Tour Femmes '26, Stage 7: Making Their Own Luck

If you notice, these two, Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Sophie Von Berswordt (VolkerWessels) both have bib numbers that end in a seven.  If the bib number thirteen is bad luck then a bib number with a seven must bring good luck.  Perhaps they were testing the theory by going clear of the peloton in hopes of catching the leaders a minute or so up the road.  Spoiler, they did not.  But then, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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 Femmes '26, Stage 4 ITT: Keeping Focused

Before the start of her turn to go, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) was so very focused she didn't seem to even see the butterfly that was sitting on her knee.  She held a fixed glazed that seemed to say just how ready she was to take the Tour de France Femmes in hand.  That focused remained as she rode the course not seeming to see the beauty of the French landscape of castles and vineyards all around her.  Alas, her day did not go as she hoped.  She finished 34th on the day dropping over two minutes to her main competitors.  It is going to be a lot tougher to defend her win of the Tour from last year.

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: Into the Net

I have always wondered about Phil and Bob crying out when something goes wrong for a rider in the Tour, now I know.  I cried out as Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) fought and lost his bike on a fast corner on the loop around the resort town of Alpe d'Huez.  Kuss was off the front by over twenty seconds even after hitting the ground through the tunnel under a section of the town.  He pressed even harder down the descent in hopes of making up time he lost in the previous fall.  He finished this tumble sitting on the cement wall just at the end of the safety net.  While he never went into it, thank God (or the ASO) that it was there.  As he was on the ground, Richard Carapaz who had been chasing passed by.  Kuss got up and gave chase, but never saw the man in the Maillot a Pois again.  He still finished third on the stage!

In the post-race interview, Kuss laughed and apologized to his wife and his fans for scaring the hell out of them.  He really didn't want to put her through that.  And then said, "But, that is racing."  I am sure with the luck that Visma has had this Tour, they will hope not to have the bib number "13" on a teammates back next year.  The way the numbering works, they won't.  That auspicious number will fall to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.

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: Preferring to Climb Alone

Sepp Kuss and his Visma-Lease a Bike team has clearly had a plan all day.  And on the Col de Sarenne Sepp launched the final phase.  He jumped clear of his remaining breakaway companions and went alone to the summit.  The climb was so narrow that the ASO who organize the race had prevented fans from getting on the mountain in order to keep the riders safe.  So, I had planned on a bad pun comparing the Sarenne to serene, but it really was a rather serene climb and must have felt great to be free of the noise of the crowds.  I love the quiet of being out on my bike all alone, but I am not working anywhere as hard as this American 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 $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.

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Tour '26, Stage 17: Attacking Near 4 K

I was confused why Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) was helping chase down the six-man breakaway.  Now I understand.  His teammate, the American, Matteo Jorgenson attacked on a final roller inside of the four-kilometer banner.  When he went only two guys could go with him.  Not really visible are Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek) and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) finding shelter behind the broad shoulders of the American.  Dropping of but still off the front is the former world champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Netcompany-Ineos).  Being a fan of Jorgenson, I was hoping this would stick, but the sprinters wanted their final chance.  Well, the sprinters that were still in the vastly reduced 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.

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Tour '26, Stage 16 ITT: Settling In

Having just started his twenty-six-kilometer individual time trial, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) settles into his aero-tuck and gets down to business.  I was wondering if Jorgenson was going to go full gas for the stage victory or would he just get around the course to hold his position in the GC?  His fourteenth place at the end of the day seems to indicate that he and his teammates were saving themselves to race for stage victories in the closing week of the Tour.  It was a treat to watch his sister Nicole interview his at the end of the stage.  He seemed truly relaxed and enjoying having family around.  It does seem to be a close family.  I have had online conversations with his mother.

