Tour Femmes '26, Stage 9: Escorting Their Leader

Marlen Reusser (Movistar) has had a rough end of the Tour de France Femmes this year.  Since losing her Maillot Jaune on the climb up to the summit of Mont Ventoux, she has been slowly losing time in the general classification.  Today, on her second descent of Col d'Eze she crashed on a corner coming out of one of the many tunnels on today's course.  She took some time getting back on her bike, but she did. She was with one of her teammates when she crashed but more joined her as they made their way back down into Nice.  She was escorted by back into town by Francesca Barale, Ana Vitoria Magalhaes, Liane Lippert and Paula Ostiz.  She could have easily climbed off her bike once back to the start/finish line, but no, she and her team did the two remaining laps together.  They all came in twenty-five minutes after the stage winner, but she certainly earned even more respect today.  And she paid respect to the Tour de France Femmes as well.

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: "Escorting Their Leader TdFF26-59" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 8: Dropped

The peloton hit the final categorized climb of the day hard, very hard!  The goal was to shed any sprinters that were still in the group, but many others popped off the back as well.  I was a bit surprised to see that one of those dropped was Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) in her Maillot a Pois that shows she is the Queen of the Mountains.  It wasn't much of a climb, but after all she has done to earn the title, it was a bit too much.  Conversely, she doesn't have to dig that deep anymore, her lead in the competition is unsurmountable.  She is going over the Cote de Ginstiere on the wheels of Debora Silvestri (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi) and Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly).  

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: "Dropped TdFF26-53" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 2: This Time in Yellow

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) had burnt through her team just to have the chance to sprint for another stage victory in Geneva.  Normally, she has a lead-out team, but they spent themselves chasing down the lone leader, Riejanne Markus.  They didn't catch her until the final kilometer of the stage.  That actually played into Wiebes hands.  As the peloton move to the left to get around the much slowing rider from Lidl-Trek, Wiebes took the opening to wind up her sprint catching the other hopeful sprinters looking the wrong way.  Once she was up to speed, there was no one who was going to catch her!  She took the stage by three or more bike lengths, making it two wins in a row.  But this time it was even sweeter winning in the Maillot Jaune of race leader.  She increases her lead to fourteen seconds for the yellow jersey and now has a commanding lead in the green jersey competition of the sprinters.  When the mountains start, she may not hold onto yellow, but she will certainly retain her lead in the Maillot Vert.

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: "This Time in Yellow TdFF26-12" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 2: Calm and Controlled

With twenty-eight kilometers until the finish in Geneva, SD Worx-Protime had control on the front of the peloton as they chased the lone woman up the road.  At this point Lorena Wiebes in her Maillot Jaune following the wheels of her teammates including Micha Bredewold and Nienke Vinke, felt comfortable in her team's ability to reel in Riejanne Markus.  Tucked in behind the work of the team of the yellow jersey were Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) and her teammate Amanda Spratt.  Those two weren't going to help in the chase since Markus was on Lidl-Trek, too.  It wasn't until they hadn't gotten any closer in the next fifteen kilometers that the team began to lose the coolness and feared they may not have things under control after all.

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: "Calm and Controlled TdFF26-10" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 2: Climbing through the Vineyard

After a sharp turned off of the main road, this wall rose up in front of the peloton lined by grapevines and cycling fans all of the way up the ten percent average climb.  The trio from St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 of Heidi Franz, Caroline Wreszin, and Alicia Gonzalez fought to stay on the wheels of the women in front of them.  The hope for everyone was to be able to quickly reform the peloton once over this vicious little ascent.  They all did, for now.

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: "Climbing through the Vineyards TdFF26-8" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 2: Building an Advantage

This quintet took some time to get away from the peloton which seemed in little mood to let anyone escape today.  It was nice to see the Ukrainian champion, Yulia Biriukova (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi) off the front along with Anouska Koster (Uno X-Mobility), Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels), Ema Comte (Cofidis) and Carlotta Cipressi (Human Powered Health).  They have managed to build a bit over two minutes on the peloton, but they weren't allowed much more.  After the long chase from yesterday, the peloton decided to keep these ladies inside of three minutes before catching them on one of the final categorized climbs of the day.  Koster came close to becoming the new queen of the mountains save for one moment's inattention on the third climb of the day.

