Tour '26, Stage 14: Racing to the Podium

With Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) having already won the stage, this trio was racing for the remaining two steps of the stage podium.  It could be argued that his teammate Isaac Del Toro, Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) were also racing for the podium in Paris as well.  The sprint went to Del Toro, followed by Seixas at the same time.  Vingegaard let another six seconds open up between him and the other two.  Plus, they earned small time bonuses for their second and third places.  Seixas also took over the Maillot Blanc of the best younger rider in the Tour, his time bonus helped but he would still be in White tomorrow regardless.  At nineteen years of age, he is the youngest guy to start the Tour de France since 1905!  He is now in fourth, with Del Toro in seventh.  Vingegaard holds his second place but loses more time to Pogacar.  

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: "Racing to the Podium TdF26-103" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

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Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 4 ITT: Every Inch

Remco Evenpoel (Soudal-Quick Step) was carrying so much speed through every corner that he had to use every inch of the road surface.  I swear his shoulder brushed the safety cushion has he came out of one of the many roundabouts in the short seventeen-and-a-half-kilometer course.  There is a saying in racing, "you have to be willing to lose in order to win."  Evenpoel personified that adage as he risked crashing by carrying speed into every corner.  The risk paid a big reward!  He not only one the stage by thirty-seven seconds, he took the lead in the Criterium du Dauphine as well.  Given his age, he is both the wearer of the Maillot Jaune, and the owner of the Maillot Blanc of best young rider.  With this race that fits his expertise (as exemplified by the rainbow bans of ITT World Champion) he put time into the only two guys that beat him in the 2024 Tour de France.  Again, this race is proving to be a preview to a very exciting Tour de France this July.

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.

"Every Inch CdD25-21" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 3: Oh, Snap!

Ivan Romeo (Movistar) had ridden all of his breakaway companions off of his wheel to take a solo victory in Charantonnay.  It shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise, he is a former U-23 World Time Trial Champion.  However, he didn't quite have his victory celebration down as this is his first ever World Tour victory.  First, he held his head in disbelief, then shook out his right hand in what I saw as a "snap" gesture, and then finally remembered that he should spread his arms out wide as he crossed the line.  With this stage win, he becomes the third competitor to wear the Maillot Jaune in this Dauphine.  Given his age, he is now the holder of the Maillot Blanc as well, also the third to hold that honor. He now has a seventeen second lead in the race, and over a minute's advantage on the race favorites.  Tomorrow is a individual time trial, so he should be fine, unless he went too deep to pull off today's victory.

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. 

"Oh, Snap! CdD25-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)