2026 UCI Road World Championships, Montreal; Elite Women's Road Race: Making Her Escape

Purchase this painting here: "Making Her Escape UCI26-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Once the peloton had caught the last of the breakaway, it was the French woman Maeva Squiban that went on the attack on the climb of Mont Royal above Montreal.  With 52 kilometers to race, it was a long shot (or a long solo effort) that she might be able to stay away to the line.  She has done this before in the Tour de France Femmes.  I am sure it felt good to race on roads where most of the fans also speak French.  She was caught when some of the favorites launched their attacks.

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 top of this post to purchase this painting. 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 → 

2026 UCI World Champions; Montreal Elite Women's Road Race: Paying Honor

Purchase this painting here: "Paying Honor UCI26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

With several laps to go, the defending champion Magadeleine Vallieries (Canada) found herself in a group with her teammate Adele Normand, Aqua Marina Espinola (Paraquay) and others now over six minutes behind the leaders.  It was clear to all that her injuries and the time it took to get going again she would not be contending the finale in her home country.  However, in honor of racing on home roads, and to the Rainbow Jersey, she kept riding until this whole group was pulled of the course by the race commissares.  She was in tears as she struggled to dismount from her bike when her day was finished.  It was finished when she went down in the first lap on the climb up Mont Royal, but she wanted to keep going regardless.

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 top of this post to purchase this painting. 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 → 

2026 UCI Worlds; Montreal Women's Elite: Still Off the Front

You can purchase this painting here: "Still Off the Front - UCI26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

I had hoped to be able to paint this year's UCI Road World Championships in Montreal live on site as I did back in 2015 in Richmond, Virginia, but alas I couldn't make it happen.  Then, other projects pushed me out of being able to create the works live - although I now know that YouTube makes that possible had I not had another art project that was time specific.  Anyway...

The women's race was upset by a large crash that took out many of the favorites, including the Canadian defending World Champion Magdeleine Valliers.  With the peloton trying to get itself sorted without race radios, this duo of Natalie Quinn (USA) and Marte Berg Edseth (Norway) were able to build on their lead.  They had dropped several others on the second climb up Mont Royal.  With six more laps and another 97 kilometers to race it was rather doubtful that they would stay clear to the finish, but they do have almost a minute and a half over the chasing peloton.  There were caught around 23 kilometers later.

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 top of this post to purchase this painting. 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 →