Tour '26, Stage 21: Desperately Close

The change in the lap up to Montmartre meant that there was a longer flatter stretch of road before the return to the Champs Elysees.  That gave the sprinters and their teams the opportunity to chase down anyone that got away on the narrow climb up to the summit of Butte Montmartre.  So it was for Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) as they made the final curve towards the line on the Champs Elysees.  Without any true need other than pride, Pogacar sat up once the chasers caught his wheel.  Tadej finished thirtieth on the stage but is still very much the winner of the Tour de France for the fifth time.  He is only the fifth to officially achieve that milestone.  Van Der Poel had a very different finish on the Champs Elysees than that of the Maillot Jaune.  The group that had chase these two down included all of the big-name sprinters that have gotten themselves over the alps just for this moment.  Lining up to fight it out for stage honors in Paris are Milan Fretin (Cofidis), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Mattieu's teammate Jasper Philipsen, Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) and Olav Kooij (Decathlon-CMA CGM) amongst others.

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 21: Bell Lap

I love some of the holdovers that persist in the Tour de France.  The bell lap is more that just a name meaning the final lap.  It is literally the lap that is announced by a bell.  Over the heads of the peloton is a big electronic board counting down the laps, but this bell is still wrung by hand to announce just one more lap to go in the final stage of this the 113th Tour de France.  The peloton is lead through by Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) setting the pace for his teammate in yellow, Tadej Pogacar.  Lined up behind are the Lidl-Trek teammates of Mads Pedersen making sure they keep him in the right place for the final ascent of Montmartre.

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 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.

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Tour '26, Stage 21: Who Is with Me?

Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) looks back on the way down from the summit of Montmartre to find that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) is leading the chase.  On the wheel of the Maillot Jaune is Jasper Stuyven (Soudal-Quick Step), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), and Micheal Matthews (Jayco-Alula).  The group joined together in hopes of holding of the next group behind.  As they returned to the circle around the l'Arc Triomphe, they were almost all together again.  Now it was down, around the Place de la Concorde and back up the other side of the Champs Elysees.  I imagine that they will be all together just to start the climb 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 21: An Iconic Moment

I can only imagine what it would be like to race up the Champs Elysees towards the l'Arc de Triomphe off the front of the peloton.  This duo with the Frenchman Thibault Guernalec (TotalEnergies) and the Spainard Xabier Mikel Azparren (Pinarello-Q36.5) had built up fifty seconds on the peloton before they all turn right at the top of the rise.  Next on the menu was the three loops that include the climb up to the summit of Montmartre.  I wonder if they will still be off the front by the time they ride pass Sacre Coeur?

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 21: And Now, We Race

Egan Bernal (Netcompany-Ineos) in his Colombian Champion's jersey was lucky enough to have his mechanical before the peloton started to race in earnest.  Just as he joined Tiesj Benoot (Decathlon-CMA CGM), Guillaume Martin (Groupama FDJ-United) and Nicolas Breuillard (TotalEnergies) at the back of the peloton just as the pace ramped up on the front.  As they headed up towards the l'Arc de Trimophe, it was clear that the aggressors were hoping to get free of what they felt would be the grip of the sprinters' teams.  Here we go!

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 21: Attacking and Giggling

Just after Lidl-Trek had their photo op on the front of the peloton as they rode back onto the Place de la Concorde, Quinn Simmons in his USA Champion kit and Mathias Vacek in his Czech Champion kit decided to mime attacking the peloton.  It wasn't out of character for the two to attack, but laughing as they did it was.  Since their teammate in the Maillot Vert, Mads Pedersen, was reacting it was clear they were just goofing around.  It won't be long before the racing starts in earnest.  I should note that Simmons started the day with his hair flowing, so it is unlikely he is planning on going for stage honors.  That task will fall to Pedersen and the team will do their best to make it happen.

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 21: In Procession on the Champs

Normally, the team that holds the Maillot Jaune is the team that leads the peloton onto the Champs Elysees as the race enters the center of Paris.  This year everyone had to adapt due to wildfires that were raging near Paris.  So, after the first lap of posing for cameras and perhaps a sip of champagne, UAE Team Emirates went to the front of the peloton as they headed up the Champs Elysees to the l'Arc de Triomphe.  It isn't like the team has spent thousands of kilometers doing this in service of the Maillot Jaune as they race around France.  Still, homage must be paid, and the fans must get their chance to salute the team that got their leader around France the quickest, Tadej Pogacar.  They also had another teammate who got around the third fastest, Isaac Del Toro.  That is quite a successful Tour.  The only sight mark on their Tour is that they didn't bring the complete team to Paris.  But then only eight of the twenty-three teams accomplished that feat.

