2026 UCI Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race: Three Decades Later

Purchase this painting here: "Three Decades Later UCI26-17" (Original art by Greig Leach)

When Brandon McNulty (USA) held his head in disbelief as he claimed victory in the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal it is wild to think that it has been thirty-three years since and American has won the Rainbow Jersey.  That was five years before McNulty was born!  He is only the third American to ever pull on the Rainbow Jersey of world champion.  With Lance Armstrong having won in 1993 and Greg Lemond winning it in both 1983 and 1989.  I was amused that while mentioning that it had been thirty-three years since an American had won, the announcer Anthony McCrossan neglected to say Armstrong's name.  As I mentioned in my previous painting, he takes over the title from his trade team teammate, Tadej Pogacar, giving UAE Team Emirates reason to celebrate and allows them to continue to post of having the best cyclist in the world.  Chapeau, Brandon!

The clump of riders behind included the Silver Medalist Michael Matthews (Australia) and the Bronze Medalist Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands).  McNulty's teammates Quinn Simmons finished fourth and Matteo Jorgenson finished seventh, making it three Team USA guys in the top ten!

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

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2026 UCI Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race: One Last Peek

Purchase this painting here: "One Last Peek UCI26-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Brandon McNulty (USA) takes one last look behind him as he can see the flame rouge and the final kilometer just ahead.  When he looked back there was no one in sight.  He has twenty-three seconds over the best men in the pro peloton who just can't chase him down.  In his post-race interview, he revealed that even at this point he didn't truly believe that he would be the next UCI Road Champion.  Which may explain why he kept making sure that no one was going to surprise him inside of the final kilometer.  There is a certain beauty that he rides on the same team as Tadej Pogacar, UAE Team Emirates, who was unable to defend his two-time title this 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 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 Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race: Into the Gap

Purchase this painting here: "Into the Gap UCI26-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Belgium and Remco Evenepoel were having a yo-yo kind of day.  After Wout Van Aert (Belgium) was dropped out of the front group he looked for his teammate Evenepoel who had been dropped from his group as well.  Once found the two worked together to get back into the race.  On the final ascent of Mont Royal Wout Van Aert finally cracked, but his efforts were enough to allow his teammate Evenepoel on last serge in hopes of catching the lone American up the road.  Alas, it didn't work, and the effort cost him dearly.

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

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2026 UCI Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race: A Big Advantage

Purchase the painting here: "A Big Advantage UCI26-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Brandon McNulty (USA) made the classic cycling move.  He attacked from the back of the group just as they caught the leaders.  With those on the front having dug deep to catch the escapees, none had the strength to jump onto his wheel as he sped up the other side of the wide road in downtown Montreal.  As he took the sharp left turn to start the penultimate lap he had opened up a thirty-six second lead on those he had just left behind.  Now, can he hold them all of for another twenty-eight kilometers?

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 Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race: Having to Chase

Purchase this painting here: "Having to Chase UCI26-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

With two groups of three up the road it was time to chase down the leaders for two young men Paul Seixas (France) and Isaac Del Toro (Mexico).  The two stars of the Tour de France efforts were being thwarted by Matteo Jorgenson (USA) and Tom Pidcock (Great Britian) since they have teammates in the leading groups.  Joining in the efforts are Michael Matthews (Australia) and Santiago Buitrago (Colombia).  It looks like they are counting on Del Toro and Seixas to do the pulling to put them back into the fray in the remaining forty-nine kilometers.

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 Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race: Three Going Away

Purchase this painting here: "Three Going Away UCI26-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Under the strength of Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands) this trio dropped their former breakaway companions.  Quinn Simmons (USA) had clearly decided he was going to stay on the only former champion in the group's wheel and was going every time Van Der Poel attacked.  Oscar Onley (Great Britian) was not the team's original plan, but it seems that the burden of winning for his country has now fallen to him.  Both Simmons and Onley have teammates in the chasing groups that are under a minute behind with another seventy-four kilometers left to race in these Worlds.

