Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Nouveau Maillot Jaune

Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) held off the chasing duet of Kasia Niewiadoma and Elise Longo Borghini down the final climb and onto the Avenue des Anglais on the coastline of Nice.  She finished seventeen seconds ahead of those she left behind at the summit which is enough to put her into the next Maillot Jaune.  With her time bonus over the other two, she now sits in yellow by eight seconds.  Twice the advantage that Niewiadoma had when she won the Tour de France Femmes two years ago.  Will Vollering be able to defend her jersey tomorrow or while the lead change hands yet again?  I feel I must point out that as of yet once someone has lost the Maillot Jaune they have not reclaimed it.  Will that change tomorrow? Will someone new claim the final yellow jersey, or will Vollering defend it successfully?

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: "Nouveau Maillot Jaune TdFF26-55" (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 7: Her First Was Huge!

It is surprising that this is the first time Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) has won a stage of the Tour de France Femmes.  Don't get me wrong, she has won the race two years ago, but this is the first time she has won an individual stage.  She picked a big one to win, and she won it big.  She was a minute and sixteen seconds ahead of Demi Vollering at the summit and it was a further half of a minute to the erstwhile Maillot Jaune, Marlen Reusser.  I say erstwhile because of this ride, Kiewiadoma is the new leader of the Tour de France Femmes with just two more stages to race.  It isn't like they are easy stages either, and she only has fifteen seconds over Vollering who remains in second place both on the stage and the general classification.  It is clear to me that this race will go all of the way to the final kilometer on the coastline of 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Her First Was Huge! TdFF26-47" (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 3: Flying to Victory!

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) used the short climb up to the summit at Les Angles to get the jump on the remaining peloton of race favorites.  He opened a small gap on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) as the Maillot Jaune looked back to see if anyone else was attacking.  That look back seemed to make him lose the wheel of the rainbow jersey, a mistake that left a two second gap between the two main rivals for the win in Paris.  And in so doing, not only did Pogacar win the stage, with the time bonus he drew equal in time with Vingegaard.  That means he will be the next to wear the coveted Maillot Jaune.  Behind, it was Vingegaard in second, followed by Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) in third and Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM). Everyone else keeps their positions in the General Classification.  However, Del Toro will be wearing the Maillot Blanc of best young rider, Vingegaard will be wearing the Maillot Vert (he is second in that competition) as Pogacar will be in the Maillot Jaune.  Of course, Alex Baudin will be in the Maillot a Pois despite not being present at the finale 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Flying to Victory TdF26-23" (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 '25, Stage 8: The Stage, the Jersey, Perhaps the Tour

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) showed us that she is still a force in women's road cycling.  She is a former UCI Road World Champion from 2014.  She moved away from road cycling to compete in mountain biking going so far as to win the Gold Medal in the sport in the 2024 Paris Olympics (yes, I painted that event, and her).  This is quite the return to the sport.  While she hasn't officially won the fourth edition of the renewed Tour de France Femmes, she now has just over two and a half minutes to the woman she left on the way up the Col de la Madeleine.  All things are possible, including bad luck, as we have seen too often in this Tour already.  But it is highly likely that she will become the first French woman to win the reincarnated Tour de France Femmes.  She is also will be the first French person to win one of their home Tour since the late 80s either male or female.  Chapeau!

Also, for those counting, this is the third stage in a row won by a French woman.

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.

"The Stage, the Jersey, Perhaps the Tour TdFF25-51" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 5: Back into Yellow

Not only did Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) take the bonus sprint, she also had the legs to just hold off Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) to claim the stage victory.  While it looks like she is wearing the UCI World Champion Rainbow Jersey, it is actually the Mauritius National Champion's jersey.  But you don't need to remember that tomorrow, the bonus seconds from the sprint and the stage win means she will be pulling the Maillot Jaune back on after ceding it to Marianne Vos in stage two.  They are the only two women to have the leader's jersey thus far in the Tour de France Femmes this edition.  Clearly, Demi Vollering is doing much better than we all feared after being helped home by her teammates just two stages ago.  Le Court was so sure she had the victory that she celebrated a bit early, but still won the stage by three-quarters of a bike length.

