in Belfort.  Regardless, Pidcock has moved way up the general classification into fourth place now.  He turned out to be the one to beat the others across the line to claim third on 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Not Closing TdF26-91" (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

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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

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 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 →   

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 5: Four Climbers

With roughly five hundred meters left to race, it has come down to four strong climbers off the front on Willunga Hill.  Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula) was the one who chased down Javier Romo (Movistar) taking Oscar Onley (Picnic-PostNL) and the Ecuadorian champion, Jhonathan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates) along with him.  The three dropped the Ochre Jersey in the closing meters with Narvaez having the legs to take the stage ahead of Onley.  In so doing he also took the leader's jersey off of the shoulders of Narvaez.  Sorry, the TV camera didn't give me a good image of the new Ochre Jersey winning the stage.  So it goes.

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.

"Four Climbers TDU25-41" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 3: Surfing the Tail of the Peloton

I believe that Phil Liggett was getting genuinely upset with Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula).  Every time he appeared on camera on the back of the peloton Phil would talk about how unwise and potential unsafe it was.  And he mused about how much extra energy it took for him to move up to the front when things got aggressive at the other pointy end of the peloton.  It wasn't long after I painted this that the road went uphill, and Plapp moved right to the front of the peloton.  I don't think the same could be said for Jesus Herrada (Cofidis).  The veteran is a great climber, but I think he doesn't enjoy going downhill in a big group.

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.

"Surfing the Tail of the Peloton TDU25-29" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Down Under, Stage 2: Ramping It Up

Using the final ascent of the Fox Creek climb the trio of Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula), Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) and Jonathan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers) jumped off the front of the peloton all in hopes of stealing the sprinters thunder in just another eight and a half kilometers.  Moments after I painted this, Alaphilippe swung off unable to hold the pace of the Australian Champion.

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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995731-185-194179/Painting/ramping-it-up.-tdu24-8.html

Tour Down Under '23, Stage 1: Sprinting to the Top

Nans Peters (Ag2r-Citroen) tried to attack early on the final climb up Menglers Hill, but was soon caught by his closest rival in the King of the Mountains competition, Luke Plapp (Ineos-Grenadier).  However, Plapp attacked after catching Peters while bedecked in his brand new Australian National Champion's jersey.  Yet, it was Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates) who got over the top first.  But Plapp's second place over both categorized climbs of the Menglers Hill was enough for him to be the one to pull on the Polka Dot Jersey on the podium 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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3928011-154-194179/Painting/sprinting-to-the-top-tdu23-8.html

Wollongong 2022, Elite Men's Road Race: Up & Over, Again

The twelve laps around the Wollongong circuit took everyone up and over Mount Pleasant repeatively zapping strength from the legs every time.  The early break was still away with 93 kilometers to go. Each rider followed the other over the top and filed into a long single file line down the other side.  While there are others in the group, this is Pieter Serry (Belgium) following, Pavel Sivakov (France), then Luke Plapp (Australia), Lukasz Owsian (Poland), Pier-Andre Cote (Canada) and just dropping out of sight of the fans is Guy Sagiv (Israel).  They may be doomed in their efforts to stay off the front since the peloton has pulled them back to an under four minute advantage.  Only time will tell if it is all worth the effort for the group.

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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3907913-29-295031/Painting/up-over-again-uci22-29.html

Wollongong 2022, Men's ITT: Speeding

Luke Plapp (Australia) was going out on a fast run in the first heat of the Elite Men's Individual Time Trial.  As he came out of a sharp corner he was well over the 40 kilometers per hour speed limit.  He finished the 32 kilometer course with an average speed of 49.5 kph.  Unlike his country woman in the Women's ITT he didn't stay as high up in the standings as Grace Brown (she got the silver medal).  He eventually slipped to twelfth place by the end of the day.  

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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3906182-7-295031/Painting/speeding-uci22-7.html