Tour Femmes '26, Stage 9: Two Stages, Two Tours!

Purchase this painting here: "Two Stages, Two Tours! TdFF26-64" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Not only did Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) out climb the rest of the peloton over the final ascent of the Col d'Eze, she also out descended them!  In the final sixteen kilometers, she but over a minute into everyone else that she had started up the climb for the fourth time with.  For the second day in a row, she celebrated her stage victory on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.  This time she did it in the Maillot Jaune that she won yesterday.  With this victory she becomes the first woman to win to Tours de France Femmes.  Of course, had Kasia Niewiadoma been able to retake her jersey that she won atop Mont Ventoux, she would have been the first with that honor.  Chapeau to Vollering, to Puck Pieterse who is the Queen of the Mountains, Lorena Wiebes who has won the Maillot Vert that she held from the very first stage, and to Niewiadoma's teammate Antonia Niedermaier who won the Maillot Blanc as the best young rider.

This is the end of the men's and women's Tours, thus it is probably the end of my painting cycling for the year.  I may paint some of the UCI Road Cycling Championships in Montreal this fall.  But otherwise, I won't be back until January for the Tour Down Under.

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.

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 2: This Time in Yellow

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) had burnt through her team just to have the chance to sprint for another stage victory in Geneva.  Normally, she has a lead-out team, but they spent themselves chasing down the lone leader, Riejanne Markus.  They didn't catch her until the final kilometer of the stage.  That actually played into Wiebes hands.  As the peloton move to the left to get around the much slowing rider from Lidl-Trek, Wiebes took the opening to wind up her sprint catching the other hopeful sprinters looking the wrong way.  Once she was up to speed, there was no one who was going to catch her!  She took the stage by three or more bike lengths, making it two wins in a row.  But this time it was even sweeter winning in the Maillot Jaune of race leader.  She increases her lead to fourteen seconds for the yellow jersey and now has a commanding lead in the green jersey competition of the sprinters.  When the mountains start, she may not hold onto yellow, but she will certainly retain her lead in the Maillot Vert.

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: "This Time in Yellow TdFF26-12" (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 19: You Were Expecting...

I love the almost teenage shrug that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) gave before going into a more tradition victory salute.  He seemed to say, with this gesture, you were expecting a different result?  It has been since Bradley Wiggins that the guy wearing the Maillot Jaune won the stage atop Alpe d'Huez.  And you have to go back to Marco Pantani to find someone who has climbed this famous Tour climb anywhere near as quickly.  Let's face it, Pogacar is setting new Tour records throughout this Tour.  Let's hope he doesn't go the way of Pantani.  Behind the gesture, you can just see the two guys he left inside of the final kilometer, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) takes second place and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and by so doing takes the lead in the King of the Mountains competition away from the guy who now leads the Tour by a little over seven minutes.  I think he was also letting us know that despite there being some illness hitting his team... he is just fine!

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: "You Were Expecting... TdF26-142" (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 →   

Criterium du Dauphine '25, Stage 7: Winning in Yellow

Is there any stopping Tadej?  With the rival teams doing all they could to isolate the Maillot Jaune, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was still able to attack the small group containing most of the top ten riders in the general classification.  He not only attacked, he dropped them all!  It was only his main rival Vingegaard who was able to pull back some of the lost seconds from the original attack.  This makes his third stage victory, and two in a row, for the current UCI Road World Champion.  The Criterium du Dauphine is one of the few stage races he hasn't won.  I doubt that record will last through the final stage tomorrow.

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.

"Winning in Yellow CdD25-41" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 2: Two in a Row

Clearly neither the crash not the chase back to the peloton didn't dampen the legs of Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step).  For the second stage in a row, he showed a clean set of wheels to the rest of the peloton in the sprint finale.  He took the time to look back and confirm that he had plenty of space before raising his arms in celebration.  He got the better of Emilien Jeanniere (TotalEnergies) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek).  Pedersen finished fourth, but the guy in third was relegated for a dangerous sprint.  With this second stage win Merlier increases his lead to a fourteen second advantage over the rest of the field.  In two days, he as ten and a half minutes over the Lantern Rouge (the rider sitting last on the general classification).

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.

