Tour Femmes '26, Stage 6: Under Escort

When I first saw Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance-Soudal) off the back of the peloton on the climb of the Col de Lalouvesc I assumed she was struggling.  The Mauritian Champion apparently had some sort of a mechanical and was now on her spare bike.  She was being escorted back to the peloton by her teammates Justine Ghekiere and the Spanish Champion Mirela Benito.  It seems that she also rated an escort by the gendarme and his motorcycle as well.  Obviously, that is where the title came from.  She did rejoin the leading group, but more about 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: "Under Escort TdFF26-34" (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 Femmes '26, Stage 2: Still on Her Own

I think even the gendarme on the side of the road was surprised to see Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) fly by still off the front of the peloton with just six kilometers to race.  At this point, she still had over a half of a minute on the sprinters' teams led mainly by SD Worx-Protime.  They were burning through riders trying to close the gap to this sole escapee.  They did succeed, finally, inside of the final kilometer.  It was a long shot that really challenged the team of the yellow jersey.  So close!

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: "Still on Her Own TdFF26-11" (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 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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →  

Paris Nice '25, Stage 7: Falling Hard

I am breaking one of my own rules here, but this crash meant something in the overall general classification.  Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) started the day in third place just under a minute behind the race leader.  And he was a mere nineteen seconds off of the race for the Maillot Blanc.  But an unseen traffic island in the middle of an S curve caught the young Dane off guard.  Riders on the front gave a warning of the danger, but his teammate just ahead was so occupied avoiding the danger himself, that he didn't give a warning to the guy right on his wheel.  His teammate, Mads Pedersen, and one of the Gendarmes escorting the peloton were the first to check on his condition.  He had come down hard smacking his helmet against the road.  Pedersen stayed with him until the team car and the doctor arrived and then had to press on with the race.  You can just see the green shorts that go with his Maillot Vert peeking out under his rain gear.  In order to carry that sprinter's jersey to Nice, Pedersen had to keep going.

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.

"Falling Hard PN25-28" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 4: Preparing to Start Again

Once the race had reached the valley, the weather had improved enough to restart the race.  The difficulty was gathering everyone back together. Many had ridden the descent very slowly, so that needed to get everyone massed together in order to restart the race.  The other issue was recreating the gaps that had existed between the three main groups when the race was neutralized.  Now, the break had restarted, with the next to go being the two guys in red, Tobias Foss and Josh Tarling (Ineos-Grenadiers) about a minute and a half minutes later.  Standing with them were two riders from EF Education-EasyPost who would have to wait another minute or so to restart with the rest of the peloton.  It was a mess, but no one was hurt in the icy conditions.

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.

"Preparing to Start Again PN25-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 12: Left Behind

Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) has not been having the Tour he hoped for.  He started the day in 35th having dropped from fifteenth on the fast mountain stage yesterday.  He was dropped on the first climb of the day but managed to catch the peloton on the way across the valley.  No sooner had the road head back up the Cote de Rocamadour than he popped back off.  He was watching team cars drive off and the gendarme on the motorcycle zipped pass him on the way to the front of the race.  So it wasn't much of a surprise when not long after this, his team car pulled over for a chat.  He simply pulled up, got off the bike and climbed into the back seat with the mechanic.  His Tour de France is over.

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.

"Left Behind TdF24-66" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 10: Coming Back to the Peloton

Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) was another to fall victim to the rash of flat tires on the stage today.  He got a new bike rather than wait around for a wheel change since they were now inside of the final 25 kilometers of the stage.  Not to stressed, he worked his way back through the caravan of team cars, support vehicles and gendarme motorcycles.  Once anyone catches the red Skoda of the race commissare they know that they have reached the tail of 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Coming Back to the Peloton" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 7 ITT: Somethings Are More Important

This might be a first for me in a Time Trial in the Tour de France.  When the cameras first caught sight of Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek) he was whooping it up with the French fans along the climb of Stage 7.  As he neared the top, the crowd pressed in dangerously despite the gendarmes attempting to keep order.  But then, Bernard saw who he was looking for waving an "Allez Papa" sign.  He found his wife and child on the side of the racecourse. Naturally, he stopped gave them both a kiss, and then got back to the job at hand.  Surprisingly, he came in just three minutes down on the current leader of the stage, but he had the fuller heart for the moment.  So, did I.  He did finish 61st on the day, better than more than half of the field.

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.