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: "Building an Advantage TdFF26-7" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 1: The First in Yellow

It was Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) raising her arms in victory atop the final climb of the day in Lusanne.  Her victory in the opening stage means she will pull on the first Maillot Jaune of the Tour de France Femmes.  Behind her are Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) - who will wear the Maillot Vert on loan from Wiebes - and then the European Champion, Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) taking third.  

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 First in Yellow TdF26-6" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 1: She Will Still Be Queen

Despite being outsprinted to the top of the Cote de Vullieres by Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) Oceane Mahe (Ma Petite Entreprise) will be the first Queen of the Mountains of the fifth Tour de France Femmes.  She had gone over the first two climbs of the day first, so with this second place she has a lead that no one can overtake today.  Shortly after the climb, she sat up and drifted back to the chasing peloton.  She finished the day almost six minutes behind the winner of the stage, but it matters little since she will start the day tomorrow in the Maillot a Pois of the best climber thus far in this Tour de France Femmes.  Noskova sits third in the Queen of the Mountains competition after one stage completed.

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: "She Will Still Be Queen TdFF26-5" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 1: Not Much Interest

The title is a bit misleading, there were thousands of fans along the side of the road, and at the intermediate sprint point in Villenuve.  What I am referring to is that the peloton didn't have much interest in competing for the remaining sprint points on offer.  When Charlotte Kool (Fenix-Premier Tech) jumped free of the group, no one went after her.  That may have been a mistake, she could well be on a campaign to win the Maillot Vert of the best sprinter and this was a chance to earn points towards that goal.  The finale has a rather steep climb in the final two kilometers, probably not her best chance to earn points in the sprint for stage honors.

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 Much Interest TdFF26-3" (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 →   

All of my 2025 Tour de France Femmes Watercolors

 

Here is your chance to see all of my paintings of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes in sequential order including those that have already sold.  Many are still available at my website, www.greigleach.com.  All of the work shown is 4"x6" either vertical or horizontal.  They are all created live during the race with ink and watercolors.  You can watch one from each stage being created in real time over on my YouTube channel @artofcyclingGreig.  The art that is still available sells for $99 including shipping within the USA.  International shipping is available for an additional fee.

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: The Sprint of Her Life!

Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) had to sprint hard to the line atop the Alpe d'Huez if she wanted to save her Maillot Jaune.  She was coming to the line with some time to spare, but not much, not much at all.  To make matters a little finer, she was beaten to the line by Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) who grabbed the last bonus four bonus seconds on offer by taking third place in the stage.  In the end, it was just enough for Niewiadoma to finally win the Maillot Jaune in the Tour de France Femmes.  She has finished third in the first two editions of this incarnation of the women's Tour and had she been eleven seconds slower she would have been third for the third time.  Muzic managed to finish fourth on the general classification, but since fifth was just shy of a minute behind her, she really didn't need to try and out sprint Niewiadoma.  But then to paraphrase the use of an old saying goes, "no harm no foul."

This TdFF has had many things I have never seen before, but a four second differential on an eight day stage race is a first for me!

This does mark the end of my painting the 2024 Cycling Season, as far as I know...   I might be back for the UCI World Road Championships in September, or not... 

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 Sprint of Her Life! TdFF24-46" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: Winning Atop d'Huez!

Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) had done what she could to win today.  She definitely won the stage, and by dropping Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) in the final meters to the line, she had set herself up to win the third Tour de France Femmes as well.  She just now has to wait and see just how much time she put into Katarzyna Niewiadoma.  That is what will determine who is the final Maillot Jaune this year.  Spoiler, she did not win the overall, but she finished second with the woman behind her in this painting rounding out the final step of the Tour de France Femmes podium.

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.

"Winning Atop d'Huez TdFF24-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: Fighting to Keep Yellow

It wasn't until I saved this painting to my computer that I discovered that I had already used this title.  That was a different woman in the yellow jersey that time.  But how else could I describe the burst of speed that Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) put in when she went under the flame rouge, just as Demi Vollering had done almost a minute earlier.  I don't doubt that her director sportif had told her she would need to do the same if she was going to keep the gap under a minute to the pair that were sure to win the stage.  On the Maillot Jaune's wheel is the Frenchwoman Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) who is hoping to move up the general classification although it is unlikely she will be able to get onto the final podium.

