Fleche Wallone Femmes ‘24: Finally Her’s

I have been a fan of Katarzyna Niewiadoma since I first painted her in the 2015 UCI World Championships in Richmond, Virginia.  I hadn’t planned on painting this year’s Fleche Wallone Femmes until I saw on social media that she had won the race.  And she did it in a stunning fashion!  With about 300 meters to go she attacked her erstwhile companions, Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) both national champions of they countries. She quickly dropped the duo winning the race she has long coveted by two seconds over Vollering and another two seconds back to Longo Borghini.  I couldn’t be happier for her, nor her for herself and her 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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/4009725-81-207546/Painting/finally-hers-fw24-4.html

Fleche Wallone Femmes ‘24: Up the Mur d’Huy

First, I am amused that in my excitement with the finale of Fleche Wallone Femmes, I forgot to sign and date the penultimate painting of the race today.  Should you purchase this painting, it will be signed. 

Last year’s winner, Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) chose to lead up the climb of the Mur d’Huy.  As the peloton climbed it came down to just Elisa Longo-Borghini (Lidl-Trek) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) that could hold onto the Dutch Champion’s wheel.  The trio had just two more kilometers to climb and it certainly looks like Vollering will be repeating her win of the Fleche Wallone 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/4009723-80-207546/Painting/up-the-mur-dhuy.-fw24-3.html

Fleche Wallone Femmes ‘24: Let Her Go

With five kilometers and one very steep climb to go, Riejanne Markus (Visma-Lease a Bike) decided to jump clear of the peloton. Not to belittle her effort, she did gain seventeen seconds on the chasers, but they clearly let her go on a solo run.  With the Mur d’Huy laying in wait, those behind were confident that this effort would leave her unable to stay away on the seventeen percent climb of over a kilometer.  They weren’t wrong.

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. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/4009720-79-207546/Painting/let-her-go.-fw24-2.html

Fleche Wallone Femmes ‘24: The End Is Nigh

Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez) looks back to find the quickly closing peloton with another seventeen kilometers left to race.  She and the woman on her wheel, Paulina Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck), had set off to catch the two leaders yet were unable to get within a minute of the pair they were chasing.  With the penultimate climb of the day looming, it is unlikely they will be off the front for much longer.

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. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/4009718-78-207546/Painting/the-end-is-nigh.-fw24-1.html

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

Paris Roubaix ‘24: Racing for Second

With the race leader now three minutes up the road, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), and Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) have resigned themselves to racing for second place in this edition of Paris Roubaix.  Last year it was Philipsen coming in a distant second to his teammate currently up the road, Mathieu Van Der Poel.  Pedersen was fourth last year, and would dearly like to make it onto the podium this year.  Politt was in the top ten last year as well.  This year has been both faster and dryer, but equally exciting (despite knowing who would win the race for the least forty kilometers).  As expected, the sprinter Philipsen took second again, and Pedersen moved up to third this year.  Politt missed the podium finishing fourth on the day.  But in a race that just finishing is a feet, fourth and bad!  The stats are that only 110 finished inside the time limit, with another 18 coming in too late to have their results counted.  Another 43 did not finished the race, with just one rider being disqualified.  Three who were scheduled to start today were unable to even start the Hell of the North.

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-/4008496-574-195767/Painting/racing-for-second.-pr24-15.html

Paris Roubaix ‘24: Chasing the Chasers

Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) had crashed out of the chasing group up ahead and was making little progress towards rejoining his teammate ahead.  That was until Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck) came up from the next group back on the road.  It may not have been wise for Vermeersch to tow Pithie up to the chasing group since that would bring another Groupama-FDJ rider to help the chase of his own team leader.  However, by now, Mathieu Van Der Poel was three minutes up the road with little chance of anyone seeing am until the fable showers under the Roubaix Velodrome.

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-/4008495-573-195767/Painting/chasing-the-chasers.-pr24-14.html

Paris Roubaix ‘24: Filming the Leader

I toyed with the idea of calling this one “following the leader” but felt that filming the leader was more apt.  In just twenty kilometers, Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) had stretched his lead to just under two minutes over the chasers behind.  They were being frustrated by his teammates latching onto their efforts but not putting in any pulls to bring back the Rainbow Jersey.  It is always stunning to see what the camera men and women will do on the back of a speeding motorcycle to give us all engaging images of the sport we all dearly love.  Of course, this camera angle is from underneath the hovering helicopter.

