Paris Roubaix '26: Time to Celebrate

When it came down to just Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the finale on the velodrome it seemed likely it would be Van Aert to take the two-up sprint to win this edition of Paris Roubaix.  After all, Van Aert has won the sprint finale on the Champs Elysees of the Tour de France.  He has been seeking the victory on the velodrome of Roubaix his whole career, so it was now surprise that he broke down in tears after holding off the man many consider the best bike racer of all time.  I'm still in the camp of Eddy Merxyk personally. It should be noted that Pogacar has only competed twice in Paris Roubaix and has taken second place both times.

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.  

"Time to Celebrate PR26-9" (Original art by Greig Leach) - This painting has sold!

Paris Roubaix '26: Stuck Together

Despite each having tried their best to drop the other, Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) were unable to get free.  As they raced through Sector 3, Gruson, they still had twenty-six seconds over the small group behind.  With just over fourteen kilometers to race, it seemed a bit unlikely that it would be anyone other than these two who would compete to win the next Cobble Stone trophy since the inception one hundred and thirty years ago.

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.  

"Stuck Together PR26-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '26: How Soon?

Unable to hold onto the wheels of the two leaders, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) spent a long time caught between them and those chasing behind.  With forty-nine kilometers to race he was twenty seconds off the pace and only seven seconds ahead of the Mathieu Van Der Poel led chasers.  He felt them coming as he started looking back to see just how long it may be before he could get some extra help in his (and their) attempt to get back to the front of the 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"How Soon? PR26-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '26: Any Way You Can

Sector 11 is one of the 5-star sectors of pave. Five stars are the hardest sections. Many take the risk of riding in the dirt and gravel on the side of the cobbles.  In this chase Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) had misjudged a corner trying to go up inside of Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike).  The move ended up with him in the grass just missing some fans who were fortunately paying attention to the race.  His error gave Van Aert a chance to open a bit of a gap, but once righted, Pogacar regained the Belgium's wheel.  The two were now increasing their advantage over the rest of the field.  At this point they had twenty-five seconds over those behind with just another 51 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Any Way You Can PR26-6" (Original art by Greig Leach) - This painting has sold!

 

Paris Roubaix '26: Closer and Closer

After his trials in the Forest of Arenberg, Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) was forced to chase hard and mainly on his own in hopes of regaining the front of the race.  Forty kilometers after the forest he had seventy-seven seconds helped occasionally by Flippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers).  They were followed by the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammates, Gianni Vermeersch and Tim Van Dijke along with someone from TotalEnergies.  The others seemed either unable or unwilling to help in the effort of recatching those up the road.

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. 

"Closer and Closer PR26-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '26: Tough Time in the Forest

The Trouvee d'Arenberg claims the hopes of many in their goal to win (or even finish) Paris Roubaix.  So it seems for Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech).  He was with a teammate who passed him his bike, but apparently, they road different pedals so Van Der Poel was unable to pedal that bike.  Meanwhile another teammate had switched out his own good wheel onto the defending champion's bike, but it seemed that didn't work either.  By the time he was reached by his team car and mechanic he was now two minutes behind the front of the race.  He does have 92 kilometers to chase back, but those are not mere mortals that are up the road.  Of course, he isn't a mere mortal either.

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. 

"Tough Time in the Forest PR26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '26: Forced to Chase

After he got back onto his own bike, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) set about the arduous task of chasing down the leaders on the road.  In the eighteen kilometers since he had his mechanical he has pulled himself within nineteen seconds as he bumped across another pave sector.  Behind him Max Walscheid (Lidl-Trek), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) and Rasmus Pedersen (Decathlon CMA CGM) were thrilled to have such a strong rider to help pull them along.  Will they still be on his wheel when he rejoins the front of the 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Forced to Chase PR26-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '26: Saved by Shimano

With this team car way back behind the peloton, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) took a spare bike from the Shimano Neutral Service.  While not ideal, it sure beat waiting minutes to get his spare off of his team car.  Naturally, the neutral service bike wasn't set perfectly like his own spare, so once his team car can reach him, he will be changing bikes again.  With another 120 kilometers to race, he can hope that his bad luck got out of the way early (unlike last 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Saved by Shimano PR26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '26: Bringing Wout Back

It is said of Paris Roubaix, "it isn't a question of if you will have bad luck, it is only a question of when."  Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) had an early mechanical and was paced back to the peloton by his teammate Christophe Laporte with another 147 kilometers to race.  Clearly, he has plenty of time to get back on, but it is never good to have to use energy chasing that you are going to need at the end of the day.  Alexis Renard (Cofidis) was thrilled to have a strong duo to pull him back to the peloton over one of the early cobbled sectors.

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.

"Bringing Wout Back PR26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '26: Beating the Odds

It was the German Champion, Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ), who was able to outsprint the veteran Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) to become the next Queen of Paris Roubaix!  She was able to outsprint the Visma duo with both intelligent riding and a strong finishing sprint, thus beating the odds of winning against a pair of teammates.  Chapeau! Or should I say Gluckwunsch!

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.

"Beating the Odds PRF26-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '26: On to the Velodrome

It was just three women who came onto the fable velodrome at the end of Paris Roubaix Femmes.  They were led into the first lap by the defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike).  She has made it clear throughout the race that she is here to ride for her teammate Marianne Vos who amazingly has yet to win in Roubaix.  The duo was going to have to contend with the German champion Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ).  The odds were clearly in the favor of the Visma women, but it still was uncertain who would be crowned the next Queen of Paris Roubaix.  However, it was certain that all three will be on the podium in just over a lap around 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"On to the Velodrome PRF26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '26: We Need to Chase Now!

