Tour Femmes '26, Stage 8: Nouveau Maillot Jaune

Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) held off the chasing duet of Kasia Niewiadoma and Elise Longo Borghini down the final climb and onto the Avenue des Anglais on the coastline of Nice.  She finished seventeen seconds ahead of those she left behind at the summit which is enough to put her into the next Maillot Jaune.  With her time bonus over the other two, she now sits in yellow by eight seconds.  Twice the advantage that Niewiadoma had when she won the Tour de France Femmes two years ago.  Will Vollering be able to defend her jersey tomorrow or while the lead change hands yet again?  I feel I must point out that as of yet once someone has lost the Maillot Jaune they have not reclaimed it.  Will that change tomorrow? Will someone new claim the final yellow jersey, or will Vollering defend it successfully?

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: "Nouveau Maillot Jaune TdFF26-55" (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 3: Leading Her Own Cheers

As she came into the finishing straight, Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset (Uno X-Mobility) encouraged the crowd to cheer her as she rode alone to victory in Stage 3 of the Tour de France Femmes.  She had held off the only real chase mounted by Lotte Kopecky who came within ten seconds of catching the Norwegian Champion.  But in the final kilometers she stretched her lead back out to almost a minute and a half by the end of the stage.  With this victory, she also claims the second Maillot Jaune of this the fifth Tour Femmes.  She holds that jersey by just barely over two minutes over the woman who started the day in second place, Kim Le Court-Pienaar.   She went eighty-eight kilometers alone, and a one hundred and thirteen kilometers ahead of the peloton.  It was only a hundred and fifty-seven-kilometer stage!  It is definitely the longest breakaway for victory in the Tour de France Femmes, but it is most likely the longest in the modern history of the Tour de France Hommes, too.

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: "Leading Her Own Cheers TdFF26-18" (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 18: Climbing Alone

"And Winning Alone" is what I wish I had added to the title, but I wasn't sure that would be the outcome when I painted this.  With just over a kilometer left to climb of the Orcieres-Merlette and the stage, Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) had thirty-five seconds over the two that were still chasing behind.  Mauro Schmid (Jayco-Alula) finished second on the stage, for the second stage in a row.  He was followed over the line at the same time by Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) leaving both him and his team looking for their first road stage win.  Remember that Visma won the opening team time trial, so quite literally, the team has already won a stage in the 113th Tour de France.  Carapaz went on to win the stage by forty-five seconds.  He also moved himself into the top ten of the general classification, but is still over twenty minutes behind the time of the leader, Tadej Pogacar.  He is still trying to take the Maillot a Pois and he now sits third in that competition.  All in all a good day out for the former Ecuadorian champion.

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: "Climbing Alone TdF26-134" (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 10: Winning Alone

So the French will have to wait another year for one of their countrymen to win the stage on Bastille Day.  Today, it went to a Slovenian by the name of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). He jumped cleared of the lone breakaway riders at the summit of the previous climb and then rode the final fourteen kilometers on his own.  That does seem to be his style.  More importantly he increased his lead over the rest of the field by thirty seconds or more.  It is beginning to be confirmed that he will wear the Maillot Jaune all of the way to Paris.  There are still eleven stages yet to race, and anything can happen, but he can be defensive for the rest of the Tour and make it near impossible for anyone to gain three-and-a-half minutes or more on this super Slovenia cyclist.  No bow to the crowd for this stage, just a "oh snap" gesture after point skyward and to his team's name on his kit.

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: "Winning Alone TdF26-72" (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 6: Blowing Kisses

As Maeva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ) rode alone to the line in Amberet she had plenty of time to celebrate with the local fans lining the barriers.  She blew kisses to those cheering her before waving her arms encouraging them all to cheer louder.  She finally did the more traditional two-armed salute as she crossed the line a full minute and nine seconds ahead of her countrywoman Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez) who was another four seconds ahead of the Maillot Jaune - Kim Le Court.  Her third place added two more seconds to the four she picked up twelve kilometers ago.  As I was working on this painting, I was so happy with the asymmetrical composition that I thought it would be best to leave the red race director's car out of the painting.  Ah, the advantages of not being a photographer...

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.  