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-/4008491-572-195767/Painting/filming-the-leader.-pr24-13.html

Paris Roubaix ‘24: Making His Own Luck

A big part of being successful in Paris Roubaix, is having good luck.  That was certainly true of Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck).  But he was going to rely on luck.  As the leading group was just getting going on Pave Sector 13, he but in a massive attack.  Just like that he was away, in seemingly a second he had a five second lead on the others.  He has almost sixty kilometers to go, but he has become the king of the long solo effort.  That is the reason he is the current World Champion since he went on a long solo effort in Glasgow last fall.  Can the men’s world champion follow suit with the women’ champion and claim victory in the Rainbow Jersey?

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-/4008488-571-195767/Painting/making-his-own-luck.-pr24-12.html

Paris Roubaix ‘24: Leading for Now

After a flurry of attacks on the previous pave sectors, this threesome got away.  It was started by Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck) who was quickly joined by Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) and Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ).  Politt had been having a tough go, but once he had the near miss (see my early post) he was on fire.  With 73 kilometers to go, the trio has built up a twenty two second lead on the group of favorites behind.  All three have at least one teammate in the group behind, so it will be left to others to chase them down.

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-/4008483-570-195767/Painting/leading-for-now.-pr24-11.html

Paris Roubaix ‘24: Into the Woods

Despite other teams doing the pace just before the Trouee d’Arenberg sector, it was Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) who opened up the first gap on the legendary cobbles through the woods and cycling fans.  With another 95 kilometers to race, here was not where the race could be won.  But far too many times, it is where many a Paris Roubaix hopeful’s race has come to an end.  Today, there were a few stumbles, and a few more flat tires, but at least everyone got through upright and in one piece.

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-/4008477-569-195767/Painting/into-the-woods.-pr24-10.html

Paris Roubaix ‘24: Tight Squeeze

Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) was having a tough race.  He has been plagued by bad luck.  He has been forced to chase back on several times already.  At least this time fortune smiled.  The race referee’s car, trying to get around a slow team car cut the corner short just missing the former German champion.  Perhaps he can take it as a sign that his Paris Roubaix luck has started to swing to his favor.  Just ahead is Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers) also chasing back from a spot of misfortune.  The two teamed up and got back onto the tail of the leading 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 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-/4008476-568-195767/Painting/tight-squeeze.-pr24-9.html

Paris Roubaix ‘24: Is My Race Over?

Like most of the peloton, Joshua Tarling (Ineos_Grenadiers) was having a tough race with ill timed flat tires and minor crashes (although some did leave the race by ambulance).  However, Tarling was seen holding on to his team car as it pulled him back up towards the peloton.  At about the half way point, the race referee pulled along side him to let him know he had been disqualified.  All that was left for the Brit was to soft pedal until he could get into is team car.  Phil Liggett made sure to point out that Tarling isn’t a cheat, usually, but he did get caught 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 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-/4008474-567-195767/Painting/is-my-race-over-pr24-8.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: What She Wanted

Clearly, every woman who started the fourth edition of Paris Roubaix Femmes wanted to win the race, and many had a realistic chance of doing just that, but Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) had built her spring campaign around winning today.  As the five women ramped up their sprint, it looked like the World Champion was going to get boxed in.  As Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) sprinted shoulder to shoulder on the inside, Kopecky had to swing up high to get around the equally fast closing Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) to contest for victory.  But she wasn’t to be denied today, claiming the title of the Queen of Paris Roubaix.  Georgi wasn’t quite able to just get pass Balsamo with the Italian taking second, and the Brit in third.  Vos came up just a bit short on her bike throw finishing the day in fourth.  Behind them, Amber Kraak (FDJ-Suez) finished fifth.  Ellen Van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) who had done so much for her teammate finished about eight seconds later, with the rest of the chasers coming in nearly a half a minute after Kopecky.

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-/4008379-566-195767/Painting/what-she-wanted.-pr24-7.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: On the Velodrome

Having followed the wheel of the British Champion Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL), Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) was able to ride onto the Roubaix Velodrome with the leaders.  She did have a slight advantage despite having gone through a rough patch.  She was the only one in the group with a teammate.  Ellen Van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) was again on the front driving the pace in hopes of aiding her Italian teammate.  On the wheel of Van Dijk was Georgi, who was followed in turn by Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime), and Amber Kraak (FDJ-Suez).  It was a fairly evenly matched group that started the final lap of the velodrome, but three are all known for their sprinting abilities.  Possibly Balsamo is the best at the sprint game, but just what she has left remains to be seen.

