Tour Femmes '26, Stage 9: Deja Vu

Another stage into Nice, another stage with a tough climb near the end, and another stage where Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) drops Kasia Niewiadoma and rides off on her own.  The changes this time are she did it in the Maillot Jaune, she did it on a categorized climb, she did it despite everyone knowing she would, and she did it overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.  As she rode along the false flat on the top of the col, she had already but eighteen seconds between herself and her primary rival for yellow.  Regardless of whether Niewiadoma comes back and wins or if Vollering's attack succeeds, we will have the first woman ever to win the Tour de France Femmes for the second time in about twelve kilometers time.

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: "Deja Vu TdFF26-63" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '26, Stage 5: The Perfect Ending

Well, it was a perfect ending for all of the work that Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) and her team had put in all day long.  She came into Belleville en Beaujolais with Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) and Marlen Reusser (Movistar).  It was Niewiadoma who got the jump on the other two, but faded as Vollering and Reusser chased her down.  They both came around the Polish star with only fifty meters to the line.  In the end it was Vollering in her European Champion's jersey who raised her arms in victory.  Just behind her were Reusser who we can see and Niewiadoma whom we can not.  The three are now the top three in the general classification, with Reusser holding her Maillot Jaune, Vollering in second and Niewiadoma holding the third step of the podium.  There is just over a minute between the three but the first two are only twelve seconds apart.

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 Perfect Ending TdFF26-32" (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 21: Up Montmartre

 It was an incredible narrow cobbled climb to the summit of the Butte Montmartre.  So narrow that the only people on the streets were the gendarmes making sure no one else but those watching out of the windows above were on the side of the street.  On the second time up the climb Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) has the Maillot Jaune of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) on his left shoulder, and no one else is even in sight behind.  I have walked these streets.  In fact, I got to visit a group of artist studios just around the corner from here.  Today, all of the artists had to surrender their areas on the square in the shadow of Sacre Coeur to the throngs awaiting the arrival of the leaders of the race.  I don't know if you can tell, but the guy leaning out the window is still wearing his waiter apron from the restaurant downstairs.

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: "Up Montmartre TdF26-161" (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 20: Super Domestique

Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) could not have asked for a better member of the peloton to help him on the final climb of the final mountain stage of the 113th Tour de France!  Tadej Pogacar was sacrificing his chance to claim the first ever back-to-back wins atop Alpe d'Huez to make sure that his teammate stayed in third place on the general classification and kept his Maillot Blanc of the best young rider of the Tour.  This is not normal activities for the Maillot Jaune, but then I think Pogacar has established that he is not a mere mortal cyclist.  I should note that Pogacar's lead is so large that he can afford this generous act despite the guy in second place has gone up the road.  In fact, Evenepoel finished second on the stage, but only forty seconds ahead of this jerseyed duo.  As long as they both finished the stage tomorrow, they will finish in first and third in Paris wearing their yellow and white jerseys in Paris.

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: "Super Domestique TdF26-151" (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 19: The Devil Shows the Way

I think that even the gendarmes like the devil or perhaps I should say they enjoy Didi Senft. It seems he was the only person allowed on the inside of the barriers once passed the Four-Kilometer Banner.  Has he saluted every rider, it seems he was showing Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) showing just were those that had dropped off the leaders were at up the road.  With three-and-a-half kilometers left to the mountain top finish the Maillot Jaune could almost see his quarry for stage honors.  Not only was he on his way to an almost sure stage win atop Alpe d'Huez, he was also recording the fastest ever ascent of the fable climb eclipsing Marco Pantini's record by three minutes I believe.  Maybe he has made a deal with the Devil to be this amazingly good.

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 Devil Shows the Way TdF26-141" (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 19: Chasing Up Alpe d'Huez

Undaunted by the leaders' three-minute advantage, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) jumped clear of the group of race favorites in search of another stage victory.  In just four kilometers of the twelve of the climb he has already pulled back half of the advantage of those up the road.  At this point in the climb the crowds were very much under control.  That may have something to do with the heavy presents of the Gendarmie.   The only one in sight of the Maillot Jaune was one of the many press photographers on the back of a motorcycle.  

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: "Chasing Up d'Huez TdF26-139" (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 16 ITT: First Goes Last

With an individual time trial the best placed rider in the general classification starts last, with the lowest placed rider going first.  Naturally, the order continues up through the classification.  It gives Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) the extra advantage of knowing the times of all of his competitors as he races the twenty-six kilometers down to the coast of Lake Geneva. While he may have known the times he needed to best his legs weren't able to deliver the speed required.  For the second stage in a row he took second place to the same person (I'll reveal who later).  Before any of his fans panic, he does have a five-minute buffer between himself and the next best rider in the general classification.