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.

"Back into Yellow TdFF25-28" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 2: With Fifty Meters to Spare

Against the odds, Mavi Garcia (Liv-Alula-Jayco) was able to hold off the fast-sprinting peloton over the final climb and through the finish at Quimper.  Behind her it is Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) trying desperately to catch Garcia, but must settle for second place on the second stage of Tour de France Femmes.  Kim Le Court's (AG Insurance-Soudal) third place just ahead of Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) with its four second time bonus meant that she will be the second woman to wear the Maillot Jaune in as many stages.  I would have expected Garcia to figure in the GC now, but she was so far back at the start of the stage, that while she moved up 39 places, she is still just shy of five minutes off of Le Court's 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. 

"With Fifty Meters to Spare TdFF25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 12: Alone at the Top!

Actually, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was alone since the second kilometer of the climb to the top of Hautacam.  But not only did he come to the summit alone, he now sits alone at the top of the general classification.  He put a bit over two minutes into Vingegaard on the way up, reversing what had happened the last time the duo raced each other on the fabled climb three years ago.  He now has a three-and-a-half-minute lead over his main rival in the quest for Yellow.  This is his third stage victory of this Tour and the third time he will claim the Maillot Jaune.  I doubt he will lose it again for the remaining nine stages.  I guess the real question is, what will be his advantage 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. 

"Alone at the Top! TdF25-81" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold, and done so rather quickly.

Tour '25, Stage 10: Is It Enough?

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) had done all he could to but as much time between himself and the group that contained the Maillot Jaune.  He has spent most of the day in the virtual yellow jersey, but it depends now on what happens from the peloton to see if he will have the real jersey of race leader over tomorrow's rest day.  He has ridden on the front over the last two climbs (including most of the way up the final one) but couldn't hold the pace once the attacks sprung out from his erstwhile companions.  He held on for third place earning an extra four bonus seconds.  But will it be enough to claim the lead in this Tour de France.  Short answer, it was.

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. 

"Is It Enough? TdF25-65" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 7: Another Stage, Another Jersey

When I titled this, I was referring to Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was reclaiming the Maillot Jaune with this stage victory atop the Mur de Bretagne.  I later discovered that he also took back the ownership of the Maillot Vert with the stage win.  So, as I always enjoy with my titles, there is more than one interpretation to what I called this watercolor.  Glued to Pogacar's wheel was his shadow Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).  He wasn't about to cede any more seconds to his main Tour rival than he could prevent.  With the time bonuses, Pogacar increased his advantage by four seconds over Vingegaard.  They did put some time into the rest of the peloton.  The only one to lose some real time was guy who started the day in the Maillot Jaune, Mathieu Van Der Poel.  He is now in fifth about the same time disadvantage that he had behind Pogacar that he had after the time trial.  For those keeping track... Stage 4 he was in Yellow equal on equal time, after stage 5 he was out by a minute and a half.  After stage 6 he had a one second advantage, and now he is behind about a minute and a half.

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. 

"Another Stage, Another Jersey TdF25-46" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 5 ITT: Riding Out of His Polka Dots

Quite a lot was said before the start of the first time trial of this edition of the Tour de France about where Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was after losing time in the only ITT at the Criterium Dauphine.  Today he answered everyone with his legs!  As he rode the final twists and turns of the thirty-three kilometer course, we all wondered if he might actually win the stage.  He didn't. But he only missed by a mere sixteen seconds.  While he didn't out ride Remco Evenepoel, he is forty-two seconds ahead of him in the general classification.  With this title, I was sort of going for the joke that he was riding out of his skin, or should I say his polka dotted skinsuit.  Actually, he claimed the Maillot Jaune today, but he still the owner of the Maillot a Pois.  His second place today also claimed in the Maillot Vert.  While I doubt he will hold all three when we reach Paris, the only guy to ever do that was Eddy Merckx, he sure is making it look like it will be a tough race for everyone else.