"Blowing Kisses TdFF25-35" (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)

Ronde van Vlaanderen '25: On His Own, Now

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) use the last time up the Oude Kwaremont to rid himself of all of his competitors.  While he has gone from much further out to win a race, he still found himself racing to victory in another Monument with fourteen kilometers to go.  With a twenty-six second gap (and growing) to the four behind, it was clear this race was going to be his.  In fact, the strength of this painting and the lack of a really good image at the finish, I let this symbolize his victory today.

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, Now RVV25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gent-Wevelgem '25: Capturing the Moment

I was confident that Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) would make his long solo effort stick.  In his post-race interview, he revealed that he wasn't so sure.  He pointed out that he was well aware just how fast the peloton can close in the final kilometers of a race.  It wasn't until he looked back at four-hundred meters and saw no one that he finally felt that he would win Gent-Wevelgem for the second time in a row.  He has now won a total of three times, tying a record held by Cippolini, Sagan, Boonen and Merckx.  That is some seriously big names in the annals of professional cycling.  No man has won Gent-Wevelgem four times.... yet.

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.

"Capturing the Moment GW25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 5: Victorious Martinez

Despite sitting eighth as the leaders came into the final 600 meters of the climb, it was Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) who had the legs to out sprint all of the others to take his team's first win in this Paris Nice.  He had a three second advantage over the next three that included the once and new Maillot Jaune, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike).  I apologize for using the team's name to create a pun in this title.  It seems I can't help myself.  I also enjoy that though he sounds like a Spaniard, he is a Frenchman winning a stage in one of France's more important stage races.  Chapeau!

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.

"Victorious Martinez PN25-22" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Volta ao Algarve 25, Stage 1: Where Did They Go?

It was quite a wild finish to the opening stage of the Volta ao Algrave in Lagos.  The stage went to Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers) in a surprising finale.  Inside of the final kilometer the peloton split as they went around a round-about, however about 80% of the peloton went off the racecourse as they came out of the circle.  Ganna was surprised to look behind and see virtually no one chasing.  He went on to claim the stage in a solo victory and the first leader's jersey.  However, due to the mayhem, everyone was awarded the same time in the general classification, excluding the bonus seconds for the sprint.

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.

"Where Did They Go? VA24-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Race: A Tip of the Crown

Perhaps this title needs a little explaining.  In the world of professional cycling, the Triple Crown is winning the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Championship in the same season.  Until today, only two men have managed the feat.  The first was Eddy Merckx of Belgium who did it 50 years ago this week, and the second was Stephen Roche of Ireland who equaled Merckx thirteen years later.  But now, a third name can be added to that list, Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia.  In so doing he also broke his own record for longest breakaway win in a race.  This year he went from eighty kilometers out to win Strade-Bianche.  Today, he jumped free of the peloton with 100.7 kilometers to race.  I don't think he was on his own until about 50 kilometers to go, but the records will say 100 K.  He had plenty of time to think up a victory salute, but I think he might have been a bit emotional as he came to the finishing line alone, savoring the applause of the fans crowding the barriers and the roadway prior to the flame rouge.  Behind him Ben O'Connor (Ireland) came alone for the silver medal, and the defending champion, Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands) outsprinted the chasing six or seven to take the bronze.

This is truly the end of my cycling season.  So I won't be back sharing my cycling art until the Tour Down Under in late January 2025.

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 Tip of the Crown Z24-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Race: Alone on the Bell Lap

Before the start of the final lap around the Zurich 2024 course, Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) dropped the last of member of the UCI Road World Championship's Elite Men's start list on his way towards achieving his goal of winning the Rainbow Jersey of World Champion.  With just under thirteen kilometers left to go he was still holding his forty second advantage on the various groupings of chasers behind.  It was surprising to see just how many flags of Slovenia decorated the 27-kilometer course through Zurich.

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.

"Alone on the Bell Lap Z24-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 

Tour '24, Stage 2: First for Him & the Team

Not only did Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) win his first stage in the Tour de France today.  It was also the first time his team has ever won a stage.  That now makes two out of two stage wins for the French.  Unlike, Bardet yesterday, Vauquelin will not be pulling on the Maillot Jaune.  He did manage to make the early break and then ride away from all of his erstwhile companions on the two climbs of the Cote de San Luca.  He did move up 68 places on the General Classification into 71st place, but as he said, he had a terrible first stage of the Tour.  Clearly, stage two was far superior for him and the team!

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.

