Tour '26, Stage 16 ITT: Making a Bee Line for the Finish!

Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) was setting an amazing pace around the course on the French side of Lake Geneva! He set new best times at each time check out on course.  He was still building speed through the straight flat roads towards the end of the twenty-six-kilometer course making a bee line for the finish in Thonon les Bains.  He was the new best time when he finished as well.  However, he dropped to third by the time the last guy crossed the line.  Still, it was a brilliant ride for the Dane and helped keep his team in the lead of the team race.  I was surprised that while Lidl-Trek still had their yellow bib numbers of team leaders, they had opted for white helmets today.  I guess no one had gotten them new yellow aero helmets for the individual time trial.

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: "Making a Bee Line to the Finish! TdF26-120" (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 14: Twin Brothers and Teammates in the Break

Not since the Yates brothers fought out for the opening stage victory (and the Maillot Jaune) have we had a pair of twins in a breakaway in the Tour de France.  Today, it is Tobias and Anders Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility) are together in the breakaway on the uncategorized climb prior to the final ascent of the day.  Unlike the Yates, these guys are on the same team, and they are actually the two in the Tour of a trio of triplets.  Will we see their third sibling in the Tour next year?  Just ahead of the brothers is Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) still riding for points and the stage victory.  They still had hope of getting to the line first, but the peloton is just under two minutes behind them.

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: "Twin Brothers and Teammates in the Break TdF26-99" (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 4: Winning the Stage & the Maillot Vert

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) was able to hang with the breakaway from the large breakaway over the final two climbs of the day thus being able to sprint it out for the stage win in Foix.  It wasn't really in question that he would win the sprint as he was the only sprinter left out of the remaining ten.  Clearly, he won handedly as you can tell by this view of his victory salute.  His teammate, who had helped to bring him to the line, Quinn Simmons, took second on the stage just ahead of Pablo Castrillo (Movistar).  It would be another fourteen minutes before the erstwhile Maillot Jaune and the rest of the peloton got to this point in downtown Foix.  Tomorrow, Pedersen will start the sprint stage already in the sprinter's Green Jersey.  Chapeau!

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 the Stage & the Maillot Vert TdF26-29" (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 →