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 21: The Team that Won the Tour

Despite starting on the Champs Elysees in the heart of Paris, the teams made sure to have the ceremonial traditions before they got down to race for victory in the final stage of the Tour.  Tadej Pogacar poses with his six UAE Teammates that made it to ride up and down the Champs Elysees.  Starting from his left it is Isaac Del Toro in the Maillot Blanc, then Tim Wellens and Felix Grosschartner.  One Tadej's right side his Nils Politt, then Florian Vermeesch and finally, Adam Yates.  The team has changed to an all-white jersey with yellow high lights and a big yellow number five along with white shorts.  Only Del Toro opted for black shorts perhaps to contrast with his Maillot Blanc.  The team was also riding new yellow bikes, with again the exception of Del Toro, who opted for a white bike to match his white jersey.  The one teammate missing is the American Brandon McNulty.  He had to drop out of the raced due to illness during stage 18.

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: Super Domestique

Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) could not have asked for a better member of the peloton to help him on the final climb of the final mountain stage of the 113th Tour de France!  Tadej Pogacar was sacrificing his chance to claim the first ever back-to-back wins atop Alpe d'Huez to make sure that his teammate stayed in third place on the general classification and kept his Maillot Blanc of the best young rider of the Tour.  This is not normal activities for the Maillot Jaune, but then I think Pogacar has established that he is not a mere mortal cyclist.  I should note that Pogacar's lead is so large that he can afford this generous act despite the guy in second place has gone up the road.  In fact, Evenepoel finished second on the stage, but only forty seconds ahead of this jerseyed duo.  As long as they both finished the stage tomorrow, they will finish in first and third in Paris wearing their yellow and white jerseys in Paris.

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 Cream Rises

The top three of the Tour come over the summit of the Col de Sarenne together.  To be fair, Lenny Martinez (Bahrian-Victorious) is with them but hidden from view.  Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) goes over first looking to make sure his teammate Isaac Del Toro is still with them.  Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) takes the summit to grab another gel and squeeze it into his mouth.  There is still another fourteen kilometers left to race after all.  The guy sitting in fourth, Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) has dropped off the pace and is losing time to all four.  He had started the day just twenty-four seconds behind Del Toro in both the top five and in the race for the Maillot Blanc of the best young rider.  It wasn't to be for the very young Frenchman today, but he did hold his position in the classification despite having lost time on the final climb 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: Flying Down the Galibier

Attacking, or more accurately, just out riding the rest of the peloton over the summit of the Galibier the top five of the general classification flew back down the other side.  With fifty-two kilometers to race the quintet of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) along with his teammate Isaac Del Toro, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CGA CMA), and Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) still had another four-and-a-half minutes to bridge up to the still cohesive breakaway.  I have always looked at descent as a reward for all of the struggles climbing a mountain, I'm not so sure about these twisty roads with the sheer drop-offs.  But I am willing to give it a try.

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: Hanging Tough on the Galibier

As the peloton climbed the Col du Galibier it was good to see Warren Barguil (Picnic-PostNL) and the American Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost) still hanging onto the group.  With his twin brother up the road, Anders Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility) was still here as well.  Of course, he and the rest of the peloton were now almost four-and-a-half minutes behind the breakaway with the gap continuing to grow.  Conversely, the grupetto was way back down this long mountain climb.

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: Staying Topped Up

The young American Matthew Riccitello on the French team Decathlon-CMA CGM, was still in the front group as they climbed the Col du Telegraphe.  It seemed that he was up front either for the stage, or as a satellite rider for his even younger teammate Paul Seixas.  With another five kilometers to climb, he wisely dropped back to his team car to get a bidon and some gels.  I am sure he will shortly be back on the wheel of Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) who is currently riding tail gun in the breakaway.  The group has a decent advantage over the peloton with another eighty-eight kilometers in the final mountain stage 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: This Is Mine

It took getting over the HC climb of the Col de Croix de Fer and then chasing down the breakaway, but Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) was there to sprint for maximum points at the intermediate sprint in Saint Julien Mont Denis.  As he wound up his sprint he looked back at Tobias Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility) as if daring him to dare to steal a single point from him.  With this sprint, he sealed up the race for the Maillot Vert.  All he need do is finish this stage and the final stage in Paris and he will have one the sprinter's jersey in all three Grand Tours.  On Johannessen's wheel are Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) and his teammate Bruno Armirail clearly having a plan for the day.  Another in this leading group was Thymen Arensman (Netcompany-Ineos) hoping to have an even better stage than yesterday.  Today is the true final stage of the Tour, although the new circuit in Paris does mean there will be more than just a sprint on the Champs Elysees.

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.

Purchase this painting here: "Starting Alpe d'Huez TdF26-138" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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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.

Purchase this painting here: "Banking Points TdF26-136" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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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: 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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