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: "First Goes Last TdF26-118" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 10: Winning Alone

So the French will have to wait another year for one of their countrymen to win the stage on Bastille Day.  Today, it went to a Slovenian by the name of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). He jumped cleared of the lone breakaway riders at the summit of the previous climb and then rode the final fourteen kilometers on his own.  That does seem to be his style.  More importantly he increased his lead over the rest of the field by thirty seconds or more.  It is beginning to be confirmed that he will wear the Maillot Jaune all of the way to Paris.  There are still eleven stages yet to race, and anything can happen, but he can be defensive for the rest of the Tour and make it near impossible for anyone to gain three-and-a-half minutes or more on this super Slovenia cyclist.  No bow to the crowd for this stage, just a "oh snap" gesture after point skyward and to his team's name on his kit.

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: "Winning Alone TdF26-72" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '26, Stage 10: Off He Goes

Despite having a minute's advantage on the way up the Col de Pertus, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) was caught before the summit of the climb by a flying Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). The Maillot Jaune must have been 'sandbagging' the peloton, or he was holding back to help his teammate Isaac Del Toro.  Once he went, Del Toro popped off the back of the group losing time and his Maillot Blanc.  Back in the peloton Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) was hanging tough taking third on the stage (not bad for a Frenchman on Bastille Day).  It was Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who had been dropped fighting back to take second.  Sadly, Jonas Vingegaard finished the day in fourth ceding another minute 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 2: Well Played

The first person to congratulate Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) was his team's main rival, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).  I honestly think Del Toro was surprised by the gesture and sportsmanship of the Maillot Jaune.  I should point out that Vingegaard then sought out Pogacar to congratulate him for a well-run race. The two champions embraced before Tadej went in search of his victorious teammate and the rest of the team.  After two stages the top five are only nineteen seconds apart as the peloton returns to France.

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: "Well Played TdF26-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour '25, Stage 12: Shepherding Yellow

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) was being shepherded by his teammates, Nielson Powless and Harry Sweeny, over the relatively flat first hundred kilometers of the stage.  He did have two teammates in the large breakaway up the road, and three more taking turns on the front of the peloton.  As they make sure Healy has everything he needs, one of the Visma-Lease a Bike guys drops back along the front of the peloton.  I presume he is headed back to fetch bidons from his team car.  It should be noted that this is the Irishman's second day of racing in the Maillot Jaune.  It has been just shy of forty years since one of his countrymen have worn yellow in the Tour de France.  The last guy to do it was Stephen Roche.  In that case, he went on to win the 1987 Tour de France.  I don't think Healy will be able to repeat that accomplishment.

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. 

"Shepherding Yellow TdF25-73" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 8: How Do You Want to Play This?

Obviously, I nor anyone else, know what Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) as they rode side by side on the Col du Mont Cenis.  By their hand gestures it seems that they could have been just talking about the race thus far.  Or each could have been trying to figure out what the other might do on the final climb of the Criterium du Dauphine.  Perhaps we could ask Tadej's teammate, Tim Wellens if they were talking loud enough to be heard over the TV moto.

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.

"How Do You Want to Play This? CdD25-45" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 8: Watching & Waiting

As Uno X-Mobility drove hard on the front of the peloton for Tobias Johannessen, as the main two guys of the Dauphine watched and waited to see what might happen on the last climb of the day.  On the Norwegian's wheel was Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) chaperoning his leader in the Maillot Jaune, Tadej Pogacar.  Today Pogacar's constant shadow has been Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).  He in turn looked back to see who was still in the peloton, or at least what was passing for the peloton of favorites.

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.

"Watching & Waiting CdD25-44" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 8: Come and Take It

After multiple attacks from the rest of the reduced peloton, it was the Maillot Jaune himself, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) who went off the front on the Col d'Eze.  As he looked back over his shoulder, he seemed to say to those who would challenge his lead, just try and catch me.  With twenty-five kilometers left in Paris Nice, there were just two guys up the road that might spoil his perfect day.  Despite leading the race by at least thirty-seven seconds on those five seconds or more behind him, he has yet to win a stage in this year's edition of the Race to the Sun.  

He didn't manage to catch both leaders, but he did take second on the stage sealing his second victory in a row of Paris Nice.  There wasn't a great image of his victory salute as he crossed the line twenty-nine seconds behind the stage winner.

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.