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 Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race: A Powerful Sextet

Purchase this painting here: "A Powerful Sextet UCI26-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

It was Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands) who started this move.  He was quickly joined by Quinn Simmons (USA) and Wout Van Aert (Belgium).  Those three were joined not much later by Primoz Roglic (Slovenia), Oscar Onley (Great Britian), and Anthon Charmig (Denmark).  Given the short punchy climbs and constant turning of the urban course, this was a group that had the chops to stay of the front for the remaining eighty kilometers.  At this point they have forty-two seconds on the disorganized chase behind.  The presence of Simmons and Van Aert means that their teammates are doing their best to disrupt the chase of the other riders 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 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 Road Worlds Championship, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race

Purchase this painting here: "How Am I Doing? UCI26-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Once the peloton, or what was left of it, caught the morning breakaway, Anthon Charmig (Denmark) decided it was his turn to try.  With 95 kilometers to race, he was taking a risk trying to go it alone.  After building up an eight second advantage, he looked back to see if anyone was going to join him in the effort.  Going solo left little chance of success, but if a couple of others bridged up to the Dane, he then may well have a chance to claim 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 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 Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race: How Much Longer?

You can purchase this painting here: "How Much Longer?" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Now it was just six that were off the front as they headed up the climb of Mont Royal.  As the group of Jamie Meehan (Ireland), the two Eritrea riders Biniam Girmay and Henok Mulubrhan, Felix Engelhardt (Germany) and Andreas Leknessund (Norway) fought on, they were being shown the time gap of a mere minute and a half.  The Irish fans were thrilled to see their man still off the front of the group.  As it is always done in the Worlds, no team has race radios, so the time being kept by the moto is far more important than its normal ceremonial function at the Tour.

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 Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race: Holding Their Advantage

You can purchase this painting here: "Holding Their Advantage UCI26-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

The early breakaway of the Elite Men's Road Race was still holding a strong advantage has they started their second of thirteen laps of the finishing circuit.  While the group containing Mihajlo Stolic (Serbia), Guillaume Boivin (Canada), Henok Mulubrhan (Eritrea) and his teammate Biniam Girmay, along with Tilen Finkst (Slovenia), Kaden Hopkins (Bermuda), Andreas Leknessund (Norway), and Emils Liepins (Latvia) and others had build up a lead of over seven minutes, but the time they started this lap the gap had shrunk to around four minutes.  I doubt any of these guys thought they would still be off the front at the end of the over 250 kilometer race, but everyone now knows they were at the Worlds racing 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 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 Road Championships, Montreal, Elite Women's Road Race: Shades of the Tour

You can purchase this painting here: "Shades of the Tour UCI26-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Despite Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland) having gotten the jump on Demi Vollering (Netherlands) it was the Dutch woman who raised her arms in victory in Montreal!  Niewiadoma appeared to cramp up just as Vollering pulled even with her in the sprint.  In the distance you can just see Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) who had just caught the other two when the sprint kicked off.  So it is that Vollering takes first with Niewiadoma in second, just as they were in the Tour de France Femmes, and Longo Borghini takes another bronze medal at another World Championships.  I don't image that the animosity that erupted at the Tour Femme between second and third was quelled today.  Instead, I think it has been further inflamed.  As on prone to cramps, I truly feel for Niewiadoma 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 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 Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Women's Road Race: Cheering the Podium?

Purchase this painting here: "Cheering the Podium UCI26-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

The thousands of cycling fans along every kilometer of the course in Montreal were being treated to a spectacular race today.  As they cheered this trio of Demi Vollering (Netherlands), Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy), and Kasia Kiewiadoma (Poland) it seemed clear that they were cheering for the top three steps of the podium.  In another twelve kilometers we will all know who will stand on which step at the finale.

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 Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Women's Road Race: Chasers & Disrupters

Purchase this painting here: "Chasers and Disrupters UCI26-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

With her teammate up the road, Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) shifted from launching the attack to disrupting those trying to chase down Demi Vollering.  It was her job now to slow the chase being mounted by Marlen Reusser (Switzerland) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland).  Niewiadoma does have a teammate in the trio thirty-one seconds up the road.  With twenty-five kilometers to race, there was still a chance for these women to vie for the podium.  

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 Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Women's Road Race: Blowing Up the Peloton!

Purchase this painting here: "Blowing Up the Peloton UCI26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

With 39 K to race the Dutch finally made the move they had been riding for all day.  As they elite of the peloton hit the climb up Mont Royal for the third time, Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) went to the front and drove the pace for her teammate Demi Vollering.  The two were able to drop everyone except Dominika Wlodarczyk (Poland) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy).  Just after I painted this, Vollering went off on her own hoping to go solo to win the Rainbow Jersey.  Several other women thought differently.

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 →