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.

Purchase this painting here: "Attacking and Giggling TdF26-157" (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 15: With Conviction

Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) was on fire today.  He jumped from the very small breakaway on the final climb of the day, the Plateau de Solaison.  He chased down Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) the former Swiss champion as they raced near the border with Switzerland.  I thought he would sit on Schmid's wheel for a bit on the HC (outside category) climb, but no, he went straight on by.  He was racing with the conviction that the peloton would worry too much about each other to bother chasing him.  With nine more kilometers to climb to the summit and the end of the stage he still had a minute and forty-five seconds on the group containing the yellow jersey.  That would be plenty of time if it was a flat stage, but this is a climb with an average of a 9% gradient.  

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: "With Conviction TdF26-111" (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 12: A Quick Salute

While off the front of the peloton Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) reached out to high-five a fan with an American flag on the side of the road.  As the fan turned to cheer on the USA Champion, it was cleared to me that the fan was Quinn's dad.  How cool is it to be in the Tour, off the front of the peloton, and actually find your dad in the crowd at the side of the road.  Of course, Quinn may have known where he would be and went on the attack just so they could have this moment.  I remember when a French rider stopped in a time trial to greet his young son and wife.  The ASO (the group that organizes the Tour) fined him for conducted that reflects poorly on the sport.  And absurd ruling, but will they feel the same about this?  I guess Quinn and his dad are safe since he didn't stop.

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 Quick Salute TdF26-84" (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 12: Trying a Little Dig

With the peloton all together, it was time for others to try and escape the grasp of the peloton.  Or perhaps Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) was doing what he could to shed some of the other sprinters on behalf of his sprinter Mads Pedersen.  The attack by the Champion of the USA came on the last categorized climb of the day, the Cote de Montagny les Buxy.  He was covered by Louis Vervaeke (Soudal-Quick Step).  Vervaeke was riding in defense of his very successful sprinter, Tim Merlier.  I love the way the peloton seems to be peering over the rise in the roadway as they 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.

Purchase this painting here: "Trying a Little Dig TdF26-83" (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 3: Looking for Assistance

Fifty kilometers into the race the breakaway had yet to form.  Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) the USA Champion tried to get another attempt going without much success.  He was looking back to see if the guys from EF Education-EasyPost, Cofidis, and Uno X-Mobility would contribute to the effort.  Sadly for the American champion, or the rest of this group, this was not the move to get away from the peloton.  Nor when the breakaway did get free were any of them in it.  It takes legs and luck to make it into the breakaway, and luck was not with Quinn 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: "Looking for Assitance TdF26_16" (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 → 

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: Sprinting with Three

The USA Champion in the time trial discipline, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) was working hard in the final kilometers of the Team Time Trial.  He was hoping to move himself and his teammates Jhonatan Narvaez and Joao Almeida up in the general classification.  They had a disappointing finish dropping forty-two seconds to the team that won the stage.  Not exactly the results we have come to expect from this team.

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.

"Sprinting with Three PN25-10" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 5: It's Me

I first encountered Blanka Vas (Visma-Lease a Bike) in this year's Paris Olympics, when she and her pro team teammate Marianne Vos were off the front of the women's road race with less than ten kilometers to race.  She ended up getting out sprinted by Vos and Lotte Kopecky (who isn't in this race).  All three had been out maneuvered by Kristen Faulkner (EF-Oatley-Cannondale) who won the Gold.  Vas knew what Faulkner had done just two weeks ago, so she wasn't going to lose to the American Champion again.  Today Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) waited to sprint but was still beaten by the Hungarian champion.  She dropped her head in disappointment with not winning the stage, only to learn later that she had taken over the Maillot Jaune, a long searched for accomplishment.  Taking third on the day was Liane Lippert (Movistar).  Faulkner was equally disappointed to miss the podium for this stage, but it did work out that she now sits second in the general classification just nineteen seconds behind Niewiadoma.  All of these new GC positions were created by a crash with just over five kilometers left to race.  The crash took down the Maillot Jaune.  While she was able to finish, Demi Vollering (Visma-Lease a Bike) lost almost two minutes.  The race also ended the Tour for three; Spela Kern (Cofidis), Magdaleine Valleries (EF-Oatley-Cannondale), and Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL).  Let's all hope that their injuries aren't too severe and that they will recover quickly.

