Tour '26, Stage 21: The Jerseys of the Tour

The final stage of stage of the 113th Tour de France was shortened by 25 miles.  Rather than starting outside of Paris and winding its way into the city, it was decided to give the start town the honor of the team sign-in.  They then loaded all of the teams into their busses and processed down the course to the Champs Elysees.  Once everyone was onsite, the race started without a neutral start for the six laps off the tradition finish on up and down the Champs Elysees.  Now they have added three laps that take in a ten-kilometer loop up to the top of the Butte Montmartre under the shadow of the Cathedral de Sacre Coeur.  The teams decided on their own that they would do all of the traditional photos, and ceremony on the first to laps, and then get down to the business of racing.  The first to show themselves for the camera were the four men who have won the four leaders' jerseys.  Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) in the Maillot Jaune of the winner of the Tour, and his teammate Isaac Del Toro in the Maillot Blanc of the best young rider and third place.  The Maillot a Pois was won by Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost).  The Maillot Vert was won by Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) which he like Tadej have held since Stage Four 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

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Tour '26, Stage 20: The King Wins, Again

Having stayed upright when the leader had not, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) thumps his chest in victory atop the final mountain top finish of the Tour.  In the process he claimed maximum points on every climb of the day but the last one where he went over in second place thus securing the Maillot a Pois.  At the start of the Tour he stated that this was his goal.  And he achieved it and picked up two stage wins in the process.  All he has to do is finish the stage tomorrow in Paris, and he will go out the King of the Mountains.

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 King Wins, Again TdF26-152" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 20: Hurting Everyone

With three more kilometers to the summit of the Col de Croix de Fer Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) jumps free of the breakaway in hopes of cementing his hold on the Maillot a Pois.  Behind you can make out the erstwhile wearer, and something virtual holder. of the jersey, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) tries to chase him down.  Those behind figured they would just keep riding their pace confident that these two will end up back in the fold after the summit of the climb.  They did, and Carapaz got the maximum points over the top.

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 19: You Were Expecting...

I love the almost teenage shrug that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) gave before going into a more tradition victory salute.  He seemed to say, with this gesture, you were expecting a different result?  It has been since Bradley Wiggins that the guy wearing the Maillot Jaune won the stage atop Alpe d'Huez.  And you have to go back to Marco Pantani to find someone who has climbed this famous Tour climb anywhere near as quickly.  Let's face it, Pogacar is setting new Tour records throughout this Tour.  Let's hope he doesn't go the way of Pantani.  Behind the gesture, you can just see the two guys he left inside of the final kilometer, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) takes second place and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and by so doing takes the lead in the King of the Mountains competition away from the guy who now leads the Tour by a little over seven minutes.  I think he was also letting us know that despite there being some illness hitting his team... he is just fine!

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 19: Through the Tifosi

These three still had forty-four seconds on the fast-closing Tadej Pogacar as they forced their way through the throngs of fans with another five kilometers to climb.  With everyone pressing so close, it was impossible for either Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) nor Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) to even think about passing Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious).  At least, the leader of the trio was putting in a good pace prior to the four-kilometer banner when the barriers will hold the crowd back for the rest of the way to the summit of the Alpe d'Huez.  This has often been described as a corridor of noise.  I would add that it is one of fear as well.  At any moment an over exuberant fan could fall into a rider or knock them off their bike (either intentionally or unintentionally).  Fortunately, as far as I know that didn't happen anywhere on this iconic Tour de France mountain.  And to think, we come back up to the summit from another direction tomorrow!

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 19: Starting Alpe d'Huez

This quartet that was led first by Thymen Arensman (Netcompany-Ineos) and followed by Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious), Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) with just over three minutes over the group that included the Maillot Jaune.  They were looking at a climb of twelve kilometers they all were hoping that it was enough of a gap to be the ones to vie for the stage win at the summit of the fabled climb of the Alpe d'Huez.  Carapaz was hoping to follow his stage victory with a second in a row.  He also knows that he has the chance to hold the Maillot a Pois outright should he finish the stage in the top three.  And that is true even should Tadej Pogacar be able to chase them down and win the stage.  The crowds at the base of the climb were but a taste of the multitudes awaiting every single rider to scale the Alpe.