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-/4008378-565-195767/Painting/on-the-velodrome.-pr24-6.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: Backward & Forward

Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) was coming back to the front of the race having tangled wheels with one of her teammates.  Both managed to stay upright, but it left the British champion chasing back across the Carrefour de l’Arbre sector.  Conversely, Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) was going through a bad patch and was dropping away from the leading group.  Thus the title, backward for the actions of Balsamo, and forward for those of Georgi.  With just sixteen kilometers to race, and this being the final truly tough section of cobbles, it was going to be tough for either of these women to see the leaders of the race again.

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-/4008377-564-195767/Painting/backward-forward.-pr24-5.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: Gaining an Advantage

On the pave section named after the windmill off to her right, Jade Wiel (FDJ-Suez) opens up a twenty second lead with another 33 kilometers to go.  She must have felt good to ride solo past her team’s main sponsor’s banners as she neared the end of the eighth pave section, the Templeuvue Moulin de Vertain.  Behind her, the erstwhile leading quartet were getting their chase of the former French National Champion organized.

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-/4008375-563-195767/Painting/gaining-an-advantage.-pr24-4.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: Is the Selection Made?

With another 51 kilometers to race, this marquee foursome were opening up a ten second gap on the chasers.  Is it possible that these four will be the ones to fight it out in the sprint on the velodrome in Roubaix?  As they ride pass on of the soigneurs for Uno-X, Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) looks over at Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) as they follow Christina Schwienberger  (Fenix-Deceunick).  Watching them all is Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike). Between them there are four current of previous national champions, and a former and the current World Champion.  Certainly, this is a group that has the pedigree to hold of the peloton all of the way to Roubaix.

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-/4008373-562-195767/Painting/is-the-selection-made-pr24-3.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: A Bit of a Gap

As they came off of Sector 14, Ellen Van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) pushed the pace getting a bit of a gap on the chasing peloton.  Not only was she helping herself, she was pulling Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) away from those behind.  With another 64 kilometers to race, it was too early to tell if this move was going to become “the move,” but others have gone off on their own by this point in early editions of both the women’s and the men’s races over the years.

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-/4008371-560-195767/Painting/one-done.-pr24-1.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: One Done

As the peloton hit 76 kilometers to go they had only gone through the first of the seventeen pave sections of the fourth edition of the Paris Roubaix Femmes.  At this point as they crossed the narrow bridge in La Scarpe, the group was still one large peloton.  At the tail of the group is Roxane Fournier (St Michel-Mavic-Auber 93).  Not the best place to ride when so much can go wrong at a moments notice.

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-/4008371-560-195767/Painting/one-done.-pr24-1.html

Strade Bianche 24: Operatic!

As he rode into the square in Siena, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had plenty of time to celebrate his victory with the crowds lining the barriers.  I love the way the race winds through the narrow shadowed streets before bursting into the bright sunlight of the piazza.  It was as if the stage lights were raised as the tenor finished his aria to the delight of the audience.  At the finish line, Pogacar stopped and held his bike over his head, first to the cameras and then to the crowds.  It was truly a monumental victory of the not yet honored sixth monument.  The two that chased behind came home three minutes later with Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) dropping Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) for second place and Van Gils four seconds later for the final step of the podium.  The winner from last year (who had done a long break away to win himself), Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers) another minute later.  The rest of the finishers came in in dribs and drabs as Pogacar made his way through the end of the race protocol.

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-/4002740-559-195767/Painting/operatic-sb24-12.html

Strade Bianche 24: One After Another

Rather than a concerted effort of a group of competitors, it was one, than another solo rider who went off the front in hopes of chasing down Pogacar and whomever else may be up the road.  That may be due to the excellent team riding by Pogacar’s teammates marking every move that tried to get away.  Despite their efforts, Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) managed to get away.  He is in search of the Lotto Dstny man, Maxim Van Gils, who just eleven seconds ahead of home at this point.  He does have a minute on the group behind.  However, neither are wishing four minutes of the lone leader.

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-/4002737-558-195767/Painting/one-after-another-sb24-11.html

Strade Bianche 24: Looking for Help

Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) was the only rider in the peloton who was able to jump clear when Pogacar went on the Monte Santa Maria.  However, he wasn’t able to go with the Slovenian Champion.  With thirty kilometers to race he was almost three and a half minutes behind the leader and a half of a minute ahead of the peloton.  He soon started looking back in hopes that another rider or three would bridge up to him.  It was both his and their only hope in reeling the lone escapee back.  But realistically, the race was now for the remaining two steps of the peloton.  The winner of the 2024 edition of Strade Bianche was already three minutes up the road, and his lead is still growing!