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.

"It's Me TdFF24-26" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Sprinting to the Summit

The American Champion, Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost) led out his teammate Richard Carapaz in a sprint for the top of the Col de Manse.  Thus far today, Carapaz had gone over behind Oier Lazkano (Movistar), so it was essential that Carapaz get the better of the young Spaniard on the Spanish team.  I don't think the team in pink realized just how much Lazkano had in his legs still.  He got around their lead-out to claim the maximum points on the first three climbs of the day.  Carapaz did get another single point on the final climb, but he is still just behind Lazkano in the points total.  They are now fourth a fifth respectfully, but are way behind the guy leading and the guy wearing the Maillot a Pois on loan.  The next two days are big mountain days so perhaps things could change in the race for the King of the Mountains title.  I doubt it.  Those two days are bound to be when the final battles to win the Tour happen, and the top two points holders are also the two vying to win the Tour overall.

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.

"Sprinting to the Summit TdF24-110" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 16: No Points Today

Well, technically, no points at the end of the stage.  Depending on how Jasper Philipsen does in the finale, this could be a real blow to Biniam Girmay's (Intermache-Wanty) from carrying the Maillot Vert all of the way to Nice.  Unlike the race for time, there is no same points inside of the final three kilometers for the sprinters.  Yes, he will get the same time as today's stage winner, but that isn't what this Eritrean is racing for.  Also hitting the deck through the final roundabout inside of the final kilometers was Marijn Van Berg (EF Education-EasyPost).  You may be able to make out his two American teammates waiting to help him to the line.  They are the US Champion, Sean Quinn, and Nielson Powless.  Rest assured that Girmay's teammates are waiting for him as well.  They just happen to be off camera.

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.  

"No Points Today TdF24-98" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Down Under, Stage 2: We’ve Got a Gap

Once the first attempt at a an escape was reeled back in, it was the American Champion, Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) went on the offensive.  He was joined by Bastien Tronchon in the new kit of Decathlon-Ag2r-Mondiale.  I must admit that I already miss the brown shorts.  Much to Simmons’ frustration, Tronchon seemed unwilling to help in the escape, perhaps fearing the closing speed of the guy in the Stars and Stripes.  With four kilometers to go, the peloton was a mere 50 meters behind them, so without cooperation their efforts would likely be in vain.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995732-186-194179/Painting/weve-got-a-gap.-tdu24-9.html

LBL Men: Saying Goodbye

The USA Champion, Alex Howes (EF Pro Cycling-Nippo) wasn't able to hold on to the tail of the peloton on one of the last few climbs of the race.  With 64 kilometers to go, it might be a long lonely ride back to Liege.  However, I am happy to say he was back in the peloton about twenty kilometers later.  I admit I don't know how he did at the finish, but he did better than I expected he would do when I painted this.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3808131-36-290150/Painting/saying-goodbye-lbl21-1.html

Women's Tour of California, Stage 1: Home Girl Victory

Although she rides for a Dutch team, Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) is the USA Road Champion.  Bedecked in her stars and stripes jersey, she raised her arm in a victory celebration as she crossed the line in the first UCI Women's race on American soil.  Guarnier had followed the wheel of her teammate, Chantel Blaak on the final ascent to the line, and then jumped around her fading Dutch teammate as Mara Abbot (Wiggle High5) tried to sprint for the victory.  Guarnier was able to put 8 seconds between herself and Abbot, with the next group coming in another two seconds later.  Guarnier's victory was enough for her to trade in her stars and stripes for the Yellow Jersey of the first leader of the Women's Tour of California.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and in fact, all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/2793806-29-223355/Painting.html#.Vz9kivmDGko