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 19: Banking Points

Now the virtual King of the Mountain, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) went for maximum KOM points over the top of the Col du Noyer.  He continues to add points in hopes of being the actual King of the Mountains at the end of the stage.  Yes, he is currently wearing the Maillot a Pois, but it is on loan from Tadej Pogacar.  Paret-Peintre would prefer to own it outright, rather than sitting second in the competition but wearing the best looking of the leaders' jerseys.  Behind him, yet again, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) continues to be second best over every climb.  He wants to stay close in the points tally, although he would love to follow yesterday's mountain top stage victory with another one 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

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Tour '26, Stage 19: Climbing in Green

Traditionally, sprinters can't climb.  That is not the case with Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek).  While he has won a stage this Tour, most of his points towards his sprinters' jersey have come from winning (or at least scoring points) the intermediate sprints.  Yesterday, he went up the road over categorized climbs to score maximum points at the intermediate sprint knowing full well he wouldn't be there for the points at the mountain top finish.  His teammate Derek Gee-West has been assigned to help him carry the Maillot Vert all of the way to Paris.  Others on the team are shepherding there two guys that are in the top ten, Mattias Skjelmose and Juan Ayuso.  The USA champion Quinn Simmons seems to be on double duty and sometimes is left free to go for the stage win.  For Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) he is thrilled to have a good pair of wheels to carry him up the mountain.  He continues to chase the KOM points always going over the mountain behind the current wearer, and virtual, Maillot a Pois.

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 18: Climbing Alone

"And Winning Alone" is what I wish I had added to the title, but I wasn't sure that would be the outcome when I painted this.  With just over a kilometer left to climb of the Orcieres-Merlette and the stage, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) had thirty-five seconds over the two that were still chasing behind.  Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) finished second on the stage, for the second stage in a row.  He was followed over the line at the same time by Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) leaving both him and his team looking for their first road stage win.  Remember that Visma won the opening team time trial, so quite literally, the team has already won a stage in the 113th Tour de France.  Carapaz went on to win the stage by forty-five seconds.  He also moved himself into the top ten of the general classification, but is still over twenty minutes behind the time of the leader, Tadej Pogacar.  He is still trying to take the Maillot a Pois and he now sits third in that competition.  All in all a good day out for the former Ecuadorian 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

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Tour '26, Stage 18: Who Among Us?

This title amused me.  But it was what this sextet was thinking, "Who among us will win this stage?"  With the chase group losing ground, and the peloton still over five minutes behind, it was clear that this is who is racing for stage honors today.  Only Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) doesn't have to win the stage to have achieved his goal of the day.  If he crosses the line in third or better, he will take over the lead in the King of the Mountains competition.  He did not.  He finished fourth on the day.  So Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) was hoping to get a second stage victory. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) was hoping to win the stage to rewrite the current story of his team. The rest, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), Tobias Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility) and Raul Garcia Pierna (Movistar) were hoping to win their first stage of this Tour.  For Carapaz, Jorgenson, and Gacia Pierna it would also be the first stage win for their team also.  Not everyone will achieve their goals.  But then that is bike racing.

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 18: Scooping Up All the Points

The third categorized climb of the day was the Cote des Terrasse, and it was the third climb that Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) got the maximum King of the Mountain points at the summit of.  He out sprinted Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) yet again.  Behind them were the Lidl-Trek teammates, Mathias Vacek and Mads Pedersen.  Why that is important is that Pedersen is wearing the Maillot Vert of the best sprinter in the Tour.  Sprinters are known for their climbing abilities, but here he is with the leaders on a mountain stage.  Of course, the intermediate sprint is another twenty-four kilometers down the road.  His main competitor in the sprint competition is behind the peloton in the grupetto about ten minutes behind the 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: "Scooping Up the Points TdF26-129" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 18: The Points Are Up the Road

As this five-some climbed the Cote de Monteynard they were chasing a group of six that had twenty-one seconds on them.  Not a situation that either Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) nor Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) were happy with.  Both men were hoping to take over the lead in the King of the Mountains competition.  Yes, Paret-Peintre is wearing the jersey, but it is "on loan" from the race leader, Tadej Pogacar.  The Soudal-Quick Step rider has already gone first over the first climb of the day, out sprinting Carapaz for the maximum KOM points.  The other three were happy to ride behind the aggressors.  Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula), Raul Garcia Pierna (Movistar) and Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) were happy to let the other two pull them up to the leading breakaway.  Both Vacek and Pierna had teammates up the road, so there were going to, nor were they expected to, work to chase down the leaders.  I should note that they did join up before the summit with Paret-Peintre getting the maximum KOM points ahead of Carapaz, again.

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 14: Dropping the Last One

As Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Tobias Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility) scaled the final kilometers up the Col du Haag, Carapaz was finally able to drop the last of his day long breakaway companions.  The Norwegian fans on the side of the road must have been thrilled to see their countryman at the front so close the end of the stage.  With another fourteen-and-a-half kilometers to race, Carapaz only has just under a minute on the closing peloton of favorites.  His first goal is to get to the summit first, so he can become the new King of the Mountains, then it is on to trying to win the stage.  Alas, neither came to fruition.

