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)