He and the team had made an effort to make sure he wouldn't be in an RSO issued leaders skinsuit fearing that it would be as fast as his team's own.  Clearly, it didn't slow him down.  Or maybe it did.  Had he been in his regular team kit would he have won the 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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.   

"Riding Out of His Polka Dots TdF25-31" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 2: Lunging into Yellow!

Many expected this stage to go to Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck).  He had worked hard to make sure that his teammate, Jasper Philipsen, took the opening stage and the first Maillot Jaune of this Tour.  Today, he was free to ride for himself.  In so doing, he took the coveted jersey off of his teammate and on to his own shoulders.  A little unsuspected was just how hard Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) pushed the puncher taking second on the stage.  Just a few feet further back was Jonas Vingegaard losing just two seconds of bonus time to his main rival, Pogacar.  Tomorrow, we go back to a flatter stage, so it is possible that Van Der Poel will be able to hold the jersey for at least one more day.

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.

"Lunging for Yellow! TdF25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 6: Back into Yellow

After an amazing, and very effective, attack on the final climb of the day Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) raises two fingers in a victory salute atop Combloux.  I assume the gesture is a reference to his taking his second stage in this year's Criterium du Dauphine.  Just as when he won the first stage, he will be on the stage receiving his second Maillot Jaune in this race. With the time bonus he now has a forty-three second buffer over his main rival Jonas Vingegaard.  I wish I could have gotten a good angle of the image, but as Vingegaard came across the line in second place a minute after the Rainbow Jersey the two hugged and you could see the Dane tell him, "Well played."  

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.

"Back into Yellow CdD25-35" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: The Best Two with the Best Time

The last two riders for Visma-Lease a Bike were arguably their two best guys.  It was Matteo Jorgenson leading Jonas Vingegaard across the line in Nevers to post the best time when they finished their Team Time Trial.  Their effort put them into first and second place respectively.  So, after three days Jorgenson will pull on the Maillot Jaune that he is defending from 2024.  It also shows that the duo should be ready for the challenge of this year's Tour de France.  I'm looking forward to see what they can do in the next two mountain top finishes in the ensuing stages.

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.

"The Best Two with the Best Time PN25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Happily, this painting has sold!

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 5: It's Me

I first encountered Blanka Vas (Visma-Lease a Bike) in this year's Paris Olympics, when she and her pro team teammate Marianne Vos were off the front of the women's road race with less than ten kilometers to race.  She ended up getting out sprinted by Vos and Lotte Kopecky (who isn't in this race).  All three had been out maneuvered by Kristen Faulkner (EF-Oatley-Cannondale) who won the Gold.  Vas knew what Faulkner had done just two weeks ago, so she wasn't going to lose to the American Champion again.  Today Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) waited to sprint but was still beaten by the Hungarian champion.  She dropped her head in disappointment with not winning the stage, only to learn later that she had taken over the Maillot Jaune, a long searched for accomplishment.  Taking third on the day was Liane Lippert (Movistar).  Faulkner was equally disappointed to miss the podium for this stage, but it did work out that she now sits second in the general classification just nineteen seconds behind Niewiadoma.  All of these new GC positions were created by a crash with just over five kilometers left to race.  The crash took down the Maillot Jaune.  While she was able to finish, Demi Vollering (Visma-Lease a Bike) lost almost two minutes.  The race also ended the Tour for three; Spela Kern (Cofidis), Magdaleine Valleries (EF-Oatley-Cannondale), and Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL).  Let's all hope that their injuries aren't too severe and that they will recover quickly.

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.

