Tour '26, Stage 12: Back Through the Cars

Not sure why the trio of Nicolas Vinokurov (XDS-Astana), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) were off the back, but the TV Moto was very interested in tracking Pedersen's progress back into the peloton.  He seems adept at dodging his way in and out of all of the team cars and other race vehicles that follow the peloton all around France (and a bit of Spain this year).  He had been alone, but as he got to the lead vehicle of the race commissare he joined by with the Champion of Qazaqatan as they all tagged on to the tail of the entire peloton save a sole breakaway guy.

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: "Back Through the Cars TdF26-81" (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: Any Advice?

Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) drops back from the lead group to talk directly with her sports director.  Sometimes it is easier to chat through the team car window than over a radio.  So, when the peloton slowed down in the valley after the Col de Plainpalais she dropped back for a bit of advice on how to play the rest of the stage.  Despite her wearing the Maillot Jaune and having a number ending in one, she was prepared to help her climbing teammate Sarah Gigante move up the final climb and up the general classification.  I'm sure that she, her teammate and the rest of the team wouldn't mind another stage win, too.  I did film a YouTube video while painting this and talked about the perfect car sponsor for EF Education-Oatly.  They got Cadillac to sponsor them and now they have a pink Cadillac for their team car.

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.

"Any Advice? TdFF25-44" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 10: Coming Back to the Group

Stage 10 was nothing but climb after climb the first coming just thirteen kilometers into the stage. After the Cote de Berzet Raul Garcia Pierna (Arkea-B&B Hotels) had to use the descent to chase back onto the breakaway.  He was successful in the effort as he went by the last vehicle in the following caravan that was followed by the flotilla of motorcycles and other race officials and team cars.  With seventy-three kilometers to go, it was likely he will be dropped yet again, but still, one must try.

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.

"Coming Back to the Group TdF25-60" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Volta ao Algarve '25, Stage 4: A Bit Sticky

With a bit of a lull in the action during the final road stage of the Volta ao Algarve, Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) dropped back to grab some water bottles for his teammates.  It seemed that he and his director sportif hung onto the bottle a bit longer than was necessary.  I doubt that the commissares would care too much since it wasn't done to get him back into the race or pull him up a mountain.  I guess we could paraphrase the old saying to, "no help, no foul."

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.

"A Bit Sticky VA25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 16: Total Fatigue

One has to feel for Johannes Kulset (Uno-X Mobility).  He had already crashed and was just missed by a teammate in a sharp corner.  As he went to get onto his spare bike, he overshot and went back down onto the roadway.  He was narrowly missed by the passing team cars.  Then, as the car paced him back towards the peloton, it missed the turn off of the roundabout and almost hit the other Uno-X team car.  He did managed to regain the peloton not long after.  Despite have just had a rest day, fatigue was clearly setting into both the riders and the support personnel of all of the teams.  I'm wearing down doing all of these paintings and I'm not out riding hundreds of kilometers throughout Italy and France.

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.  

"Total Fatigue TdF24-97" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 12: Remain Calm

Despite having a flat rear tire with a mere thirty-five kilometers left in the stage, Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) remain very calm as he held the bike for his mechanic.  While the mechanic was busy with the power drill putting the axel back in, Prodhomme watch the flotilla of tour vehicles and team cars rush pass.  He was able to rejoin the peloton and finish the stage at the same time as the stage winner.  It may be hard, but clearly even when things go wrong, it is best to remain calm and do what needs to be done.  I'm talking to you, Greig.

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.

"Remain Calm TdF24-68" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 10: Coming Back to the Peloton

Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) was another to fall victim to the rash of flat tires on the stage today.  He got a new bike rather than wait around for a wheel change since they were now inside of the final 25 kilometers of the stage.  Not to stressed, he worked his way back through the caravan of team cars, support vehicles and gendarme motorcycles.  Once anyone catches the red Skoda of the race commissare they know that they have reached the tail of the peloton.

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. 

"Coming Back to the Peloton" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '22, Stage 2: Drink Up

Yves Lampaert (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) dropped back to his team car to get a drink for himself and his teammates before the 20 kilometer ban on visiting the team cars.  Lampaert looked great in the Maillot Jaune.  He was quoted as saying, "I'm just a farmer's son, this is more than I dared dream for."  And that humility was on full display at the end of the stage as he went to the front to help lead out his team's sprinter.  That makes two years in a row that I have seen the Yellow Jersey leading out a sprint in the early stages of the Tour.

