Tour '26, Stage 21: Finishing It Off!

Amazingly, Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) found the legs after chasing Tadej Pogacar to hold off the fast-closing peloton in the finally six hundred meters of the Tour de France.  As he did the sprinter's bike throw he looked to his right to see his teammate Jasper Philipsen celebrating.  At first, I thought that Philipsen had outsprinted his teammate, but no, he was celebrating MDVP's stage victory on the Champs Elysees.  That means that their team went first and second in the final stage of the 113th Tour de France.  It was the Maillot Vert taking third on the stage.  Mads Pedersen gave up five points to Philipsen, but it was hardly enough points to change the final destination of the sprinters' jersey. Behind it was Biniam Girmay, Olav Kooij, Max Kanter, and Anthony Turgis with the less than successful sprints.  Nevertheless, it is no small feat to have made it over the alps and three times over the climb up Montmartre to even be in the top ten on the stage.

This is the last painting of this year's Tour de France.  I will have six days off and then I will be back with the Tour de France Femmes.  I hope you will read along with the women's race, 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Finishing It Off! TdF26-164" (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 10: So Close

Max Kanter (XDS-Astana) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) were at it again in the intermediate sprint early on in Stage 10 of the Tour de France.  It looked like it would go the way of Kanter, in fact, it looked like he sat up just before the line.  Pedersen, never one to give up, kept going and did the classic sprinter's bike throw to win the maximum points by a photo finish at the line in Lacapelle de Fraisse.  This win will increase his lead over those who hope to pull on the Maillot Vert themselves.

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: "So Close TdF26-66" (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: On the Outside

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Max Kanter (XDS-Astana) were pre-occupied with each other's sprinting for the points available at the intermediate sprint in Saint Cyprien that they were caught off guard by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech).  Pedersen has been collecting maximum available points at these intermediate sprints.  That combined with his one stage win is why he is wearing the Maillot Vert or the 'sprinter's jersey.'  Today he was just beat by the bike throw of Kanter.  However, both were caught off guard by the sprint of Philipsen.  He hasn't given this hard of a run for the intermediate sprint thus far instead choosing himself for finale instead.  That hasn't worked out for him yet either.  Maybe this sprint is a sign that his fortunes will change when the peloton gets to Bergerac.

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: "On the Outside TdF26-54" (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 7: The Usual Suspects

I'm hoping you get the famous line from Casablanca that this title is referencing.  Or is my age showing, again.  Today's intermediate sprint in Landrias was for third best since the two-man break was still up the road.  It was the usual group of sprinters that we have seen most every stage vying for the most sprint points still up for grabs.  Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) added to his advantage and ensure that he would continue to wear the Maillot Vert even if he scores no points in Bordeaux at the end of the day.  He was followed across the line in turn by Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling), Max Kanter (XDS Astana) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech).  I admit that until this Tour I had never heard of Kanter, but he continues to impress me.  I wouldn't be surprised to see him take a stage in the near future.  Of course, my heart is pulling for Girmay.  Yes, I do have my favorites.  Admit it, you do, 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "The Usual Suspects TdF26-48" (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 '26, Stage 5: A Clean Set of Wheels

I feel I may need to explain the title.  A clean set of wheels means that someone as such an advantage at the finale, that no one is anywhere near them, thus a clean set of wheels refers to no one in their slipstream or threatening to pass them.  That is just how strong of a sprint Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) was able to mount. He has now won his first Tour de France stage and in so doing got the first stage win for his French team as well.  Unable to match his burst of speed but still holding on for second was the guy who took the intermediate sprint, Max Kanter (XDS-Astana).  The final step of the podium in Pau went to Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) followed in turn by Huub Artz (Lotto-Intermarche).  Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) only managed to finish sixth, but did add some more points in his quest for the Maillot Vert.  I am not sure where the current wearer of the sprinter's jersey finished, but Mads Pedersen did hold on to his Green Jersey.  In fact, none of the leader's jerseys changed shoulders today.  I doubt that will be the case tomorrow as they race over the Tourmalet before ending atop Gauarnie-Gedre.

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: "A Clean Set of Wheels TdF26-37" (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 5: Dry Run

With just one guy off the front and the peloton all together, the intermediate sprint was the chance for a dry run of the expected sprint finale in another 45 kilometers' time.  I was surprised to see Max Kanter (XDS-Astana) pop out to grab second place ahead of some of the marquee sprinters of the peloton.  He had a bike length or two on the Maillot Vert of Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling).  A little bit further back was the French sprinter Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) who seems to be hanging around near the front of the sprints, but not quite getting the right jump on the others.  I'm not quite sure what this says about the coming sprint in Pau, but I do know it should be an exciting one.

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: "Dry Run TdF26-34" (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 Down Under, Stage 4: Bringing the Jersey Back

I had watched the leader pull off the front of the peloton for what appeared to be a “nature break.”  Moments later I noticed Isaac Del Toro’s (UAE Team Emirates) teammate, Antonio Morgado pulled off to wait for the Ochre Jersey that demarks the leader of the Tour Down Under.  Morgado suddenly zoomed back into frame with Del Toro tucked on to his wheel as the camera filmed the tail end of the peloton.  Piet Allegaert (Cofidis) - who had crashed earlier - was struggling to hold onto the wheel of Baumé Mollema (Lidl-Trek).  Max Kanter (Astana-Qazaqstan) was another that was finding the pace of the peloton just a bit to fast for their liking.  Perhaps they were just trying to do as little as possible to be fresh for the two final tough days of 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 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/3996038-193-194179/Painting/bringing-the-jersey-back.-tdu24-16.html