Tour Femmes '26, Stage 2: Calm and Controlled

With twenty-eight kilometers until the finish in Geneva, SD Worx-Protime had control on the front of the peloton as they chased the lone woman up the road.  At this point Lorena Wiebes in her Maillot Jaune following the wheels of her teammates including Micha Bredewold and Nienke Vinke, felt comfortable in her team's ability to reel in Riejanne Markus.  Tucked in behind the work of the team of the yellow jersey were Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) and her teammate Amanda Spratt.  Those two weren't going to help in the chase since Markus was on Lidl-Trek, too.  It wasn't until they hadn't gotten any closer in the next fifteen kilometers that the team began to lose the coolness and feared they may not have things under control 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Calm and Controlled TdFF26-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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 →    

Tour Femmes '26, Stage 1: Poursuivante

With forty-three kilometers until they were all back in Lusanne, Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) was slowly chasing down the four women up the road.  She has about another minute-and-a-half before she joins the quartet with only the Shimano Neutral Service moto to keep her company.  It took her a while, but she did finally join up with the leaders.  With her strength, will they have more hope of keeping away from the peloton until 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 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.

Purchase this painting here: "Poursuivante TdFF26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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 →   

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/4002662-74-207546/Painting/leading-the-chase-sb24-3.html

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 6: Getting Something Going

It looked like Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) was about pull some of the big names of the Tour Femmes out of the peloton.  Lidl-Trek has been having one of the team go off the front after another in hopes of making an escape stick.  This time Spratt's move was covered by Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM).  Behind her one of the members of the Jumbo-Visma team was making sure the team had a member in the break if this one worked.  It didn't.

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/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3968606-177-297438/Painting/getting-something-going-tdff23-33.html

 

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 5: You Wouldn't

Yesterday, Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) lost her lead in the Queen of the Mountains competition to Anouska Koster (Uno-X).  However, she could consul herself with winning both the title of most combative rider of the stage, and more importantly, her first professional victory.  I suspect that is a fair trade off for most.  Apparently, not for her.  She went over the first climb first as her rival for the polka dots struggled to hold onto the back of the peloton.  As they neared the summit of the Cote de Laquepie she looked over at Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) to see if she was going to contest for the points on offer in a couple of hundred meters.  Spratt shook her head.  She was looking for stage honors and had no reason to contest the sprint for points.  Nevertheless, Kastelijn took no chances and sprinted away to reclaim her Maillot a Pois.  Behind her, still wearing the Maillot Vert on loan from the race leader in yellow, Asheigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal-Quick Step) just watches in case someone launches an attack to get away from the 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/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3968160-170-297438/Painting/you-wouldnt-tdff23-26.html

 

Fleche Wallone 23, Women’s Race: “How Am I Doing?”

As soon as the group containing the World Champion and her teammate (amongst others), Amanda Spratt (Trek-Segafredo) went on the offensive.  She built up a 45 second gap as three more behind tried to bridge up to her.  As she looked back over the little rolling hills, she could see the chasers, and a bit further behind them, the peloton.  With 29 kilometers left to race, it was going to take some real effort to stay away.  The further challenge was the two climbs yet to come, the Cote d’Ereffe and the Mur de Huy.  (Spoiler, they caught her at the bottom of the Mur de Huy with just about a kilometer 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 $90 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3946382-538-195767/Painting/how-am-i-doing-fwf23-2.html

Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes '22: Working Well

It was a strong group that had just formed off the front of the peloton when the Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes coverage went on air.  Sadly, this was the first I saw of the race with just 41 kilometers to go.  By this time in the men's race many riders were on their way to hospital in ambulances, fortunately that didn't happen off camera for the women today.  The group that contained Evita Muzic (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), Sara Martin (Movistar), Amanda Spratt (BikeExchange-Jayco), Leah Kirchman (DSM), Clara Honsinger (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB), and Soraya Paladin (Canyon/SRAM) had just over a minute as they hit the bottom of the Cote de la Redoute.  There may be one or two more women in this group, but those are all that you can see relatively easily in this painting.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available. 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3881158-48-207546/Painting/working-well-lbl22-8.html

Amstel Gold Women - Coming Good

I admit that I thought Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma Women) was cooked on the final climb of the Cauberg.  Clearly I was wrong.  While there were two women off the front, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) they spent too much time trying to out fox each other that they ended up giving their chance for a win away.  Instead it was Marianne Vos out sprinting them all for the win.  She spent a moment of panic thinking she may have celebrated too soon.  It was a fast closing Demi Vollering (SD Worx) who almost closed the gap with her bike lunge.  Amanda Spratt (BikeExchange) missed the podium finishing fourth.  Elisa Longo Borghini could only hold on for eighth and thinking what might have been.  And she has to surrender her points jersey in the bargain.  Although it will be no shame in pulling back on her Italian tricolore of National Champion.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3806935-35-290150/Painting/coming-good-ag21-4.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Women's Road Race - Chase Two

Chase Two is how the TV graphics describe the second chase group on the road.  With just 16 kilometers left to race, there was one woman off the front, another between, and then this pair, Amanda Spratt (Australia) and Anna Van Der Breggen (Netherlands).  These two knew they were still in for a medal, but may still have enough time to catch the two up the road.  Van Der Breggan has a small dilemma, it her teammate in the lead and she can't risk pulling anyone else up to Annemiek Van Vluten's wheel.  As I painted this, Dygert was 2:12 behind Van Vluten and this paier are at 2:32.  It could still come back together, but most likely the Rainbow Jersey has been decided.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3398423-41-266225/Chase%20Two%20%20UCI19-41.html