The Art of Cycling: race of truth

Showing posts with label race of truth. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Tour Femmes '26, Stage 4 ITT: Speeding into Dijon

Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) was making an incredibly fast descent back into Dijon chasing her chance for the stage, and to be the next wearer of the Maillot Jaune. She was the second to last woman to start the time trial so she had the time splits she needed to better. She finished the stage in third, which was enough to move her into second place in the general classification just fourteen seconds off the lead. With the time splits in the top ten means that everyone will have to race every stage rather than waiting to the big mountain top finish up Mont Ventoux on Friday.

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: "Speeding into Dijon TdFF26-24" (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

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Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Tour Femmes '26, Stage 4 ITT: A Bit Shaky

Resplendent in yellow, Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset (Uno X-Mobility) is a bit unsteady as she prepares to start her time trial. It was a good metaphor for her day in the Maillot Jaune. She started with over two minutes on the women nearest her on the general classification. Alas, she finished the day over three minutes behind the stage winner, and the woman who will wear this jersey tomorrow. Still, she remains in the top four just under a minute behind the others. While I am sure she would have preferred to stay in yellow she is still within striking distance to take it back. Conversely, I doubt the peloton will dare to let her get away from them again.

Purchase this painting here: "A Bit Shaky TdFF26-22" (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 4 ITT: A Day Out

It was an intense day out on the bike for all of the Tour de France Femmes peloton racing the individual time trial. Anna Van Der Breggan (SD Worx-Protime) road pass that family on the side of the road on her way to a fourteenth place on the day. I was struck by the father and son paying close attention to everyone as the sped pass. It looked to me as if the kid was trying to sketch the riders as the flew by. Naturally, that made me smile. On the other hand, it seems the other child was considerably less interested. So it goes.

Purchase this painting here: "A Day Out TdFF26-20" (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 4 ITT: Catching Her Teammate

During the individual time trial riders start at one-minute intervals until the top twenty riders, then it shifts to two minutes. When Alice Towers (EF Education-Oatly) looked behind her, she saw her teammate in her Luxembourg Champion's jersey Nina Berton. Having ridden one time trial in my life, I can tell you it is very demoralizing to be caught by the person who started behind you. Since it was her teammate, I doubt she was that surprised. Breton finished in ninth place but move much further down the rankings on the stage as those that started later set better and better times as the day wore on.

Purchase this painting here: "Catching Her Teammate TdFF26-19" (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

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Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Tour '26, Stage 16 ITT: Making a Bee Line for the Finish!

Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) was setting an amazing pace around the course on the French side of Lake Geneva! He set new best times at each time check out on course. He was still building speed through the straight flat roads towards the end of the twenty-six-kilometer course making a bee line for the finish in Thonon les Bains. He was the new best time when he finished as well. However, he dropped to third by the time the last guy crossed the line. Still, it was a brilliant ride for the Dane and helped keep his team in the lead of the team race. I was surprised that while Lidl-Trek still had their yellow bib numbers of team leaders, they had opted for white helmets today. I guess no one had gotten them new yellow aero helmets for the individual time trial.

Purchase this painting here: "Making a Bee Line to the Finish! TdF26-120" (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

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Tour '26, Stage 16 ITT: A Fan Favorite

Perhaps I should have titled this one, "The Fan Favorite." Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) is the young French rider who has all of France hoping that they are seeing the next Frenchman to win their home three-week Tour. It has been forty-one years since a Frenchman has finished the Tour in the Maillot Jaune. That is a long time to wait. I imagine that Seixas' grandfather was a young man the last time the French won their race. It was expected that he would struggle with the individual time trial but that was not the case today. He finished the race of truth gaining time on everyone except the guys in first and second places in the general classification. He also gained back five seconds on Isaac Del Toro in the race for the Maillot Blanc of the best young rider in the Tour de France. He is definitely the youngest and he is showing that he is also one of the best regardless of age. How many of the young boys on the side of the road will one day race in the Tour themselves?

