Tour Femmes '26, Stage 7: Her Goal Is in Sight

Somehow, I don't think I have grasped just how desolate the top of Mont Ventoux actually is.  It may have to do with fans being banned from the final five kilometers of the stage due to wildfire fears.  I'm not sure what could burn here, but I did notice firetrucks and firefighters at multiple points during the climb.  Regardless, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) had waited until her rivals had taken a break from their attacks to launch her own counter move.  She got free of the top two women in the general classification and quickly built a nice gap with the summit of Mont Ventoux now in eyesight.  With just under three and a half kilometers to ride, she had already secured the Maillot Jaune Virtuale.  Given the way she is riding, I am sure she will have the actual lead by the time she reaches that tower in the distance.

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 Goal Is in Sight TdFF6-45" (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: The Leaders Are Leading Up Mont Ventoux

You may be able to tell, but I changed the title of this painting between the ink work and the color work adding "the leaders are" to what I had originally written.  Because with just over ten kilometers of climbing to go, it was just the top three on the general classification that were in the lead, alone.  Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez), the European Champion, had made the first attack that separated her, Marlen Reusser (Movistar) in the Maillot Jaune and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) from all of the other contenders in the Tour de France Femmes.  I do enjoy the young kid bedecked in his freebie polka dot t-shirt and hat passed out by the publicity caravan watching the Tour Femmes with their dad.

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: "The Leaders Are Leading Up Mont Ventoux TdFF26-44" (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: We've Done Our Part

As the peloton approaches the base of the Mont Ventoux, the leaders' domestiques begin to pop off the front of the group with their jobs done.  So it was with Francesca Barale and her Movistar teammate Sara Martin. Barale reaches out and pats her teammate's back congratulating her on the work she has done for their team leader, Marlen Reusser, who started the day in the Maillot Jaune.  These two have done their part in making sure she will still be leading the Tour after the climb of Mont Ventoux.  A mere nineteen kilometers will reveal the fruit of their collaborative efforts.

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: "We've Done Our Part TdFF26-42" (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: Tete de la Course

I do realize I used this title in the men's race, but these women are the front of this race.  In the leading group that has just over two minutes on the peloton with only forty-four kilometer to race are Mia Griffin (Picnic-PostNL), Romina Hinojosa (Lotto-Intermarche) and her team leader Sandrine Tas, along with Fiona Mangan (Mayene Monbana My Pie) and Amalie Dideriksen (Cofidis).  It is nice to see that two Irish women along with the first Mexican were out in front of the peloton on the Queen Stage of the Tour de France Femmes.  Of course, the sting is in the end of this stage, and Mont Ventoux will be a rather vicious sting at that.

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: "Tete de la Course TdFF26-40" (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: On His Own

After a very hard pull by his teammate Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) pulled off the front of the breakaway, it was Michael Storer's chance to lay a hard attack.  Once inside the final two kilometers, Storer looked back across the snow-covered corner to make sure no one was bridging back up to him.  Since there is no racing descent off of this climb, the organizers weren't worry that it may well start snowing again.  As he peered back, he wouldn't have seen any of the main chase group, he has almost a minute and a half on them.  I was struck by his choice to just wear a speed suit for this final ascent up to the Auron ski slopes.

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. 

"On His Own PN25-31" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France 23, Stage 17: Not What Was Expected

I fully expected it to be a real show down on the final climb up the Col de la Loze with the Yellow Jersey in the balance.  I doubt I was alone in that expectation.  All day Jumbo-Visma had been riding on the front of the peloton to my surprise.  I thought they should make UAE Team Emirates work in hopes of tiring them out.  Apparently it didn't matter.  As the group containing both the Maillot Blance and the Maillot Jaune got to where we all expected the attacks to start we were treated to the sight of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) just losing the tail of the group.  It was so much of a surprise to me I thought he might be bluffing in order to get Jonas Vingegaard to go deep in an effort to distance him.  But when it was obvious when he couldn't hold the wheel of his teammate Marc Soler then I knew he was actually in trouble.  Soler had already been dropped from the lead group so he was not the fastest guy on the climb either.  Later, we heard on the team radio Tadej telling his teammates to go ahead and fight for the stage win and to solidify there places on the general classification.  "I am dead, I'm done," is what he told them.

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-2023/3966375-115-297438/Painting/not-what-was-expected-tdf23-115.html

 

Tour, Stage 17: Picking Them Off

The attacking pace of Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was just barely held by the Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe).  The two caught (and passed) the erstwhile leader on the road, Tanel Kangert (Astana).  Kangert had gotten away on the first climb of the day.  He had been leading the race until being caught with just over ten kilometers left to climb.  It hadn't been as far as a normal stage, but it certainly had been as hard, if not harder.

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-2018/3193951-92-251072/PaintingPicking-Them-Off--T18-91.html

Paris Nice, Stage 7: Evenly Matched

The two leaders of their respective teams found themselves riding shoulder to shoulder past the melting snow with just one kilometer left to race.  Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) and the Colombian champion, Sergio Henao (Sky) seemed to be evenly matched, but out ridden by Richie Porte (BMC).  Henao was higher on the GC then Contador, so if the Spaniard wanted to take over the Maillot Jaune, he was going to have to attack the Colombian.  He did, but wasn't able to get enough of a gap to close the time difference.  With Alaphilippe down the mountain side, it was Henao that would be wearing the Maillot Jaune for the final stage into the streets of Nice.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2932591-372-195767/PaintingEvenly%20Matched%20PN17-36.html

Dauphine, Stage 6: Everything He Had

The title of this work can apply to either Frenchman in the painting.  Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) and his team had put everything into taking the stage with the possible side benefit of pulling on the leader's Maillot Jaune.  Unfortunately, Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) was able to hold onto every attack his countryman launched and ultimately, he claimed the stage as well.  To add insult to energy, Chris Froome (Sky) closed enough on the final climb to keep his Yellow Jersey even if Bardet had claimed the full ten second time bonus by taking the stage.  Bardet could consul himself knowing that he was now tied for second place just seven seconds down on the leader of Team Sky.  With just seconds separating the top five placings the stage is set for some very exciting racing on the final stage of this running of the Criterium du Dauphine!

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2807227-77-185083/Painting.html#.V1z1CPkrLIU