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.

"Fighting to Keep Yellow TdFF24-44" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: The Hope of the Stage & the Tour

With seven kilometers left of climbing up the Alpe d'Huez and the Tour de France Femmes Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) and Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) were desperate to increase their advantage over the chasing group with the race leader.  The pair currently have one minute and eleven seconds lead, but need another ten seconds and the time bonus at the finish to win the final Maillot Jaune.  The pair sit just two seconds apart, so which ever woman wins the race will win the third Tour de France Femmes, assuming that Katarzyna Niewiadoma loses much more time to 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The Hope of the Stage & the Tour TdFF24-43" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: Having to Chase

With the two up the road flirting with the virtual Maillot Jaune, the current Maillot Jaune on the shoulders of Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM).  She was getting some help from those with her each with their own ambitions for the stage and the Tour.  On the back of the group is Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) with her teammate Gaia Realini beside her.  Trying to slow the chase is Demi Vollering's teammate Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime).  Also in this chase group is Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez).  While it is Niewiadoma's race lead that is being threaten, all of these women have a vested interest in the chase, even if Fisher-Black's interest is to make it not succeed.

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.

"Having to Chase TdFF24-42" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: Wardrobe!

My wife, Bridget Gethins, works in film, so the title comes from the call on set for someone from the wardrobe department, "Wardrobe!"  As Demi Vollering (SD Work-Protime) prepared to drop down off the summit of the Col du Glandon, her soigneur held out her jacket so that Vollering could slide her arm in the sleeve as she road by.  Her soigneur deftly does the jacket over her shoulder in one flawless motion.  I have never seen that done in a race before.  It does remind me of a fast costume change that goes on backstage in a play.  On Vollering's other side is Valentina Cavallar (Arkea-B&B Hotels) who had gone over the climb first with the others on her wheel.

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.

"Wardrobe! TdFF24-41" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: Her Opening Move

Done by over a minute Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) couldn't wait until the final climb of the day to attack the Maillot Jaune.  Once her teammate Niamh Fisher-Black swung off, she launched with just over two kilometers left to climb of the Col du Glandon.  She dropped everyone except Pauliena Rooijmakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck).  The two Dutch women were gaining time very quickly as they chased down the lone leader on the road, Valentina Cavallar (Arkea-B&B Hotels).  The two were just two seconds apart on the general classification with Rooijmakkers in seventh and Vollering in eighth.  They are around a minute and a half behind the Maillot Jaune on the general classification, but this was looking like the move that will give one of them the final yellow 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Her Opening Move TdFF24-40" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Final Stage: Bridging Up to the Leaders

Roughly half way up the Col du Glandon Valentina Cavallar (Arkea-B&B Hotels) jumps clear of the peloton to go searching for the leaders on the road.  According to the GPS she has another seventeen seconds to catch the seven ahead, but she has already put eighteen seconds into the group she left behind.  With another six kilometers of climbing on the penultimate climb of this Tour, she was putting herself in a great position for the final climb to the top of the Alpe d'Huez.

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.

"Bridging Up to the Leaders TdFF24-39" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes, Final Stage: In the Alps

The Tour de France Femmes has been in the Alps since yesterday, but this image just captured the vibe of riding and racing in the French alps for me.  This group of seven has just broken clear of the much larger early break as they started up the Col du Glandon.  On the tail of this group is Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ceratizit-WNT) just ahead of her is Liane Lippert (Movistar) along with Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) and Katrine Aalerud (Uno X-Mobility) to mention a few of those that I can make out in this painting.  They have already built up almost a minute and a half on their erstwhile companions with another 62 kilometers to ride.  The next eleven of those kilometers are up to the top of the mountain.

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.

"In the Alps TdFF24-38" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 7: Better than Planned!

Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal) had planned on building on her lead in the Queen of the Mountains competition, I don't think she thought she would take the stage as well.  In fact, in her post race interview she had said, "I must still be dreaming."  An added bonus for her ride today is that she has moved herself into the top ten (10th) in the general classification in addition to her solid lead for her Maillot a Pois.  She still will have to be off the front for the final stage tomorrow but at least she will be on her polka dotted bike at the start in Le Grand Bonnand.  Not a bad day out at all.

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.

"Better than Planned TdFF24-37" (Original art by Greig Leach)