Purchase this painting here: "A Fan Favorite TdF26-119" (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

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Tour '26, Stage 16 ITT: First Goes Last

With an individual time trial the best placed rider in the general classification starts last, with the lowest placed rider going first. Naturally, the order continues up through the classification. It gives Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) the extra advantage of knowing the times of all of his competitors as he races the twenty-six kilometers down to the coast of Lake Geneva. While he may have known the times he needed to best his legs weren't able to deliver the speed required. For the second stage in a row he took second place to the same person (I'll reveal who later). Before any of his fans panic, he does have a five-minute buffer between himself and the next best rider in the general classification.

Purchase this painting here: "First Goes Last TdF26-118" (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 16 ITT: Can He Regain White?

The short answer is, "No." Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) was on a good ride, good enough to stay in third place in the race for the Maillot Blanc of best young rider. He has worn the jersey on two different occasions this Tour four a total of five stages thus far. He finished fifteenth on the day dropping a minute or more to the two guys ahead of him in the race to be named the "Best Young Rider" of the 113th Tour de France.

Purchase this painting here: "Can He Regain White? TdF26-117" (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 16 ITT: Settling In

Having just started his twenty-six-kilometer individual time trial, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) settles into his aero-tuck and gets down to business. I was wondering if Jorgenson was going to go full gas for the stage victory or would he just get around the course to hold his position in the GC? His fourteenth place at the end of the day seems to indicate that he and his teammates were saving themselves to race for stage victories in the closing week of the Tour. It was a treat to watch his sister Nicole interview his at the end of the stage. He seemed truly relaxed and enjoying having family around. It does seem to be a close family. I have had online conversations with his mother.

Purchase this painting here: "Settling In TdF26-116" (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 →

Friday, July 18, 2025

Tour '25, Stage 13: Redeeming His Tour

Even I had trouble reading this title, but it does say, "Redeeming His Tour" despite what I thought a moment ago. This Slovenian was another of those who found yesterday's stage less than ideal. Primoz Roblic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) lost big time and dropped well behind his young teammate, Florian Lipowitz in the general classification. Today he was not the only one who re-found his legs on this tough uphill time trial. He was first when he finished his effort but dropped behind both Vingegaard and Pogacar when the stage was finished. He did pull back a couple of seconds on his own teammate, although not enough to retake the mantel of team leader. I will say again that this is my new favorite kit in the ProTour.

"Redeeming His Tour TdF25-86" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 13: An Uphill Battle

I couldn't resist. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) started today over three minutes behind the race leader, and the guy behind him on course today. This individual time trial is basically an uphill climb against the clock, so today is a battle with oneself against a mountain and a stopwatch. After his time losses against his main rival, Tadej Pogacar, it is going to be a metaphorical uphill battle for Vingegaard to gain enough time to capture the Maillot Jaune either today or by the time the peloton reaches Paris. Today he was on fire, posting the best time at the finish by almost a minute. Alas, that time only stood until Tadej crossed the line a minute-and-a-half later. Still there is some comfort to be found for the team in that both Vingegaard and Jorgenson bounced back from their collective bad day yesterday. With another big mountain stage tomorrow, they have a glimmer of hope to carry into the highest Pyrenean climb of this Tour, the Tourmalet!

"An Uphill Battle TdF25-85" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 13: Riding a Solid Tempo

As he was closing in on the final kilometer of the individual time trial, Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) was laying down a great ride. In fact, his tempo carried him to a second-place finish as he completed his 10.9-kilometer effort. While he dropped to eighth by the time everyone was finished, I am sure he was able to provide important information for his team leader (and race leader) Tadej Pogacar. I enjoy the fans watching him go pass. They had clearly set up a picnic, a canopy, and even Tour themed decorations. It does take hours for a time trial to go from start to finish. So it provides hours of entertainment (or boredom for some) unlike a road stage where you see the race for maybe a couple of seconds if the peloton is all together. I am sure Adam was hoping to get a stage win to equal the one his twin brother got back in stage 11.

