Tour '26, Stage 3: Virtual King

Despite being dropped before the climb of the Col de Toses, it was Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) going over the first Category 1 climb of this Tour de France. By being the first over the first big climb he moves into the virtual lead for the Polka Dot Jersey.  By the end the stage, he turned the virtual jersey in to the actual Maillot a Pois.  He was followed over the top by Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon-CMA CGM) and the guy who started the climb first, Raul Garcia Pierna (Movistar).  The climb (and most of the first three stages of the Tour) were lined by fans flying the Catalonian flag.  In just 24 kilometers, the Tour will return to its native soil.

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: "Virtual King TdF26-19" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

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Tour Femmes '25, Stage 1: Our First Queen

Despite having not scored any points at the first climb of the day, Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) went across the eventual finish line first claiming one more point than the erstwhile leader in the Queen of the Mountains competition.  Since this is the last categorized climb of the day she will be wearing the Maillot a Pois tomorrow.  Taking second over the climb that will later be the finish line was Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels Cycling) whose teammate had been leading before now.

I am amused by FDJ's new kit.  The women's team's kit used to be superior to their male counterparts, Groupama-FDJ, but this all-black kit falls short of the men's kit unveiled at the Tour three weeks earlier.

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. 

"Our First Queen TdFF25-4" (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 3: A Solo Effort for a Sole Point

Right before Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) went off the front of the peloton, he could be seen talking with those around him on the front line of the group.  It almost looked like he was asking permission to go off on this solo raid for the lone KOM point on the top of the only climb of the day.  Whether he was allowed to go, or simple had the power to ride off on his own, he came alone to the top of Mont Cassel.  He claimed the one point towards the King of the Mountains competition taking the jersey off of his team leader, Tadej Pogacar.  There was some speculation that this would allow Pogacar more time to recover by not be obliged to go to the podium presentations nor sit for post-race interviews.  The other possibility is that he would rather be in his rainbow jersey for now and then trade in for the coveted Maillot Jaune.  Whatever the plan was, Wellens is now the leader in the King of the Mountains competition.  

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.

"A Solo Effort for a Sole Point TdF25-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 6: And He Is Gone!

Once Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) realized his erstwhile breakaway companion, Michael Leonard (Ineos-Grenadiers), would be unable to work anymore, he was off.  The Frenchman on the American team was a local cyclist who knew this climb up the Cote de Domancy very well.  He was cheered on by fans and neighbors all of the way up to the line.  Sadly, he was caught and passed by the battle for the Maillot Jaune.  He was able to hang tough to finish sixth on the day.  Moreover, his efforts not only earned him the most combative rider's award, he also becomes the new owner of the Maillot a Pois by a single point.  To remind you the polka dot jersey (Maillot a Pois) is award to the rider with the most King of the Mountain points.

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.

"And He Is Gone! CdD25-32" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '22, Stage 18: The Stage, Another Jersey, & Probably the Tour

After multiple attempts by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) it was Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) finally dropping Pogacar and going alone to the top of the Hautacam.  As they started the climb, Wout Van Aert finally dropped back to help his leader.  As he joined his other teammate Sepp Kuss, Kuss swung off and Van Aert upped the pace yet again.  That was the pace that finally broke Pogacar.  Vingegaard put another minute and four seconds into the man in the Maillot Blanc, plus another four seconds in time bonuses.  I do think that will be more than enough to hold off the superior time trial artists, Pogacar and Geraint Thomas.  Chapeau, Jonas!  or should I say Tillykke!

Oh yes, I almost forgot, with the win atop the Hautacam Vingegaard also is the new leader in the King of the Mountains.  While technically, Simon Geschke is in second place now in the King of the Mountains competion he will be wearing the Maillot a Pois at the start tomorrow.  Obviously, the Yellow Jersey takes precidence over the Polka Dot one.

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-2022/3895209-121-294403/Painting/the-stage-another-jersey-and-probably-the-tour-tdf22-122.html

TDF, Stage 7: Tour de Tears

So, I watch the Tour on NBC and Phil Liggett is the voice of the Tour to me.  So I must thank him for the title of this painting.  He has taken to calling this Tour the "Tour de Tears" since so many of the stage winners have broken down in tears when they win a stage of the Tour de France.  Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) was no different.  However, he started crying within the final kilometer knowing the stage was his.  Just two months ago, he had a serious crash in the Giro d'Italia.  He went head over the handlebars, smacking his head on the road, but his life was saved by his helmet.  Perhaps it was the combination of surviving that crash and finally winning a stage of the Tour de France was what cause him to cry as he approached the line in Creusot.  I am not sure who his victory salute seen in this painting was for, but not only did he feel this win in his heart, he felt the need to salute the crowd with a heart shaped heart gesture.  Not only did his effots give him the stage win, but he is now the new Maillot a Pois, the King of the Mountains.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2021-Tour-de-France/3821631-43-291436/Painting/tour-de-tears-tdf21-42.html