Tour '26, Stage 15: What Is the Plan?

That was the question on everyone's mind.  What is Visma-Lease a Bike's plan? Why are they on the front of the peloton driving the pace towards the final climb of the day?  Victor Campenaerts and Bruno Armirail had been called back from the breakaway to help the team pull on the front, Armirail has just swung of leaving Campenaerts to continue pulling as Edoardo Affini and Matteo Jorgenson wait for their turn.  Jonas Vingegaard, back into his team kit, rides with Sepp Kuss on his wheel, ready to enact whatever plan the team his running.  Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) in his Maillot Jaune takes advantage of his main rival's team's work as his teammates support him and Isaac Del Toro.  I am sure they, like the rest of us, are trying to figure out what the guys in black and yellow are up to.  We never did find out, but that is for the next painting.

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: "What Is the Plan? TdF26-109" (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 6: Not Really a Sprint

The stage started with just a two-man breakaway.  It was comprised of Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek). Each were off the front for very different reasons.  Pedersen was there to collect the maximum number of sprint points in hopes of adding to his advantage in the competition for the Maillot Vert.  Yes, he has it now, but to carry it to Paris one has to grab points whenever possible.  Campenaerts was there if the break goes in order to be a satellite rider for his team leader Jonas Vingegaard.  A satellite rider is off the front to be an ally to his team leader late into the stage.  Unfortunately, the two were caught by the peloton prior to climbing the Cote de Mauvezin a category three climb prior to the two big Pyrenean mountains facing all of the Tour later in the stage.

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 Really a Sprint TdF26-38" (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 18, Setting the Stage

I didn't even realize the double ententre that I had created when titling this painting.  Visma-Lease a Bike went out with a mission today.  They need to pull back four minutes and fifteen seconds on the main in the Maillot Jaune, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).  They have Matteo Jorgenson up the road and are putting pressure on both Pogacar and the Maillot Blanc of Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).  They still have Tiesj Benoot, Simon Yates, and Sepp Kuss, shepherding Jonas Vingegaard in his efforts to get some of his lost time back.  Pogacar still has two teammates with him.  He has Simon Yates' twin brother Adam on his wheel along with Jhonatan Narvaez ready to set the pace for him whenever it becomes necessary.

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.  

"Setting the Stage TdF25-118" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 15: Has the Fire Gone Out?

The seven guys who had been with Tim Wellens had tried hard to chase down the former Belgium time trialist.  At twelve kilometers to go they had lost a minute and thirty-nine seconds to the lone leader.  It just seemed to me that the fire had gone out of the chase as Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling), Alexey Lutsenko (Israel-Premier Tech), Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike), Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), Alexsandr Vlasov (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Warren Barguil (Picnic-PostNL), and Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos-Grenadiers) free-wheeled down one of the many rollers into the finish town of Carcassone.  Perhaps they had switched their thinking to how can I get second on the stage.  Carlos Rodriguez was the only one with GC aspirations.  If he could keep the group's advantage over the peloton he would move up from tenth to nineth ahead of tomorrow's rest day.

Side note, with just two kilometers to race, Campenaerts jumped free and claimed second over the combined chase groups led home by none other than Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) who had started his day on the ground holding his injured shoulder.

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.

"Has the Fire Gone Out? TdF25-100" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 15: One of These Four?

With forty-five kilometers yet to race, it was beginning to look like the break from the breakaway would be the ones to fight it out for the stage victory when they reach Carcassonne.  There are four more guys behind this quartet of Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike), Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling), Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) and Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates).  They do have nineteen seconds on those chasers, with the rest of the early break strewn over the course as much as four minutes behind.  Even further back is the peloton tooling along over six minutes later.  I should note, there is an even bigger group of sprinters and other even further back then the peloton.

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.

"One of these Four? TdF25-98" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 4: Stirring Things Up

With just twelve kilometers to go Visma-Lease a Bike went to the front of the reduced peloton and put the hammer down.  Victor Campenaerts led them off with Jonas Vingegaard on his wheel.  In the wings were Matteo Jorgenson and Wout Van Aert ready to keep the pace high after Comapenaerts had done all he could.  Behind Wout Van Aert Jhonathan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates) struggled to hold their wheels in hopes of keeping his leader Tadej Pogacar in contact with his main rival.