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 14: Twin Brothers and Teammates in the Break

Not since the Yates brothers fought out for the opening stage victory (and the Maillot Jaune) have we had a pair of twins in a breakaway in the Tour de France.  Today, it is Tobias and Anders Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility) are together in the breakaway on the uncategorized climb prior to the final ascent of the day.  Unlike the Yates, these guys are on the same team, and they are actually the two in the Tour of a trio of triplets.  Will we see their third sibling in the Tour next year?  Just ahead of the brothers is Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) still riding for points and the stage victory.  They still had hope of getting to the line first, but the peloton is just under two minutes behind them.

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 14: Becoming King

Still fighting with each other to claim the Maillot a Pois, it is again Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) outsprinting Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) over the summit of the Ballon d'Alsace.  The pair were followed by Tobias Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility) and the rest of the eight-man breakaway.  With just one more climb in today's stage Paret-Peintre is the virtual Maillot a Pois, but the final climb is very close to the end of the stage.  He will need to still be off the front which may be tough if the guys fighting for a better position on the general classification attack on the way up the Col du Haag.  However, he may be wearing it tomorrow regardless assuming Pogacar keeps the lead in the King of the Mountains.  Only time, and climbing, will tell the tale.  Alas, the end of the stage, and Paret-Peintre's legs made it so he now sits second in his quest to own the Maillot a Pois.  Carapaz sits just four points behind him, now in the third ahead of Jonas Vingegaard.

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 14: Sprinting Up the Grand Ballon

Both Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) had gotten into the breakaway with the sole purpose of earning as many King of the Mountain points as possible.  As they neared the summit of the Grand Ballon they sprinted against each other in hopes of getting the maximum points for themselves.  As the throngs of cycling fans cheered them on, it was Paret-Peintre who went over the Category 1 climb first.  Clearly, Carapaz was second over the top.  Once they had collected the points, they rejoined their breakaway companions working together to stay away from the peloton just a minute-and-a-half behind.  If either goes over the next three climbs first they will be the new King of the Mountains thus wearing the Maillot a Pois to start Stage 15.

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 10: Off He Goes

Despite having a minute's advantage on the way up the Col de Pertus, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) was caught before the summit of the climb by a flying Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). The Maillot Jaune must have been 'sandbagging' the peloton, or he was holding back to help his teammate Isaac Del Toro.  Once he went, Del Toro popped off the back of the group losing time and his Maillot Blanc.  Back in the peloton Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) was hanging tough taking third on the stage (not bad for a Frenchman on Bastille Day).  It was Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who had been dropped fighting back to take second.  Sadly, Jonas Vingegaard finished the day in fourth ceding another minute to Pogacar.

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.

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Tour '26, Stage 10: Flying Down the Other Side

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) jumped out of the peloton on the way up the Puy Mary.  He built up a minute on the group of favorites as he went over the top of the climb at the Pas de Peyol.  Carapaz continued to add to his advantage in the rather scary descent down the other side of the volcano.  Would he be able to take this advantage to the finale in just twenty-six kilometers?  It really depends on what happens between the main GC rivals now a minute behind the former Colombian 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

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Tour '26, Stage 3: Flying to Victory!

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) used the short climb up to the summit at Les Angles to get the jump on the remaining peloton of race favorites.  He opened a small gap on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) as the Maillot Jaune looked back to see if anyone else was attacking.  That look back seemed to make him lose the wheel of the rainbow jersey, a mistake that left a two second gap between the two main rivals for the win in Paris.  And in so doing, not only did Pogacar win the stage, with the time bonus he drew equal in time with Vingegaard.  That means he will be the next to wear the coveted Maillot Jaune.  Behind, it was Vingegaard in second, followed by Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) in third and Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM). Everyone else keeps their positions in the General Classification.  However, Del Toro will be wearing the Maillot Blanc of best young rider, Vingegaard will be wearing the Maillot Vert (he is second in that competition) as Pogacar will be in the Maillot Jaune.  Of course, Alex Baudin will be in the Maillot a Pois despite not being present at the finale 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

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Tour '26, Stage 2: Who's Going First?

With just ten kilometers to race all of those that matter have massed at the front of the peloton on the wheel of the Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates).  His team leader Tadej Pogacar in the Maillot a Pois continued to draft off of him as their other teammate Isaac Del Toro (the Mexican Champion) moved up pass Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the leader's Maillot Jaune.  Keeping a close eye on the proceeding were the other three main contenders, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGA).  With only 600 meters to the summit of the penultimate climb all were wondering who was going to attack first.  Oddly, no one did.

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: "Who's Going First TdF26-13" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

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