Tour '26, Stage 21: Up Montmartre

 It was an incredible narrow cobbled climb to the summit of the Butte Montmartre.  So narrow that the only people on the streets were the gendarmes making sure no one else but those watching out of the windows above were on the side of the street.  On the second time up the climb Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) has the Maillot Jaune of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) on his left shoulder, and no one else is even in sight behind.  I have walked these streets.  In fact, I got to visit a group of artist studios just around the corner from here.  Today, all of the artists had to surrender their areas on the square in the shadow of Sacre Coeur to the throngs awaiting the arrival of the leaders of the race.  I don't know if you can tell, but the guy leaning out the window is still wearing his waiter apron from the restaurant downstairs.

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: "Up Montmartre TdF26-161" (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 '25, Stage 21: On Top of Montmartre

It was exciting to watch real racing on the final stage of the Tour this year.  The race took in the same circuit used in the 2024 Paris Olympics road race, the same Olympics that forced the Tour to finish in Nice last year.  After four laps of the tradition Champs Elysees circuit, the race went up to the top of Monmartre, back down the other side before riding around the l'Arc de Triomphe again.  They made three of these laps to end on the Champs Elysees.  This Tour marks the 50th time the Tour has ended in the shadow of Napolean's triumphal arch.  Since it was sure to rain on the cobblestones of Paris, the decision was made to take the final time on the final Champs circuit before the race went up the narrow streets behind the Moulin Rouge.  So there was no reason for Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) to be off the front but for the simple reason he wanted to win the stage.  On the first time up to the artist enclave, he was chased by Davide Ballerini (XDS-Astana), and the Visma-Lease a Bike duet of Matteo Jorgenson and Wout Van Aert.  The Visma guys were the only teammates to make the split once over the top of the climb.  That was partly due to help of their teammate Victor Campenaerts.  That set them up to use Matteo as the attacker and Wout as the follower.  This is an important detail to how the stage turned out.

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. 

"On Top of Montmartre TdF25-143" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold.

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Time to Chase!

Caught behind the earlier crash and the medals going up the road, it was time to chase.  Behind by 49 seconds with only twenty-eight kilometers left to ride, it was Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland) who used the Montmartre climb to try to set her race to rights.  She was followed by Carolin Andersson (Sweden) and Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands).  Wiebes was in a bit of a tough spot, it was her teammate up the road so she wasn't going to help in the chase, but then again, she needed to be there if the leaders were caught.  Conversely, it was a very strong group that she was trying to chase down.

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.

"Time to Chase! PO24-63" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: The Narrow Climb to Montemartre

J'adore Paris!  And have been many times including walking this very street.  At the top of the hill is a lovely square populated by artists selling their tourist focused artwork.  I doubt they were out there today.  Bridget and I had the chance to talk with a few and she let them know I was an artist.  We were invited back to the studio of one guy to space that many of the "tourist artists" kept their studios where they made their "real" work.  If I am not mistaken, the door to that space is just to the left as we look that this painting.  It almost looks like Kristen Faulkner (USA) is looking to see what paintings she can spy through the door.  In reality, she is looking at Mavi Garcia (Espana).  The pair were leading this small group that got established after a crash at the base of this climb.  Along for the ride are Blanka Vas (Hungary) and Marianne Vos (Netherlands).  This feels like it must be the move that will stick 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.

"The Narrow Climb to Martmontre PO24-62" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Road Race: Atop Montmartre

As the peloton crested the climb up Montmartre, it was Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands) going on the attack with Wout Van Aert (Belgium) in front of the Cathedral of Sacre Coeur.  The site was a perfect stage for a bike race with a long, wide staircase between this stretch of the racecourse and the art nouveau cathedral.  Belgium had the perfect setup for this race.  They could send either Van Aert on an attack or Evenepoel, both of whom are fully capable of winning on this racecourse.  Then they also have Teisj Benoot who is the man for pulling back any breakaways or counterattacks.  This seems to be their race to lose.  It is nice that the fans had both the Belgium and Dutch flags out on the barriers to cheer their countrymen on.

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. 

"Atop Montmarte PO24-54" (Original art by Greig Leach)