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. 

"Stirring Things Up TdF25-21" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gent-Wevelgem '25: Losing Ground

Despite their best efforts, the trio of Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike), Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Arjen Livyns (Lotto) kept losing time to the flying Mads Pedersen.  Haller was the sole survivor of the early breakaway.  Both Campenaerts and Livyns had bridge up to Haller in the last twenty kilometers or so.  With thirty-two kilometers to race, they were now a minute and a half behind the lone leader and roughly a minute ahead of the reduced chasing peloton.  It did want to do this piece since I so enjoyed the inflatable of the sun created by Eneco.

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.

"Losing Ground GW25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gent-Wevelgem '25: With a Slight Advantage

As with most of the Classics, the day started with a group eight guys getting of the front together.  Today was no different. Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis), Jasha Suttelin (Jayco-Alula), Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Samuel Leroux and Alex Coleman (TotalEnergies), and Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling) build up a four-minute lead over the peloton at one point.  By the time Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) joined the escapees, they had just under a minute's advantage with seventy-four kilometers yet to go.  It wasn't looking like it would be a day for the breakaway.  But then, it rarely is.

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.  

"With a Slight Advantage GW25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gent-Wevelgem '25: Chasing the Leaders

With the early breakaway within reach, first Johan Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ) and then Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) go off the front of the peloton in hopes of joining the leaders with 100 kilometers to go.  Campenaerts was successful in the effort, but Jacobs didn't quite have the legs to stay on the Belgium's 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.

"Chasing the Leaders" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Another First

With a brilliantly timed sprint, Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) gets his first Tour de France stage win of his career.  He also gets the first win in this Tour for his team.  He is sixth guy to win his first ever Tour stage.  Plus, his team is one of a dozen teams to have won at least one stage this year. Two of those teams have never won a stage in the Tour de France before.  It was Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) getting the better of Michal Kwiatowski (Ineos-Grenadiers).  While Kwiato had done the lion share of the work to make this a three-man sprint, he may have spent too much energy to have much of a sprint in Barcelonnette.  I am sure he was disappointed for both himself and his team.  Still, there are three more stages for Ineos-Grenadiers and the other nine teams to try to get onto the record board.

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. 

"Another First TdF24-116" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Bowing to the Devil

The ever-popular Didi Stenft (the Devil) was along the side of the road to cheer on each group of the race as they rode pass.  I'm not sure why he had a small chalkboard with 31 written on it.  I can only assume it was for how many Tours he has cheered with his presence.  It seemed that Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) bowed his head as he went by.  The trio of escapees was still being led by the former World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Grenadiers) followed by the French Tour neophyte Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) and of course Campenaerts.  Each man was looking for the stage win, as were there teams.  Only Vercher's TotalEnergies had managed to have a team member win a stage.

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.  

"Bowing to the Devil TdF24-115" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 18: Three Free to Fly

Both Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) were finally able to bridge up to Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos-Kwiatkowski).  Kwiato was hoping he could break the stage win dry spell in this Tour for his team.  The legacy of Ineos-Grenadiers is vast and very successful with about a decade of Tour Yellow Jersey with three different men.  Here we are almost to the end of stage 18 and they have yet to win a stage.  Arguably the strongest of the three, it seems this will be the chance to break the drought.  With a mere twenty-five kilometers to race, the trio had twenty seconds on the five-man chasing group, another minute and twenty seconds to the main chasers, and a whopping thirteen minutes back to the peloton containing all of the leaders' jerseys.

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.

"Three Free to Fly TdF24-113" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 19: Escaping Again

Yesterday and again on two occasions today, Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) has successfully attacked the peloton.  This time he was able to simple ride away from everyone.  Only Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) could dig deep enough to get onto the Belgium's wheel.  Shortly after I painted this, Clarke just sat up, apparently cramping, and went straight out the back of the chasers.  A few minutes later, it was Campenaerts turn to completely implode.  With riders strewn all across the course, it was hard for team cars to get up and be able to provide food and drink to their men.  I'm not saying that is why their escape didn't work to the line, but it may have played a part in their being caught and dropped.