"Riding a Solid Tempo TdF25-83" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 13: Against the Clock

I had to make sure that I painted the tricolore of the French National Time Trial champion today. After a day where it looked like Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) was going to get that elusive stage win for France. It wasn't until the final climb that he was caught by the marquee riders of the Tour, but he put on a show for his countrymen (and women). Armirail went out about halfway down the start list, yet he was fourth when he finished his short 10.9-kilometer ascent of the Col de Peyresourde. Alas, he landed in 19th place after the complete peloton had crossed the finish line atop the airstrip famous from an early James Bond movie.

"Against the Clock TdF25-82" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

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?

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

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 5 ITT: What He Does Best

Given that he is the reigning UCI Time Trial Champion, racing against the clock is what Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) does best. He went out hot but didn't have the best time at either of the first to time checks. But as he turned to return to Caen, he seemed to find another level. It didn't hurt that there was a pretty strong tailwind. Of course, that meant there had been an equally strong headwind on the way out of town. He was expected to win the stage, he didn't disappoint. He hoped to get himself back into contention with a big win, but his time advantage wasn't as big over the new Maillot Jaune as he hoped. I do like the painted hatch marks on the street. They really helped this composition. I image that they were to keep drivers from blocking the intersection. We are in the downtown area of a rather large town in northern France.

"What He Does Best TdF25-30" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 5 ITT: The Last to Start

It is the honor of holding the Maillot Jaune that you are the last to start down the ramp in an individual time trial. So it was for Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) today. He held little hope that he would be still in yellow tonight. He wasn't wrong, but he gave it all he could to hold on to the golden fleece. He started the day tied with Tadej Pogacar so he would need to go at least one second faster over the Slovenian. Instead, he was almost a minute-and-a-half slower and dropped to eighteenth to start the day tomorrow.

"The Last to Start TdF25-20" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 5 ITT: Work to Be Done

Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) isn't having his best Tour although he has managed to avoid the crashes and stay upright thus far. He started today in thirteenth place, not where a GC guys want to be. Despite looking it like he was not having the time trial he is capable of he did move himself up into eighth place at the end of the stage. However, he sits two-and-a-half minutes off the time of the new Maillot Jaune. So, as it often is, good news, bad news for the other Slovenian in the race.

"Work to Be Done TdF25-28" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 5 ITT: Cheered on by the Devil

Didi Stenft aka 'The Devil' usually shows up later in the Tour and on mountain stages, but here he is in the first week of the Tour AND on a time trial stage, too! Now, he wasn't doing his traditional leaping into the air, but then he is behind a barrier for a change. While I am sure he cheered for everyone, he was encouraging the Frenchman Warren Barguil (Picnic-PostNL). I wonder if the two children beside him are his grandchildren. Barguil finished the day over four minutes off of the pace so perhaps the Devil didn't prod him enough today.

"Cheered on by the Devil TdF25-27" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 5 ITT: Swoosh!

One of the things I try to do is make sure I paint a least one guy from every team participating in the Tour. Today, I was looking to paint the remaining four out of the twenty-three teams (and increase from previous years). I only managed to add one to that total. This is Tobais Foss (Ineos-Grenadiers) the current Norwegian Time Trial Champion. Ineos as added TotalEnergies as another sponsor and has done a terrible job of integrating the company's logo into their regular race kit. That may be why I choose the Norwegian champion's kit to paint. I will miss that long stripe down the back of the jersey that has been part of their kit since they were known as Team Sky. He finished his day fourteenth in the stage. He moved himself up thirteen places, but still sits way back in the general classification.

"Swoosh! TdF25-26" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 5 ITT, Perfect Form

The European Time Trial Champion Edoardo Affini (Visma-Lease a Bike) went out early on today's Individual Time Trial. The racers start in reverse order of where they stand in the general classification so the person in last goes first, and the person in the Maillot Juane of race leader goes last. Don't be fooled by where he started the day, he is a very strong specialist in the 'race of truth.' In fact, he was the fastest when he finished his thirty-three kilometer effort. Unfortunately for him, some of the very, very best were yet to race. Spoiler alert: He concluded the day taking third in the stage.

"Perfect Form TdF25-25" (Original art by Greig Leach)