Watch how this painting came together as I talk about the race and creating cycling watercolors here:

Please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and giving this painting a thumbs up.  Plus, I love to hear what you think of the video or my artwork.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3891734-8-294403/Painting/drink-up-tdf22-8.html

TDF, Stage 15: Back Through the Caravan

Ben O'Connor (Ag2r Citroen) started the day with hopes of repeating his stage win in the Alps.  Early into the stage he had a mechanical and was forced to chase back onto the peloton.  Racing through the caravan of team cars and race support vehicles he had no other than the reigning Olympic champion, Greg Van Avermaet as a pilot fish to lead him through the chaos at the back of the race.  With 150 kilometers of the 191 kilometer stage left to race there was no need to panic.  As he came out from behind the Jumbo-Visma team car, he waved his thanks to the driver.  As the riders overtake cars in the caravan, the drivers will toot their horns to make sure that the next vehicle knows that a rider is approaching the back of their car.

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 it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg 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/3823324-90-291436/Painting/back-through-the-caravan-tdf21-89.html

TDF, Stage 3: Forced to Chase

I don't know if Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ) had gone down with Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), but he did have the advantage of getting pulled back to the peloton with the boys of Jumbo Visma. Roglic looks to have lost quite a bit of skin but I am sure at this point he was running on pure adrenaline since it was just 10 kilometers left in the stage and he was in danger of losing time in the GC hunt.  Joining the guy who finished second in the Tour last year were Tony Martin and Jonas Vingegaard.  Tony was the first guy to hit the now infamous sign holder in stage on of the Tour.  Not that he, nor any other pro cyclists, isn't use to crashing at race speed.

It surprising me just how much the first crash of this Tour has capture the news cycle and everyone who knows that I am an avid Tour fan.  I just heard a big story on NPR about that crash told as if this was something new or different. Those of us who have been watching for decades know that this is the usual story of the first stages of any Tour.

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/3820767-17-291436/Painting/forced-to-chase-tdf21-17.html

Dauphine, Stage 3: Pilot Fish

 It is the Irish time trial specialist, Ryan Mullen, that is serving as the pilot fish for his teammate Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo).  Stuyven was the team's hope for the anticipated sprint finale.  But with an apparent mechanical, it was Mullen who was tasked with bringing the Belgium sprinter back through the caravan of cars and onto the tail of the peloton.  With 27 kilometers still to race, he would have plenty of time to recover from this effort and to be ready for the next.  With the team director's car just ahead, they knew they were almost back.

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/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814721-96-185083/Painting/pilot-fish-cd21-12.html

Milano-Sanremo, Looking for His Car

Normally the last of the Spring Monuments, the 111th Milano-Sanremo was moved to the heat of August for this Covid-19 altered 2020 cycling season.  Since Italy is finally opening up, the race was allowed, but the mayors along the traditional coast roads refused to close the roads for the race.  After all they finally could generate some very much needed tourist income.  So not only is this edition hotter than normal, it is racing on new inland roads that made the race into a 305 kilometer race.

With still another 97 kilometers to race, Leonardo Bonifazio (Total Direct Energie) was dropping off the back of the peloton in search of his team car.  It was of the upmost importance to keep feed and hydrated on this longest of races of the season.  The camera didn't stay with Bonifazio to confirm that he was getting supplies for himself or for all of his teammates, but I am sure it was the latter.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3632899-12-280747/Painting/looking-for-his-team-car-ms20-1.html

Paris Nice, Stage 3: Coming Back

Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels-Vital Concepts) had a poorly timed mechanical with just nine kilometers left to race to La Chatre.  He had the help of his teammate, Frederik Backaert, to pace him back through the race caravan and back into the rear of the peloton.  Almost as soon as he joined the the lead group he was involved in a crash that left him on the side of the road.  While he wasn't seriously injured, it did ruin his chances to vie on the stage win.  Not his best day on the bike, although probably not his worst either.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3488947-13-272742/Painting/coming-back-pn20-13.html

Fleche Wallonne: Coming Back

Julian Alaphilippe (Decenunick-Quick Step) found himself chasing back onto the peloton after a front wheel puncture with 42 kilometers to race.  Alaphilippe wears bib number one as the defending champion of the 2018 Fleche Wallonne.  He speeds by his team car as his teammate, Mikkel Frolich Honore, grabs a bottle before assisting his team leader in the chase.  Alaphilippe was more fortunate than a number of favorites who had already crashed out of the race.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/3322900-438-195767/Coming%20Back%20%20FW19-2.html