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-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3966637-128-297438/Painting/escaping-again-tdf23-128.html 

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 18: In the Shadows

Despite the admonishment from the Maillot Vert and with the help of his teammate Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) Pascal Eenkhoorn was able to join the front trio who got away from the very start of the stage.  Along with Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step) and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) the quartet never got more than a minute on the peloton behind.  With just twelve kilometers to race to the line in Bourg en Bresse and a mere thirty eight second lead, they must have felt that they could see if not feel the shadow of the peloton.  Yet they were all willing to keep working together.  And the others didn't seem to worried about there being two guys on the same team.  It was highly unlikely that any of them would hold off the hungry sprinters, but at least they were all willing to keep working in hope the peloton would get it wrong.

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-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3966490-123-297438/Painting/in-the-shadows-tdf23-123.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 18: Leaving the Alps

After yesterday's incredible hard day, the entire peloton had to be thrilled to have the Alps behind them (or at least off to their right).  While today is ear-marked as a day for the sprinters that didn't stop this trio from going off the front from the very first kilometer of the stage.  Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X), Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny), and Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step) had to know this was going to be a long effort that would most likely end in tired legs and not much else to show for the effort.  Still, as Jens Voigt would say if you are in the break you may have only a one percent chance of succeeding, but if you aren't there, you will have a zero percent chance of success.  I am paraphrasing is rather terse way of getting his point across. 

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-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3966481-120-297438/Painting/leaving-the-alps-tdf23-120.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 12: A Hellishly Hard Day

I was afraid that Didi Stenft aka 'The Devil" may not reappear in this Tour.  I had seen him along the opening stages in the Basque region of Spain and I have never noticed him to leap up and down in two different mountain groups of the Tour.  But here he was leaping about as Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) struggled to stay with the lead group half way up the Col de La Croix Montain.  There are many costumed cycling fans along the side of the race course all along the Tour but none are as well known nor well loved as The Devil from Belgium.

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-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3965360-72-297438/Painting/a-hellishly-hard-day-tdf23-72.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 8: Covering the Move

Once everyone from the break away had been caught with just over seven kilometers to go, it was time for others to see if they could escape off the front.  The first to try was Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) who was joined in the effort by the new British National Champion, Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious).  Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) wasn't having it.  It fell to the Frenchman on the Dutch team to chase down these moves in hopes that his teammate, Wout Van Aert, would be able to win the sprint to the line in Limoges.  Laporte would shortly be aided by members of Alpecin-Deceuninck in defense of their teammate in the Green Jersey, 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 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-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3964394-46-297438/Painting/covering-the-move-tdf23-46.html

Flanders 2021: Leading Them Around

 

Once the previous three were caught, and then the early break of the day was reeled in too, it was time for Germany to hit the front and force the pace.  While Georg Zimmerman was on the front, the Belgium team was not missing any moves.  After Remeco Evenepoel was back in the field, it was Victor Campenaerts (Belgium) that was on Zimmermann’s wheel representing the host country.  The next rider following the leaders was another German, Nikias Arndt.  With 120 kilometers yet to race, it was wild just how aggressive the racing had been since the start in Antwerp.

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 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/Flanders-2021/3838931-29-292177/Painting/leading-them-round-uci21-29.html

TDF, Stage 1: The First Points of the Tour

And here we go!  Alas, at this point while I had planned to paint La Course, I couldn't pause the live feed and those in power have decided not to provide a replay of the race.  Stranger still, there wasn't even a recap during the stage 1 broadcast.

Okay, enough about that...  Victor Campenarts (Qhubeka-NextHash) was the first to grap king of the mountain points for his newly renamed team atop the Cote de Trebeolin.  The peloton wasn't far behind, and this did not become the early break away of the day.  

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/2021-Tour-de-France/3820209-1-291436/Painting/the-first-points-of-the-tour-tdf21-1.html

Paris Nice, Stage 3: Staying Upright

I don't thing I have seen such narrow roads on flat stages before!  With everyone trying to stay at or get to the front of the peloton there just isn't enough road.  Already a few had been off into the ditches, fortunately for Patrick Konrad (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Victor Campenaerts (NTT Pro Cycling) they were both able to remain upright despite the soft mud and grass just off of the asphalt.  Not only is fitness a by-product of hours and hours on the bike, but so is being completely one with the machine.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3488940-11-272742/Painting/staying-upright-pn20-11.html