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.

Purchase this painting here: "Hurting Everyone TdF26-143" (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)

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

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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.

Purchase this painting here: "Who Among Us? TdF26-133" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Learn More About the Artist → 

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)

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

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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.

Purchase this painting here: "The Points Are Up the Road TdF26-128" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour '26, Stage 15: It Won't Be Today

Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) started today in the Maillot a Pois having moved into second place with his brilliant ride yesterday.  He held the King of the Mountains title virtually, but it went back to Tadej Pogacar once he won the mountain top finish.  Paret-Peintre did take the first points on the first climb of the day, but now he is tangling at the back of the peloton with Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost), Ben O'Connor (Jayco-Alula) and Pablo Castrillo (Movistar) as the large breakaway forms off the front.  He went deep yesterday, so he can be forgiven for not having the legs today.  He did manage to hold onto his second place in the composition, but Pogacar stretched the lead further out.  More on that later.

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: "It Won't Be Today TdF26-105" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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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.

Purchase this painting here: "Becoming King TdF26-98" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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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.

Purchase this painting here: "Sprinting Up the Grand Ballon TdF26-95" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 11: Launching Off the Front

It was a bit of a surprise to see Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) going on the offensive just ten kilometers into the stage.  Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) saw the opportunity (or perhaps the danger) in the moved and quickly jumped on to the former World Champion's wheel.  Both are on the teams of two of the best sprinters in the peloton.  With the day ear marked as s day for a sprint finale, these two being off the front would mean their teammates wouldn't be expected to chase down a break should they be able to stay away.  Of course, the peloton wasn't having it, and they were soon back in the fold.

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: "Launching Off the Front TdF26-73" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 6: Sprinting Over the Aspin

Having caught, and dropped, the lone attacker Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrian-Victorious) sprinted for the ten King of the Mountain points over the summit of the Col d'Aspin.  Martinez won the sprint by a tire width.  He was hoping to build points towards wearing the Maillot a Pois like he did when the Tour came over this same climb last year.  Should he manage to go over the next two climbs in first, he will accomplish that goal.  He didn't, but he now sits in third behind the two big names in contemporary cycling, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.  No shame in trailing those two.

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: "Sprinting Over the Aspin TdF26-40" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 5: Filming the Counter Move

Just after the peloton sprinted to the summit of the only climb of the day, Fred Wright (Pinarello-Q36.5) went of the attack.  He was quickly joined by the Dane Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost).  Seeing the danger of the move, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) went with the two as a spoiler.  It is common for a teammate to join and attack and sit on as a discouragement for the effort.  Paret-Peintre was spoiling for his sprinter Tim Merlier.  Soudal-Quick Step wanted the whole peloton to come together into Pau for a mass sprint in hopes that Merlier would get the best of the other sprinters in this 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.

Purchase this painting here: "Filming the Counter Move TdF26-35" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour '25, Stage 19: You Wouldn't Dare

Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) looks back at Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) as they approach the summit of the Cormet de Roselend.  He seems to say, "You wouldn't dare!" as he sprints for the maximum points on offer.  He got there relatively unchallenged by Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) nor Paret-Peintre.  Had he not been docked KOM points for a way too sticky bottle yesterday, he would now be back even on points with the race leader, Tadej Pogacar.  It did help that neither of his two breakaway companions were interested in the Maillot a Pois.  They were racing for stage honors instead.

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. 

"You Wouldn't Dare TdF25-128" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 19: From the Back of the Moto

I have truly enjoyed Christian Vande Velde's commentary from the back of the motorcycle from the middle of the race.  I have been looking for the right image to catch him with my paintbrush and feel pretty good about this one.  He and his driver had pulled over to watch the leaders as they were climbing up to the summit of the Cormet de Roselend.  Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) had managed to get over the first climb first in his quest to reclaim his Maillot a Pois.  He was joined in the effort by Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step).  Both of them were after a stage win.  Perhaps, Roglic was also looking to reclaim the title of team leader back from his young teammate Florian Lipowitz.  I admit I don't understand why he is being allowed to do this (he may not be). Lipowitz sits in third place and is wearing the Maillot Blanc of best young rider, but he only has fourteen seconds on his nearest rival for both 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. 

"From the Back of the Moto TdF25-127" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 16: Un Pour la France

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) launched his final attack on the final bend of the road up to the weather station atop Mont Ventoux.  The Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) was able to just get around the Irishman to claim the first stage victory of this Tour for his very happy countrymen.  Healy has now had a first, a second, and a third in stages in this Tour de France.  Four seconds behind was Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious).  He had been chasing the other two since they dropped him near the bottom of the stage.  He just barely ran out of roadway, or he may have been there for the sprint himself.  With Soudal-Quick Step losing there GC man two days before the rest day, this will go a long way to lighten the hearts of the team.  The French fans are displeased either.

He did just about lose his balance given the effort it took to win the stage.  I think he barely had the energy to salute the crowd, but needs must.

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.

"Un Pour la France TdF25-110" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 

Tour '25, Stage 16: Attacking Near the Summit

Both Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) and Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) had started the climb minutes behind the leading quartet on Mont Ventoux.  With just three and a half kilometers to the summit they traded attacks dropping the erstwhile leader of the stage Enric Mas (Movistar).  This move by Healy opened up enough of a gap on Mas that he is out of the frame in this painting of the attack.  The peloton was chasing behind but with the trading of attacks was keeping those behind from catching back onto their wheels.

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.

"Attacking Near the Summit TdF25-108" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 14: Chasing Over the Aspin

After Lenny Martinez went over the Col d'Aspin first, it was the American Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) chasing him as hard as they could.  Off to their left the Danish fans were waiting to cheer for their man, Jonas Vingegaard.  The mist had settled over this climb, too.  These two were able to close to Martinez down the other side despite the slippery wet roads.  Happily, everyone got down this climb, and I think all of the descents, safely.

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.

"Chasing Over the Aspin TdF25-90" (Original art by Greig Leach)