"Come and Take It PN25-35" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Paris Nice '25, Stage 6: Taking Full Advantage

As I said earlier, I don't know which team started the move that blew the peloton apart, but these seventeen guys on five different teams were taking full advantage of the move.  Now that they have caught the last member of the morning breakaway, they have built a minute and twenty seconds on the next group on the road.  Ineos-Grenadiers have the entire team here minus Ben Swift, and Visma-Lease a Bike have everyone on their team still in the race.  Jonas Vingegaard didn't start today due to his injuries in his crash in stage 5.  Max Schachman (Soudal-Quick Step) is the only member of his team to make it into the group.  Both Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have their best young rider Florian Lipowitz in the group along with Matteo Sobrero.  Lidl-Trek was the other team to get their best young rider Mattias Skjelmose along with his teammate and power sprinter Mads Pedersen.  With just twenty-one kilometers to go, it seems most likely that the stage winner is in this group.  And since the Maillot Jaune on the shoulders of Matteo Jorgenson is here, it is equally unlikely that there will be a new race leader tomorrow.  The other steps of the podium will certainly alter, however.

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.

"Taking Full Advantage PN25-25" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Final Stage: A Beautiful Ride

I'm a big fan of titles that have more than one meaning.  This is just such a title.  The roads up above Nice just strike me as a beautiful place to ride a bike.  I imagine they are usually choked with holiday traffic most of the year, but then I've never been all that bothered by traffic.  (to my own down fall on ten different occasions)  And of course, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) has had a beautiful ride around France and parts of Italy.  And finally, he is on one beautiful individual time trial, setting new best times all along the route into Nice. 

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.  

"A Beautiful Ride TdF24-139" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 15: For All to See

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) showed everyone just who was the boss of the Tour.  At least in the Pyrenees, at least this year.  As he crossed the line he knew he had but another minute into his nearest rival and even more to the guy now sitting in third.  With this attack, he may well have just won his third Tour de France.  So naturally, everyone wanted to get a picture for their press agency.  Let's face it, I wanted to get my version of a "photograph," too!  

Now he needs to stay upright, healthy, and ready for the attacks that are sure to come in the Alps next week.  Not necessarily a sure thing by any account.

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.

"For All to See TdF24-93" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 11: A GC Sprint

Everyone, myself included, assume that if it came to a sprint, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) would have the better of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).  Even as they came into the final meters, Pogacar had managed to put Vingegaard on the front (a disadvantage when it comes to a sprint finish).  But once Vingegaard wound up his sprint the Maillot Jaune just wasn't able to get around the defending champion of the Tour.  It came down to a perfect bike throw which netted Vingegaard an extra four bonus seconds at the line.  That gave him two seconds back of his deficit in the race for victory in Nice.  Behind Evenepoel got close enough to these two to stay in second overall, but his gap is now just eight seconds over Vingegaard.  So, despite all of the excitement the top four places in this Tour remained unchanged.  But the confidence of Vingegaard got a huge boost.  Did the catch and the sprint eat into the psyche of Pogacar?

This is the tenth different team to win a stage of this Tour, and naturally, the tenth different guy to win a stage 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"A GC Sprint TdF24-64" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 11: Taking Stock

The two favorites of the Tour had gotten off the front together on the way up the penultimate climb of the day.  Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) had worked together to gain an advantage on the two that were chasing.  These two represent first and third overall, and the next two on the road are second and fourth, so it was in their mutual interest to put as much time between them as possible.  Stage nine had generated a lot of trash talk about how Vingegaard was just racing for the numbers and should have help pull when he, Remeco Evenepoel and Pogacar had escaped off the front.  The two main trash talkers were the two unable to go with the attack.  There is an old adage in cycling, "Let your legs do the talking"

I wonder if Vingegaard is considering an attack of his own as these two near the summit of the Col de Font de Cere.  Either that or he is looking to make sure that Pogacar is on his limit and won't go again himself.  I guess the final possibility is that he is convincing his rival to keep riding together to their mutual gain.

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.

"Taking Stock TdF24-63" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 9: Scaring the Others

Once I learned that the Tour was going to race across the gravel roads of the vineyards of France, I was sure that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) would try to repeat his feet of the gravel roads of Italy in the Strade-Bianche.  In that race, he went with about the same 88 kilometers that he jumped the peloton today.  In Strade-Bianche no one ever saw the Slovenian again.  This move was the move I was fearing, but so was the rest of the Tour hopefuls.  At first, it was only Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) who could even keep the Maillot Jaune in sight.  Was this going to be the move that won the 111th Tour de France? 

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.

"Scaring the Others TdF24-46" (Original art by Greig Leach)