As the chasing peloton came off of another section of pave, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) seemed to encourage those with her to help give chase for those up the road.  Her teammate, Blanka Vas was dropped so she was free to try and catch the leaders.  Her move was covered by the American Megan Jastrab (UAE Team ADQ) as Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) tried to join in the effort.  At a minute and a half disadvantage with a mere 26 kilometers to race, it was unlikely that they would ever see the leaders on course 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"We Need to Chase Now! PRF26-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '26: Is the Podium Here?

Now that this quartet has almost a minute and a half on the chasers with only 26 kilometers left to the velodrome in Roubaix, it was beginning to feel certain that three of these women will be on the podium later today.  The defending queen Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) was doing a lot of the work for her teammate Marianne Vos.  Both Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime) and Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) were the beneficiaries of the Visma duo's work.  They were cheered on by fans as the negotiated one of the cobbled corners in Sector 6 labeled Bourghelles a Wannehain.

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.

"Is the Podium Here? PRF26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '26: Getting Off the Front

Despite not going live with the race coverage until just 50 kilometers in the women's Paris Roubaix, there was still a lot of racing (and cobbles) yet to go.  Just before the coverage came on air, this foursome led by the defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) had managed to get off the front of the main peloton.  Her move was covered by her teammate, Marianne Vos, along with the Hungarian champion, Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime) and the German champion, Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ).  With just over 44 kilometers to Roubaix, they have opened up a sixteen second advantage over the other hopefuls.

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.

"Getting Off the Front PRF26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Solo Art Exhibition at the Hoyt in New Castle, PA

 

My art exhibition, "Past in the Present Will Be the Future" at Hoyt Center for Arts and Education opens March 21st, noon-2, and runs through May 21st in New Castle, PA. I hope you can come out to see my art in this beautiful space.

Strade Bianche Donne 2026: Into the Final Corner

Even with the brutal final climb up into old Siena, it was these three that were side by side going into the final turn together.  Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) in her Italian champion tri-colore jersey led Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon /SRAM-zondacrypto) and Elise Chabbey (FDJ United-SUEZ) into the grand piazza.  However, when they arrived at the line just 200 meters later it was the reverse order with Chabbey claiming the victory followed by Niewiadoma, but Koch was able to get around Longo Borghini to claim third with the Italian settling for fourth despite having been the first to hit the top of the final climb inside of the final kilometer.  Alas, every year the race organizers failed to capture a good image of the winner crossing the line, but then this year it was close enough that Chabbey did not risk a victory salute choosing instead to make sure she won by looking back at her competitors as she rode across the line.

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.

"Into the Final Corner SB26-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Strade Bianche Donne 2026: Chasing Champions

With a nineteen second gap up to the leaders with only seventeen kilometers to race, it was the current World Champion, Magdeleine Vallieries (EF Educations-Oatley) going to the front to chase down the leaders.  She was followed by the German National Champion, Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) and the Polish Champion, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto).  It was going to take some strong legs and a bit of luck for these women to rejoin the leaders by the time they arrive in the grand piazza in Siena.

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.

"Chasing Champions SB26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Strade Bianche Donne 2026: Pushing Her Advantage

With some of her main competitors over three minutes back, the Italian Champion Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) presses her advantage pulling a rather elite quartet along with her with just under twenty kilometers still to race.  Joining her in the effort to add to their seven second advantage was Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatley), Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), Elise Chabbey (FDJ United-SUEZ).  Keeping a close eye on them all is the ever-wise Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike).  It was beginning to look like these would be the women that would vie for victory in roughly another half hour.

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.

"Pushing Her Advantage SB26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Strade Bianche Donne 2026: Going the Wrong Way

It is a rare occurrence but sometimes a group of riders will go off the racecourse.  That is what happened to a group of about ten women who were chasing the leading group with about 34 kilometers left to race.  While the course is usually well marked, the leading motorcycle went down a dirt road (just like the famous gravel sections that the Strade Bianche is known for) and the leading rider intuitively followed the motorcycle rather than staying on the hard surface road.  Amongst those going off course was Anna Van Der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ), Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek), Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Millie Couzens (Fenix-Premier Tech) the current British Champion.  Others went of course as well.  They were about a minute behind the leading group but by the time they got turned around and back on course they were over three minutes behind the front of the race.  It was already a long shot that they would rejoin the front of the race before their errand turn, but now their chances of a high finished are over.

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.

"Going the Wrong Way SB26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Strade Bianche Donne 2026: Are You Going to Work?

After a hard winter and some other artistic endeavors, I finally got back to painting cycling!  I thought I would start with the women's Strade Bianche in honor of Women's Day happening tomorrow.  Not long after the on-air coverage started it was Elise Chabbey (FDJ United-SUEZ) attacking on the gravel section 6, the Colle Pinzuto.  With 48 kilometers to race the former Swiss champion opened a gap on the 18% climb.  Only the former Polish champion, Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) was able to hold onto her wheel.  As they went over the summit, Chabbey looked back to see if Wlodarczyk was going to work with her in the effort to hold off those trying to get organized 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Are You Going to Work? SB26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)