Tour '26, Stage 11: Never Doubt

In his post-race interview, stage winner Soren Waerenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) confessed that he wasn't confident about being able to win a Tour de France stage, but in Nevers, he overcame that doubt.  He took the stage in a longer than usual sprint ahead of Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) - he is still looking for that Tour stage win this year - and Milan Fretin (Cofidis).  It must have been that much more special to know that he had the best sprint after racing the fastest Tour de France stage ever.  Uno X-Mobility are having an exceptional Tour.  They now have a stage victory, and they have held the Maillot Jaune for two days.  Most teams cannot boast of either.

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: "Never Doubt TdF26-78" (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 11: Flat Out

I had back issues and went to the ER today, I was worried that the medicine I was given would affect the way I painted.  If it did, I think it improve it.  This may be one of my most favorites of the fourteen years I have been painting the Tour.  Somehow even after a hundred miles at the fastest pace of any Tour stage in history, the sprinters were able to ramp it up just that much faster.  At just a hundred meters, Soren Waerenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) was on the front with Pascal Ackerman (Jayco-Alula), Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural-Seguros), Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling), Milan Fretin (Cofidis) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) were all hoping that they could get around the Norwegian to claim the stage in Nevers.  Warenskjold has finished second in two stages thus far, was this going to be the one that he got right?  Or was Philipsen finally going to get that elusive stage in this Tour. He has one ten stages in his career, but not yet in the 113th Tour.  Girmay is still looking for his first win in two years.

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: "Flat Out TdF26-77" (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: A Clear Victory

Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) was able to work through the crowded field of sprinters to take the stage victory in Bordeaux!  He had a clear win over Soren Waerenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) and Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling).  It is worth pointing out that neither Merlier nor Waerenskjold vied for points at the intermediate sprint (Girmay did).  That may have been the difference between winning the stage and merely collecting points towards the Green Jersey.

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 Clear Victory TdF26-51" (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 3: Photo Finish!

I, nor the race commentators on NBC, could tell who had won stage three between Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek).  However, Merlier was sure it was him as he raised his arms in victory after his lunge to the line.  He was right.  Behind the two who were separated by the width of a tire, it was Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) taking the third step of the podium in Dunkirk.  Just off of the podium were Soren Werenskjold (Uno X-Mobility), Pavel Bittner (Picnic-PostNL), Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in turn.  It would have been poetic if Groves could have taken the stage given the loss of his team's main sprinter, but it was not to be.  Milan will become the new owner of the Maillot Vert vacated by the unlucky Jasper Philipsen. 

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.

"Photo Finish! TdF25-17" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '25, Stage 1: Winding It Up

Alpecin-Deceuninck had led out the final fifteen kilometers of the opening stage of the Tour beautifully.  With just about 75 meters to go, the deliver Jasper Philipsen to the front at full speed.  Try as they might Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty) wasn't able to come around him.  Jasper took the stage by roughly five bike lengths, with Girmay taking second.  Behind, Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) was fourth, Matteo Trentin (Tudor) fifth, Clement Russo (Groupama-FDJ) sixth, and Soren Werenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) took the third step of the peloton.  The result puts Philipsen in both the Maillot Jaune and the Maillot Vert, with Girmay in the Maillot Blanc of best young rider.  Girmay sits second in both the sprint competition and 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.

"Winding It Up TdF25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 5: From the Front

Jake Stewart (Israel-Premier Tech) led out the sprint from the front.  None of the big-name sprinters were able to close in on the young Brit.  Remember, he was the sprinter that almost caught the escaped GC riders in the wild first stage of this Dauphine.  Behind him, it was Axel Laurance (Ineos-Grenadiers) taking a second, Soren Waerenskjold (Uno X-Mobility) took third and Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) managed to take fourth.  So, today was, in fact, a day for the sprinters, and some new names were able to show their prowess.

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.

"From the Front CdD25-28" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Photo Finish

Once we all looked at the photo finish, it was clear that Soren Werenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) has won the mass sprint, but in real time, no one was sure who had won.  It was interesting to watch Warenskjold listening to his race radio trying to discover whether he had gotten the better of Paul Magnier (Soudal-Quick Step) or not.  Hidden by Magnier is the powerful sprinter, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) whom many would have tapped to win a mass sprint today.  The extra icing on the cake for Warenskjold is that he was a very late call up to race Omloop Nieuwsblad for his team.  Way to step up to the plate (or bike cleat in this case)!

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.

"Photo Finish OHN25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 16 ITT, Stomping on the Pedals

Today is the lone individual time trial of this Tour de France.  Usually there are two, plus on occasion a team time trial as well.  It was not a lucky one for Alexis Renard (Cofidis).  He crashed in the very first corner, but got back up and kept riding.  NBC had a commentator in the team car, and as Renard got back up and onto his bike he told the team director that he had dislocated his elbow.  Later in the stage NBC was informed that he had fractured his elbow). That might have something to do with why he was caught by Soren Werenskjold (Uno-X).  To be fair, Renard had just past the guy who started ahead of him, which of course means the Norwegian Time Trial Champion has now passed two guys on the course.  The Norwegian beat Renard by three and a half minutes but was over seven minutes behind the guy who won the stage.  Renard was the Lantern Rouge on the stage, but then he left the race after he finished riding with a broken elbow.

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.

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