"It's Me TdFF24-26" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 3: Equally Fast

The defending Tour de France Femmes champion, Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) was on a hot ride in the individual time trial this afternoon.  She matched the current leader's time at the split which is when I painted this piece.  Yet, she gained another five seconds in the remaining three kilometers of the stage!  That is stunning, she finished the day besting Chloe Dygert by just over five seconds.  Not only did she claim the stage, she also claimed the Maillot Jaune of race leader.  She holds that same five seconds over Dygert who is now in third on the general classification.  It is her teammate Lorena Wiebes who is in second just three seconds off of her lead.  Logically that moves her team into the team classification lead 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Equally Fast TdFF24-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 1: Can It Be First & Second?

The short answer is, yes!  Romain Bardet and his teammate Frank Van Der Broek (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) were able to hold off the charging peloton of sprinters by five seconds.  It means that not only did the break away succeed in the opening stage of the Tour, but Van Der Broek is now the best place young rider, and Bardet takes the lead.  It also means that Van Der Broek is the leader in the sprint competition as well.  Since Bardet will start in the Maillot Jaune, and Van Der Broek in the Maillot Blanc, the Maillot Vert will fall to Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) since he finished third on the stage.  Or you could say he won the bunch sprint behind the break away duo.

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.

"Can It Be First & Second? TdF24-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 7: The Stage, the Jersey, Perhaps the Tour!

The mist was thick atop the Tourmalet, but not so thick that we couldn't see Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) come alone to the top of the climb.  She had left everyone behind.  The closest to her was Niewiadoma and she came through the fog just shy of two minutes later.  The effort clearly won her the stage, and her margin of victory was enough for her to take over the lead in the second Tour de France Femmes.  She now leads the race by a minute and fifty seconds over the woman who was second to her on the stage.  Clearly, the twenty second penalty she got back in stage four turned out to be of no consequence.  

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 $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3968947-189-297438/Painting/the-stage-the-jersey-perhaps-the-tour-tdff23-45.html

 

Paris Nice 23, Stage 4: With Authority

David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) may have left the favorites, but Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) wasn’t having it.  He attacked at about two kilometers to go, leaving everyone behind and quickly catching the Frenchman.  Gaudu held onto the Slovenian’s wheel until the final 200 meters, but just didn’t have the legs to stay with the soon to be crowned Maillot Jaune.  I avoided the chance to entitled the painting, “The Stage and the Jersey,” but I imagine I have painted him with that title far too many times.  He may have started the day without the Maillot Blanc, but he will now have a matched set of white and yellow.

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/3938807-97-272742/Painting/with-authority.-pn23-15.html

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 7: Riding into the Yellow Jersey

This painting is sold.

I'm sorry I couldn't resist the temptation when I saw Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) rode past this inflatable yellow jersey on her way to winning one of her own. Van Vleutin has been on a tear this stage.  Having dropped the only rider who could go with her on her original attack she has only gained time on literally everyone out on the road.  The way she was climbing up the Grand Ballon I am willing to bet she even dropped a motorcycle or two.  In this painting you can see both of her goals for the day, the Maillot Jaune and the summit of the climb with its statue of Diable Bleus, the mountain soldiers of WWI.  She did accomplish both goals.  Oddly, there wasn't a good camera angle of her stage win.  So this will have to do as the image of her epic ride to both the stage victory and becoming the new owner of the Maillot Jaune.  Tomorrow will tell if she went way to deep for today's stage or while she will be able to keep this hard won jersey.

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 2: Queen of the Tour

Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) goes one better than yesterday, winning stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes!  She had started the day just four seconds out of the Maillot Jaune, but with Lorena Wiebes finishing 29 seconds back, she is the new Queen of the Tour de France Femmes, the new Maillot Jaune.  The birthday girl Silvia Persico (Valco-Travel & Service) took second, putting her in second on the GC as well.  In fact each of the top five finishers today became the top five of the Tour Femmes.  Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) who had opened the sprint took third with Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) finishing in fourth.  

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3895798-154-294403/Painting/queen-of-the-tour-tdff22-13.html