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 16 ITT: Flipping Visma's Luck

By wearing his number 13 bib number upside down Bruno Armirail (Visma-Lease a Bike) is hoping to ward off bad luck.  So far it hasn't really work very well.  He had a rough start of the Tour with two crashes, but clearly, has been able to continue unlike his team leader.  As I painted in Stage 15, his team leader Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the Tour suffering a broken collarbone.  The team is a bit at a loss now that their main objective disappeared in the blink of an eye.  As the team gets a handle on their new role look for attempts at breakaways and stage victories.  Everyone is too far back in the general classification to have any realistic hope of making the podium or even the top ten because of all of the work they have been doing for Vingegaard.  It may make for some more exciting racing in this final week of the Tour.  Armirail was the best time by six seconds when he finished his race, but dropped to eight by the time the Maillot Jaune finished.

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: "Flipping Visma's Luck TdF26-115" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 15: In the Blink of an Eye

Whatever the plan was for Jonas Vingegaard and his Visma=Lease a Bike team was, this surely wasn't it!  I don't normally paint the crashes, but this one set the 113th Tour de France on its ear.  As the peloton came into a right-hand bend littered with traffic furniture Vingegaard lost his front wheel and went down hard into the curbing on the side of the road.  Several others went down with him including Fellix Grosschartner and Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) who piled on top of each other and a couple fans who got a little closer to the racers than anyone wanted.  Vingegaard's teammate Sepp Kuss went down as well, but he was back up almost instantly.  Not so for Vingegaard.  The longer he sat on the roadside, the worse we all knew it was.  When I saw the medical team bring over an arm sling, I knew his Tour was over.  He has never finished worse than second (and has one twice) but this is the first time he has ever crashed out of the Tour.  The peloton slowed and waited to see if he would remount.  Once Del Toro caught back up to Pogacar (who had just barely avoided going down as well) he let the Maillot Jaune know that Vingegaard wasn't coming back.  Once everyone knew, it was back to 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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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.

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Tour '26, Stage 14: Racing to the Podium

With Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) having already won the stage, this trio was racing for the remaining two steps of the stage podium.  It could be argued that his teammate Isaac Del Toro, Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) were also racing for the podium in Paris as well.  The sprint went to Del Toro, followed by Seixas at the same time.  Vingegaard let another six seconds open up between him and the other two.  Plus, they earned small time bonuses for their second and third places.  Seixas also took over the Maillot Blanc of the best younger rider in the Tour, his time bonus helped but he would still be in White tomorrow regardless.  At nineteen years of age, he is the youngest guy to start the Tour de France since 1905!  He is now in fourth, with Del Toro in seventh.  Vingegaard holds his second place but loses more time to Pogacar.  

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 14: Now He Goes!

After Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had been isolated others had tried to go on the offensive.  But once everyone was on their own without teammates to aid them, that is when Pogacar took off.  For a few seconds it looked like Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) were going to be able to hold onto the wheel of the Maillot Jaune.  They could not. Behind them in his Maillot Blanc Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) was finding the pace just too much to handle.  Once he has gone it is very rare that Pogacar is seen again.  Today was no exception.  I wasn't pleased with the camera angles when he won the stage, so this will have to do for his victory painting.  Let's face it, this is when he won the stage.  I do think he has already won the Tour.  Although today he seemed weaker, but then he could have been doing the 'rope a dope' move of feinting weakness in order to get his rivals to over commit.  That may have been what happened to Vingegaard 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: "Now He Goes! TdF26-102" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 14: Are You Coming with Me?

While the American Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) tamped out a rhythm on the front of the reduced peloton for his team leader Jonas Vingegaard, others saw an opportunity to attack.  Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) jumped free of the peloton and found he had Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) on his wheel.  The young Frenchman looked back at the Visma-Lease a Bike guys and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) perhaps surprised that they didn't respond to his attack.  After all, Seixas started the day in fifth place, and the French are convinced he has the capability of winning the Tour soon.  The Maillot a Pois, and the Maillot Jaune were right not to chase, Seixas was soon back in the fold, but his attack dislodge some other pretenders to the throne.