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-/4002736-557-195767/Painting/looking-for-help-sb24-10.html

Strade Bianche 24: A Giant in Cycling

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) is already a huge figure in contemporary cycling, but today he out did even himself.  Two years ago he won Strade Bianche with a fifty kilometer solo break away.  At this point he has just over two minutes on the field with another 68 kilometers to race.  With every pedal stroke he was gaining on the disorganized “chase” behind, so it was unlikely that he would be caught.  Should this attempt hold, it will be the longest successful break in the race’s somewhat short history.

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-/4002733-556-195767/Painting/a-giant-of-cycling-sb24-9.html

68 k

Strade Bianche 24: 81 K Out!

At the pre-race interviews, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was asked when he was going to attack.  Without hesitation or any poker facing, he said he would attack on the Monte Sante Maria.  The thing was he was channeling the famous moment in USA Baseball when Babe Ruth point out to left field when he came up to bat, and then hit a home run in that exact space.  So it was with Pogacar, despite there being another 81 kilometers left in this edition of Strade Bianche, he attacked right where he said he would.  No one had the legs to go with the move, the move his team set up, the move that worked because they hadn’t let anyone get away, and the move that he let everyone know he would make.  Has he went over the top of the climb, even a rivals soigneur was startled to see him with a minute on the peloton already.

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.

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Strade Bianche 24: Going Again

The clearly American Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) attacked the peloton shortly after it had pulled him back a few kilometers earlier.  The early kilometers were noteworthy for the number of failed break away attempts.  It seems that the peloton was not interested in letting anyone get a gap.  So even with 90 kilometers left to go, they only let the USA Champion get a few seconds before pulling him back, yet again.

 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.

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Strade Bianche Donne 24: Making Sure

Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) had spent a good part of the final twenty-five kilometers pushing the pace in order to keep any of the chasers from catching back up.  Conversely, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) had spent that same time surfing the wheels of others thus saving her energy for the final ascend up to the central piazza of Sienna.  When they were about 500 meters from the finish, Kopecky jumped the Italian Champion.  Longo Borghini just didn’t have enough left in her legs to go with the Rainbow Jersey on Kopecky’s gritty shoulders.  As they swung around the final corner, Kopecky glanced back on more time just to make sure that neither the Lidl-Trek rider nor anyone else were going to surprise her at the line.  This will have to do with her victory image since her victory salute at the line was hidden from the TV camera by a spectator’s cellphone.  He got a great shot of Kopecky winning her second Strade Bianche Donne, but we did not.

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.

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Strade Bianche Donne 24: Two Champions

Inside of the last ten kilometers of the 2024 Strade Bianche Donne, the race had come down to two champions and former winners of the race.  The Italian national champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) was battling it out with the world champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime).  Both women had teammates in the small group just fourteen seconds behind, but neither seemed willing to let anyone join them as they pedal their way back into the heart of Sienna.  Their every move was being captured both by the helicopter camera overhead and by one of the cameramen standing astride a speeding motorcycle riding beside them on the Tuscan roads.

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.

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Strade Bianche Donne 24, Gritty

The title seemed to capture both Katarzyna Niewiadoma’s (Canyon-SRAM) expression and the gravel roads of Tuscany.  She used the steepest section of the final gravel section, Le Tolfe, to attack the peloton. She got a small gap, but then it was Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) that got back to the Polish woman’s wheel.  In turn hiding behind Vollering was her teammate Lotte Kopecky with the Italian Champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) struggling to stay within reach of the other three.  With just twelve kilometers to race and no more gravel roads, any group that got away now, may be the one that went to contest the finale in Sienna.  Racing on the roads of Italy, the Italian Champion wasn’t about to let anyone get away from her on home soil.

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.

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Strade Bianche Donne 24, Leading the Chase

Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) had been in the early break, but lost the wheels on the first trip up the the gravel section Le Tolfe the first time.  She was joined by her teammate Amanda Spratt along with Christina Schweinberger (Fenix-Deceuninck), Anouska Koster (Uno-X) and the rest of the strong women of the peloton in trying to chase the remaining three down.  Both of the Lidl-Trek women had their team leader just a bit further back, so they were on the front trying to close down the 27 second gap to the leaders.

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.