Giro, Stage 19: He Just Needs to Finish

Fernando Gaviria (Quickstep) was working his way back through the following caravan as he passed Alex Howes (Cannondale-Drapac).  Howes was filling his pockets, cages and jersey with waterbottles for his teammates.  A rider for each team will be assigned the task of dropping back to the car, picking up whatever is needed, and then work their way back up to his teammates distributing goodies along the way.  Gaviria as such a lead in the points competition, that all he needs to do now is finish the Giro and the final jersey will be his.  Alas, there is today's mountain stage, another one tomorrow and then the time trial.  By comparrison, the time trial will be the easy day.

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.

With the racing of the 100th Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in helping this book get made, please consider backing the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included. With Kickstarter, if there is not a 100% funded, no one is charged a dime, and the project recieves 0% funding.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2973288-126-235247/PaintingHe-Just-Needs-to-Finish-G17-134.html

Giro, Stage 3: Bring Him Back, Again

Ilnur Zakarin's (Katusha-Alpecin) might be getting a little frustrated with their team leader.  Twice now they have had to work very hard to pull their man back up to the peloton after a mechanical.  Yesterday it was a very hard chase indeed, one that the commentators didn't think was going to happen.  Roughly twenty four hours later they found themselves doing it again.  At least this time they didn't have as much time to make up nor as little distance in which to succeed.

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2963193-19-235247/PaintingBring-Him-Back,-Again-G17-19.html

Giro, Stage 2: Back Through the Caravan

Apparently a rather large number of the peloton had flat tires on a particular stretch of road.  It reminded me of the day tacks were thrown on the road in the Tour de France.  Today it was just a bad road surface and a tightly packed peloton.  One of those caught out was the Luxembourg Champion, Bob Jungels (Quickstep).  As he made his way back through the team cars in the caravan, one of his teammates waited to help pull him back into the fold.

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2963165-18-235247/PaintingBack-Through-the-Caravan-G17-18.html

Tour, Final Stage: Is There No Justice?

Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) was the second of the marquee sprinters to suffer a flat tire.  However unlike Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quickstep), Coquard had the misfortune to have his mechanical on the bell lap.  As he pulled off looking for his team car, he knew that his dream of taking out the final stage of the 2016 Tour de France, was further away than the l'Arc du Triomphe.  It was going to be impossible to catch back on even if he already had gotten back underway.  It seem cruelly unjust to have the French sprinter and best hope for a French win on the Champs Elysees to be unable to sprint for victory.

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.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2828515-161-224974/PaintingIs%20There%20No%20Justice?%20TdF162-Greig-Leach.html#.V5VjrrgrLIU

Tour, Stage 14: Water Boy

When I use to bartend (ah yes, the life of an artist), I had one group of regulars who would call me by saying, "Oh, water boy!"  It did amuse me, although that may have more to do with how well they tipped than the cuteness of the joke.

Every member of the team has a job to do, sometimes those jobs change based on the stage or their GC position.  One of the jobs of a domestique is to drop back to the team cars that are riding behind the peloton in the race caravan and bring water bottles and energy gels back up to this teammates.  Today the duty of stuffing his jersey full of bidons fell to Brice Feillu (Fortuneo Vital Concepts).  After getting as many bottles as he can, he will then ride back up through the following vehicles and then work his way through the peloton passing them out to his teammates along the way.  By taking this duty on, the others who may be high on the general classification, or the team's sprinter/lead-out train, can save their energy for their task in the team.


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.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2824402-99-224974/PaintingWater%20Boy%20TdF100-Greig-Leach.html#.V4qNK7grLIU

Paris Nice Stage 1: Bringing the Champion Back

Arnaud Demare (FDJ), resplendent in his Tricolore French National Championship Jersey, is being led back through the caravan by a teammate after having a very relaxed rear wheel change.  With just 25 kilometers left to race to Contres, he was fortunate that it was practically a day off in the peloton.  The team, hoping to get Demare into contention for the final sprint, wanted to make sure the French Champion spent as little energy as possible getting back to the business end of the race.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is 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 for only $50 USD.  International shipping is available.

If you are enjoying reading about cycling with this accompanying artwork be sure to check out my recently publish book on the Tour de France, Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  The book is available through most every online book sellers around the world, just google the title to learn where you can get your copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2522860---195767/Painting.html#.VP5_RvzF-xU