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: "Are You Coming with Me? TdF26-101" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 14: Maintaining

As the peloton containing all of the race favorites climbed the Ballon d'Alsace for the second time this Tour de France, it seems everyone was comfortable to maintain their positions in the general classification.  The group a was being led by the UAE Team Emirates trio of Isaac Del Toro, Felix Grosschartner, and Tadej Pogacar in his Maillot Jaune.  Next in line were Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).  He is wearing the Maillot a Pois on loan from Pogacar since he is in second place in the competition for the King of the Mountains title.  Vingegaard is looking back to his teammate the American Sepp Kuss.  I wonder what the conversation was about.  It is usual Kuss who sets up an attack for Jonas, just as Del Toro does for Tadej.

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 14: View from the Back

Bruno Armirail (Visma-Lease a Bike) sits at the back of the early breakaway as they drop off of the Grand Ballon.  It is a tradition (and a superstition) to wear the number 13 upside down to ward off the bad luck.  It hasn't worked so well for Armirail who has crashed at least twice during this Tour.  Maybe if the bib number was pinned on upside down, rather than printed upside down it may have worked better.  He is following Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto-Intermarche), Simone Velasco (XDS-Astana), Egan Bernal (Netcompany-Ineos) and the rest of the large break down the sweeping turns.  Given the speeds that the modern peloton descends, they really don't have time to take in the majestic vistas just to their left.  I have heard ex-pros talk about never seeing so many of the sites along the course of the Tour (or most any professional race).

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 View from the Back TdF26-94" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 10: Anticipating

On the last Category One climb of the day, Tadej Pogacar and his UAE Team Emirates dropped off the front of the reduced peloton.  It led us all to wonder if he was having a rough day.  It was three years ago here that he fell apart and Jonas Vingegaard went on to win the stage (and the Tour). That history may be why Davide Piganzoli (Visma-Lease a Bike) went to the front with Vingegaard on his wheel.  Both Remeco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and his teammate (team rival) pulled up alongside Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) and Isaac Del Toro, his teammate wearing the Miallot Blanc. Mixing in with the leaders on the Col du Pertus was Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek).  All were anticipating an attack from the other.  Is Tadej actually cracking or is he taking a play out of Lance Armstrongs playbook and feinting his condition before going on the attack.  The peloton will know soon since we are just two-and-a-half kilometers from the summit.   Remember, there is one guy a minute up the road, too.

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 9: What Are They Up To?

It is beyond me why Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) has his team chasing on the front.  Seriously, why are Felix Grosschartner, Brandon McNulty, Adam Yates and Isaac Del Toro buring energy on chasing down a breakaway when the best placed member is almost ten minutes behind him?  Is he setting himself or one of his teammates up for a stage win?  Or perhaps he wants his team to take over the lead in the team competition.  I guess the critics while begin complaining that the team is too greedy again.  Just in case Pogacar makes a move, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) is keeping close to his main rival.  All of the other GC guys are in this group, just out of my sight for this painting.  The peloton has all of the leaders' jerseys, including the Maillot Jaune, the Maillot Blanc, and the Maillot a Pois that we can see now.  But Mads Pedersen in his Maillot Vert is the only sprinter still in the peloton.  Admittedly, he has been dangling a bit everytime the road goes up.

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 Are They Up To? TdF26-61" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 6: The Race for Third

With Tadej Pogacar up the road about to win the stage and Jonas Vingegaard in between this sextet was racing for third place on the stage.  They may also be racing for third place in the Tour de France as well.  Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) was using his time trial prowess in hopes of pulling those two back.  He may have been riding for himself or, perhaps, for his teammate Florian Lipowitz.  Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) was riding in case they do catch Vingegaard.  Should they, he would be ready to bury himself for his team leader.  Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) and Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) were riding to minimize their disadvantage to Pogacar and Vingegaard.  Just out of frame is Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) who was the one who managed third on the stage, and now sits third on the general classification 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: "The Race for Third TdF26-44" (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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