"Somethings Are More Important TdF24-35" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 7 ITT, Catching His Minute Man

Well technically, Stefan Bissenger (EF Education-EasyPost) was catching his minute and a half man.  In the time trial, each rider starts 90 seconds apart with the guy lowest on the general classification going first and then on up the standings in reverse order.  Once the starts get to the last fifteen guys on the GC, they start two minutes apart, just to keep this from happening.  Bissenger is a master at the Individual Time Trial so it wasn't that surprising that he caught Nikias Arndt (Bahrain-Victorious).  A little more surprising was that he wasn't the new best time when he got to the finish in Gevrey-Chambertain.

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.

"Catching His Minute Man TdF24-33" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice 23, Stage 5: Every Point on Offer

Even though he is hanging his head, Jonas Gregaard (Uno-X) had to be thrilled to give over the final climb of the day, as he did every other climb in the stage, first.  He has now built up a lead in the King of the Mountains competition that is two and a half times more KOM points than his nearest competitor.  Since the guy in second is in the Maillot Jaune of race leader, I think he will be more focused on keeping that one, not on trying to catch Gregaard.  There is still a lot of climbing in the remaining three days of racing so it still remains to be seen if he will still be in the Maillot a Pois when he gets to 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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3938960-100-272742/Painting/every-point-on-offer.-pn23-18.html

Tour '22, Stage15: Last One Away

What started as a defensive move for his teammate is looking like a long looked for stage win for his team.  Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) had dropped his break away companion and was still eight seconds ahead of the peloton with under four kilometers to race.  It was still slim odds that he could get his team's first stage win in fourteen years and the first win for the French in their own Tour.  But no, the gods of the Tour are cruel and he was got within 500 meters of the line.  Instead of the hoped for stage victory, he finished 64th on the day in the second group 24 seconds behind the winner of 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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3894275-94-294403/Painting/last-one-away-tdf22-95.html

Tour '22, Stage 11: Defending by Winning

Anthony Perez (Cofidis) had joined the break away in hopes of being the Frenchman to win a stage of the Tour on Bastille Day (it hasn't happen in at least five years).  Yet, by being off the front, he could suck up the lion share of the King of the Mountain points thus protecting the Maillot a Pois of his teammate Simon Geschke back in 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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893744-70-294403/Painting/defending-by-winning-tdf22-70.html

Tour '22, Stage 10: Free Speech Has a Price

It is not too uncommon for protesters to use the stage of the Tour de France to get their message out to the world.  Conversely, French TV does its best not to film the protest but this was a bit of what made it to air.  The group Derniere Renovation chained themselves together across the road blocking the Tour route with 36 kilometers to go.  Their goal was to call attention to the need to address climate change.  They successfully stop the race for about 12 minutes as officals and Gendarme dragged the entwined group from the road.  Once the race resumed, each group of riders started of with the same gaps that they had when the protest started.  While none of the riders were hurt, and I assume/hope none of the protesters were either, the unexpected long delay after racing full out had to play havoc on the muscles, heart rates and psyche of the peloton.  But hey, it may for a beautiful (and I think) wonderful 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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3893266-55-294403/Painting/free-speech-has-a-price-tdf22-55.html

Tour, Stage 1: Here We Go!

At long last the Tour de France got started today.  With the worldwide pandemic, I was afraid we wouldn't be having the Tour, and there is still no guarantee that the race will be allowed to make it to Paris.  But the ASO is doing all it can to keep riders, staff, press and fans as safe as possible.  That being said, just five minutes behind schedule, Christian Prudhomme dropped the flag that got what will be a very unusual Tour underway.  Within moments, the first break away went off the front.  Not long after the rain started and that would become the driving plot point of the first stage.

I will be painting every stage of this Tour live (or as close as possible), every day.  However, my wife is scheduled to have a kidney transplant on Stage 17, and I will be donating a kidney on the same day.  Therefore, I will not be finishing painting the race until I have recovered enough from surgery to watch and paint (and write these posts).  We've been waiting a long time for this day to come, and as much as I love watching and painting the Tour de France, the transplants are far more important.

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/Tour-de-France-2020/3683684-1-282744/Painting/here-we-go-tdf20-1.html

Tour, Stage 20: Allez, Allez, Allez!