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Strade Bianche Donne 24: The Leading Trio

This threesome of Riejanne Markus (Visma-Lease a Bike), Alena Amialiusik (UAE Team ADQ) and Amber Karnak (FDJ-SUEZ) had gotten away from the erstwhile break away companions (you can just see them coming out of the corner behind) with another thirty-five kilometers to race.  They were hoping that they could stay away from the ever nearing peloton whom had narrowed the gap to a mere thirty-one seconds.  It was unlikely they would be able to hold off the marquee chasers, particularly since numerable former winners of the race were in the group further behind.

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.

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Strade Bianche Donne 24: Checking the Damage

As she comes off of one of the gravel sections of Strade Bianche, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) looks back to see what sort of damage she has done to the peloton on the rather steep climb.  Behind her, the duo that sprinted for the win last year are the teammates Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime).  They were just under a minute behind the leading breakaway with another 42 kilometers of the 137 kilometer race.

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.

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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: An Emphatic Win!

Jan Tratnik (Visma-Lease a Bike) had out foxed the seasoned Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) in the final kilometers of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.  Not only had he made the German do most of the work in the final five kilometers, he made sure he was on the front as the went under the flame rouge.  Politt is not the best of sprinters (his strengths lie elsewhere), so he had little hope of being able to drop the smaller Tratnik once he started his sprint.  As the Visma man went away, Politt dropped his head in defeat then looked back to make sure the chasers weren’t going to steal his podium spot.  Meanwhile, Tratnik celebrated his well ridden victory (and that of his team) as the crush of the cycling press photographed away.  Moments later, Tratnik’s teammate Wout Van Aert out sprinted the rest of the field to claim third in this year’s Omloop.

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.

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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: Won’t You Work?

The former German National Champion Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) was getting a bit frustrated with Jan Tratnik (Visma-Lease a Bike).  Politt had made the move that got away from the rest of the leading group and then was joined by Tratnik, a move that Visma had been pulling repeatedly over the last fifty kilometers.  However once the man in yellow had joined Politt, he left the German to do all of the work.  Politt wanted to stay away from the chasers that contained some strong sprinters.  His only hope was to ride alone into the final meters of the race.  There seemed to be no way that Tratnik was going to let that happen.  The two had eighteen seconds on those behind with under six kilometers left to race.

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.

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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: Who Do We Have Now?

With a teammate up the road, both Wout Van Aert and Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike) soft pedaled to discourage others from chasing Matteo Jorgenson.  The problem was, that allowed those chasing behind to join in to the mid race break away.  Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) seems to be scolding Laporte for letting Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar), Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech) and Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) back into the race.  Just behind this group, another was just seconds behind.  After looking like the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was going to come down to a six man race, everything suddenly changed with just eleven kilometers left to race.  It was looking like it may come down to a field sprint after all.

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.

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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: No One Chased

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) was the third of his teammates to attack the other three in the break away.  Whether it was that the other two attacks had tired the others in the break or whether it was that they didn’t quite recognize the American as a big threat to go solo for nineteen kilometers, no one chased Jorgenson.  He quickly build up thirteen seconds on his erstwhile companions and another thirty-five seconds to the closing peloton. Whatever the reason it was great to see him off the front in his new team’s colors.  Unfortunately for him the remaining kilometers contained two of the hardest climbs of the entire 202 kilometers of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

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.

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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: Still Working Together

The late break of the day was a dream come true for Visma-Lease a Bike.  They had managed to get three of there guys into the break.  While Christophe Laporte was one the front driving the pace of the group of escapees, Matteo Jorgenson and Wout Van Aert were able to conserve their energy at the back.  It was a nightmare for the other three in the group.  Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers), Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) and Arnuad De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) were going to be forced to chase each of the moves one of the Visma guys made or conversely, should any one of them try an attack one of the Visma guys can chase while the others continue to save themselves for the finale.  All the while, these six were continuing to build a gap on the peloton that was now over a minute behind.

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.

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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Women’s Race: A Perfect Sprint

Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime), Elisa Longo Borghini and Shirin Van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek) had all tried in turn to drop the Dutchwoman, Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), but to no avail.  As each woman feared, when it came time to sprint the final 400 meters to the finish, it was Vos who had the legs to out sprint both Kopecky (in second) and Longo Borghini (in third).  With her win Vos was able to show in no uncertain terms that she was still a force to be reckoned with in the women’s peloton.  I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the Flanders Classics play out over the coming month.

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.

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