Tour '26, Stage 6: Struggling on the Aspin

The King of the Mountains in his full polka-dot kit found the climb of the Col d'Aspin a bit too much.  As Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) continued to scale the Category 1 climb he could see the peloton beginning to slip away.  With the peloton the Maillot a Pois that he held for three days was also slipping away from his grasp.  The peloton was under the control of UAE Team Emirates and their pace was destroying the peloton on the way up the climb.  

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: "Struggling Up the Aspin TdF26-39" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Fleche Wallonne '26: Not Where He Should Be

As the peloton climbed the Cote de Cherave for the first of three times, the camera man picked out Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Cycling) dangling at the back of the pack.  He was struggling to hold onto the wheel of Anders Halland Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility).  With another 78 kilometers to race it was looking unlikely that he will not be winning his fourth Fleche Wallonne.  I could have been that he was faking weakness, but he did pull out of the race not too long after I painted this.  At least, I think it wasn't soon after, I do know he didn't finish this edition of this iconic race.

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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.  

"Not Where He Should Be FW26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 6: Losing Contact

Earlier Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) had tried to go on an attack, but the favorites weren't having any of it.  As he and Remeco Evenpoel (Soudal-Quick Step) started up the Cote de Domancy, they found the pace set by both UAE-Team Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike just a bit too tough to hang onto.  Evenpoel had struggled on earlier comes today.  It was thought that he was just not keeping himself in a good position, but now it seems like there was a bigger problem.  It looks like he will be losing his Maillot Jaune today.  He is the only guy to have worn it for two days in a row this Dauphine.  Behind him, Lipowitz looked like he may not be continuing to wear the Maillot Blanc on loan from Evenpoel.

Spoiler alert!  Lipowitz was able to recompose himself and go back on the offensive.  He finished third on the stage and is now the outright owner of the Maillot Blanc.  In addition, he currently occupies the third step of the overall podium.

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 Contact CdD25-33" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 2: Losing Touch

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) had been spending much of the day hanging around the back of the peloton.  Once they got to the three kilometers to go mark (the point where one will get the same time as the group you were with should you have a mechanical or a crash) he let the peloton go.  He had been testing his front wheel's inflation, so perhaps it was a mechanical and not just bad legs that had him dropping off rather quickly.  I haven't read any post-race articles to see if he was sick as well.  He was part of the late action yesterday, so I doubt it is his legs.

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 Touch CdD25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)