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

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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 →   

Tour '24, Stage 10: Are We Doing This?

It looked like this trio were joking about pretending that they were going to attack the slow-moving peloton.  The day started without a breakaway on a clear flat sprint stage and no one seemed eager to take on the sprinters' teams in a vain effort to ride off the front.  There was a relaxed and playful mood most of the day that generated this feint attack.  However, when Kobe Goossens (Intermache-Wanty) along with the teammates Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) and Brent Van Moer realized they had a gap, they decided they might as well see just how much rope the peloton would give them.  You might notice that one of the Lidl-Trek men is on his radio asking the team car what they should do about this move.  With 140 kilometers to go, this was most likely the joke that it started out to be.

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. 

"Are We Doing This? TdF24-52" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Strade Bianche 24: Looking for Help

Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) was the only rider in the peloton who was able to jump clear when Pogacar went on the Monte Santa Maria.  However, he wasn’t able to go with the Slovenian Champion.  With thirty kilometers to race he was almost three and a half minutes behind the leader and a half of a minute ahead of the peloton.  He soon started looking back in hopes that another rider or three would bridge up to him.  It was both his and their only hope in reeling the lone escapee back.  But realistically, the race was now for the remaining two steps of the peloton.  The winner of the 2024 edition of Strade Bianche was already three minutes up the road, and his lead is still growing!

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/Spring-Classics-/4002736-557-195767/Painting/looking-for-help-sb24-10.html