This is the cheer that greeted the best place French rider in the Tour.  Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) riding on a French team gave the French something to cheer for.  Unfortunately, the time trial isn't his speciality.  Conversely, he was far enough up on his next rival that he didn't have to worry about losing a place on the general classification.  His sixth place was not what he hoped for, but at least he was in the top ten.  The French have done well this year, taking both the Maillot Blanc of best young rider with Pierre Latour (Ag2r La Mondiale) and the Maillot a Pois of King of the Mountains with Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step), plus they had a total (thus far) of four stage wins.  Not the Maillot Jaune, but a good Tour just the same.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3195934-110-251072/PaintingAllez,-Allez,-Allez!--T18-109.html

Tour, Stage 17: Mutual Respect

The members of the peloton have quite a bit of respect for each other.  These two had fought out the stage victory yesterday.  Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step) had chased Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) down the final mountain, only passing Yates as the Brit crashed on a corner near the bottom.  Today, as Alaphilippe was dropping back to the peloton, and Yates was chasing up to the break away, they patted each other on the back.  Seemingly, Alaphilippe was wishing Yates his stage victory that he was deprived of in Stage 16.

Behind these two, one of the many Gendarme that protect the riders and attempt to control the crowd watches them (and the fans nearby).  The Gendarme caught a lot of grief for how they handled the farmer's protest yesterday.  They used mace to clear the protesters from the roadway, but sprayed many members of the peloton in the process.  Sorry I didn't get any paintings of the fracas, but it happened off camera.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3193937-91-251072/PaintingMutual-Respect--T18-90.html

Tour, Stage 15: A Watchful Eye

I can't help myself, I love a title that opens up the interpretation of what is going on in the image, instead of spelling it out for you, the viewer.  There are two individuals who are being watchful in this painting.  First, the gendarme, one of an extra 1,500 police who have been added to the already excellent security of the Tour.  Since the attack in Nice, the fear as been that those responsible would target the Tour.  I am sure that it isn't the first time that the thought has crossed the minds of race officials or the security forces of France.  And then their is Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) who is watching behind to make sure that no one is bridging across to him nor his attacking companion, Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha).  The duo was trying to get the break away to stick as they labored up the Col du Berthland, the first of six categorized climbs of the day.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2824696-103-224974/PaintingA%20Watchful%20Eye%20TdF104-Greig-Leach.html#.V4wP2rgrLIU

Tour, Stage 4: Fair Warning

It is a pun, get it?  The gendarme is warning the break away of the dangerous piece of "traffic furniture" in the middle of the road.  Already, one of these traffic islands has damaged the hopes of one of the main GC riders, Alberto Contador (Tinkoff).  After the break and the peloton are safely pass this obstacle, the gendarme will jump back on his motorcycle, work is way back to the front of the race and find the next hazard on the road.  There has been difficulties with motorcycles speeding through the peloton, but never with one of those of the Gendarmerie.  I am sure all of the racers appreciate the waving yellow flag and blowing whistle that helps to keep them safe on the road.  The four escapees still include, Oliver Naesen (IAM Cycling) who will come away with the most aggressive rider award on the day, Markel Irizar (Trek-Segafredo), Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Andreas Shillinger (Bora-Argon 18).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Buy this painting here:  http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2818699-24-224974/PaintingFair%20Warning%20TdF24-Greig-Leach.html#.V3v7c7grLIU

Tour de France, Stage 20: Bad Timing

No matter how much a rider trains, no matter how fit they may be or emotionally strong.  Even in the old days, no matter how much they doped.  Lady luck still can be a very large factor in the out come of a rider's Tour de France.  Two different men while wearing the Maillot Jaune have had to leave this Tour due to bad luck and injury, many others have been unable to finish for the same reason.  Of the 198 riders who began way back in Utrecht, only 160 are still in the race at the end of the penultimate stage of the 102nd Tour de France.  Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) used a brilliant ride yesterday to move him self up into the top five on the General Classification.  Only to have a very badly timed flat tire, right at the base of the ascent up the Alp d'Huez.  Despite how quickly he got a new wheel it still meant he would be having to ride up the monster of the Alps faster than any other of the contenders just to rejoin the main body of the race.  Unlucky.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  They are a wonderful small family run art supply company based in the northern mid-west of the United States.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  As it is a one of a kind original work of art, you may not want to delay your purchase, because when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2585876-138-210122/Painting.html#.VbR_gPlViko

Tour de France, Stage 20: Here Come the Attacks

With just two mountains left to climb in the 102nd Tour de France, if any time was to be gained on the General Classification, the attacks would have to go early.  Movistar had the luxury of having two cards to play.  Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was sitting third overall and could attack the peloton without Team Sky and the Maillot Jaune paying him much mind.  As a strategy, he could then function as a carrot for the team leader, Nairo Quintana, to bridge across to.  They also sent another team member along with Valverde, the other Colombian on the team, Winner Anacona.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  They are a wonderful small family run art supply company based in the northern mid-west of the United States.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  As it is a one of a kind original work of art, you may not want to delay your purchase, because when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2585673-134-210122/Painting.html#.VbP5lvlViko