"Two in a Row PN25-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 19: With Authority

At the bottom of the final climb of Stage 19, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was roughly three minutes behind the last four guys out front from the breakaway.  By the time he crossed the line atop Isola 2000, he had twenty-one seconds on the then lone leader.  He stamped his authority on this Tour winning his fourth stage, three of which were while wearing the Maillot Jaune.  The stage he won without the jersey was the win that put him in it.  I am sure his fans loved the bravado, but I doubt he made many friends in the peloton.  It isn't like he needed to take the stage, he's won three already.  He didn't need the thirty seconds he gained over Vinegaard and Evenepoel he already had well over three minutes on one, and five on the other.  And was there any real reason to steal the stage win from a young super domestique, even if he did ride for his rival's team?

I am happy for what appears to be his third Tour de France win.  I just wish he had a touch more class.

Sorry, not sorry.

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. 

"With Authority TdF24-124" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '24, Stage 14: The Stongman of the Tour

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had but seconds if not minutes into every other participant still in the Tour as he crossed the line atop the Pla d'Adet.  He can be excused his muscle builder hulk-like celebration as he crossed the line.  It is a bit amusing seeing one of the slight armed men of the pro-peloton acting as if they were possessing huge biceps.  Yet, it cannot be denied that he is without doubt proving to be the strongest man thus far in this edition of the Tour.  He must feel vindicated for the mere two seconds he conceded to the defending Tour champion having so markedly flipped the results 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.

"The Strongman of the Tour TdF24-84" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: The Stage, the Jersey, the Tour!

This painting is sold but prints are now available.

As she came over the crest of the La Super Planches des Belle Filles Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) had barely enough left to pump her fist in the air.  She was then caught by one of the helpers waiting to support each and every woman as they crossed the line completely exhausted.  Once she had caught her breathe, the reality of winning the first Tour de France Femmes and the first true woman's Tour de France in almost forty years began to sink in.  And she had done it by a bit under four minutes.  She actually added time to her advantage over everyone else two days in a row, and won the stage both times.  She is the second woman to win a stage wearing yellow in these past eight days.  Gefeliciteerd

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. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896749-194-294403/Painting/the-stage-the-jersey-the-tour-tdff22-53.html

TDF, Stage 18: The Race Is Behind Him

Yet again, I get to use a title that has two different meanings.  First, clearly the racing is now behind Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) with a unsurmountable lead of over five and a half minutes.  And now with this stage win he will also win the Maillot a Pois, and given his age, he is the owner of the Maillot Blanc as well.  Just as he did last year.  The other race is for second and third in the Tour.  As they crossed the line, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) added a few more bonus seconds to his second place ahead of Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers).  With a flat stage tomorrow all the three of these guys have to do is stay upright and finish near each other.  But Saturday, the individual time trial could change some placings, but remember Vingegaard was third in the first TT.

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 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/3824259-123-291436/Painting/the-race-is-behind-him-tdf21-122.html

TDF, Stage 17: Winning in Yellow

Everyone who has ever won a Tour de France wants to win a stage while wearing the Yellow Jersey.  Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) has already won a stage, but it was the time trial way back at the start of the Tour.  He wasn't in yellow then, nor could he throw his arms in the air in a victory salute (since it wasn't a sure bet that he had won the stage when he finished his ride).  Today he stamped his authority on the 2021 Tour.  He sprinted away from the other two he had been with to celebrate a win while leading the Tour.  Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) recovered from being drop a kilometer to go to take second on the stage.  His time bonus gave him a slight advantage on the third place of Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers).  However those two are still separated by just four seconds.  I suspect that the guy with the flag of Belium must have been looking for Wout Van Aerts to (Jonas Vingegaard's teammate) to take the stage.

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/3824096-114-291436/Painting/winning-in-yellow-tdf21-113.html

Tour, Stage 12: On Top of the World

While it was Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) who went first, it was Geraint Thomas (Sky) who took the stage win.  Thomas takes his second stage win and increases his lead over his teammate and team captain Chris Froome.  Froome was fourth on the day with Bardet holding on for third.  For the second day in a row Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) took second on a mountain top finish.  The Dutchman got two more real seconds on Froome and another six bonus seconds.  However, Team Sky still has a very powerful one two to throw at any other GC hopefuls as we head down towards the Pyrennes.  Tomorrow will be a day for the sprinters, at least those that are still left in the Tour.

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-2018/3190716-69-251072/PaintingOn-Top-of-the-World--T18-68.html