"First for Him & the Team TdF24-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix ‘24: Back to Back

I always enjoy when I can use a title that has two interpretations.  Today Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won his second Paris Roubaix in a row.  He was three minutes ahead of his teammate, Jasper Philipsen which is two minutes and twenty seconds better than where they finished last year.  Also, he won today in the Rainbow Jersey of World Champion as did Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) in yesterday’s Paris Roubaix Femmes.  So it was back to back wins for World Champions as well.

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/Spring-Classics-/4008497-575-195767/Painting/back-to-back.-pr24-16.html

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 6: Just Enough Road

When a break away is caught by the peloton just in sight of the finish line the expression is "if the road had been just a bit shorter," or " the line a bit closer."  Today Emma Norsgaard (Movistar) had dug deep enough to hold off the charging peloton by a mere second.  She was the last to join the other two in the early break, and she was also the last to be caught, oh, wait a minute, she wasn't caught.  One of  her break away companions did get swamped by the peloton but stayed in close enough to still finish in the top ten on the stage.  Behind the Norwegian, the sprint went to Charlotte Kool (DSM-firmenich) just edging out the Maillot Jaune, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime).  I can't see her but apparently Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) took fourth.  Visible are Soraya Paladin (Canyon-SRAM) taking fifth and Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ).  I believe that makes four of the six stages thus far in the Tour de France Femmes have been won by a solo rider who went in either an early, or in Kopecky's case a very late break.

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-2023/3968626-181-297438/Painting/just-enough-ride-tdff23-37.html

 

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 5: All Alone

She did it!  Ricarda Bauernfiend (Canyon-SRAM) had left the grip of the peloton of favorites to grab bonus seconds some thirty kilometers ago.  She quickly built a minute and a half on the groups she left (plus and eight second bonus) as she went solo to Albi.  Despite the best efforts of some very celebrated riders, they were never able to reel her back into the fold.  She was then chased by two national champions who couldn't get closer than ten seconds to the young German. Her efforts not only won her the stage (and the first win for her team) but she moved up to ninth place on the general classification.  I would be surprised if she wasn't wearing the red bib numbers of the most combative rider of Stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes.

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-2023/3968200-175-297438/Painting/all-alone-tdff23-31.html

 

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 4: Winning Her First, Winning Alone!

Unlike her teammate in stage 3, Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) was able to hold off the peloton's charge to win the stage.  I'm sure it helped that there were two categorized climbs in the final fifteen kilometers of the stage, and a steep ramp up to the line in Rodez.  While she wasn't able to keep the Maillot a Pois in her team, she was able to get her first professional race victory, and to do it alone!  Naturally, she will also was designated the most combative rider of the stage, I believe that is the third such honor for the team out of four stages.  She finished just over a minute ahead of the favorites and moved herself up to seventh overall in the general classification.  That's a jump of 25 places!  Chapeau!

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-2023/3967887-167-297438/Painting/winning-her-first-winning-alone-tdff23-23.html 

 

Tour de France, Stage 15: Meanwhile, Victory!

Just like yesterday, the TV broadcast was more interested in the race for the Yellow Jersey behind the stage leaders they almost missed the winner of the stage's victory salute.  Today that went to Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious) who one his first Tour stage today while competing in his eleventh Tour.  Chapeau!  He was over two minutes ahead of Wout Van Aert who claimed second and over six minutes ahead of the Maillot Jaune and Maillot Blanc.  

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-2023/3965820-100-297438/Painting/meanwhile-victory-tdf23-100.html

 

Tour de France 23, Stage 12: Waving to Crowd

Cofidis had gone fifteen years without a stage victory at the Tour de France, and now, thanks to Ion Izagirre (and earlier Victor Lafay) they now have won two in this edition of the Tour alone.  Izagirre had managed to drop the rest of the break on the way up the final climb.  He pressed that advantage all of the way into Belleville en Beaujolais, coming in around a minute or more ahead of the six trying to chase him down.  What else will Cofidis be able to do this year?

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-2023/3965369-75-297438/Painting/waving-to-the-crowd-tdf23-75.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 9: He Flew Up the Mountain

I stand by my prediction that an american would win the day, a North American, and so it was.  Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech), a Canadian, passed the USA national, Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) with about 750 meters to race.  He was the one that came over the rise under the lens of the press photographers alone, Jorgenson was caught and passed by others leaving just off the podium in fourth place on the stage.  The Tour can be very cruel to some, and a sweet mistress to others.

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-2023/3964568-53-297438/Painting/he-flew-up-the-mountain-tdf23-53.html