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)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 5: It's Me

I first encountered Blanka Vas (Visma-Lease a Bike) in this year's Paris Olympics, when she and her pro team teammate Marianne Vos were off the front of the women's road race with less than ten kilometers to race.  She ended up getting out sprinted by Vos and Lotte Kopecky (who isn't in this race).  All three had been out maneuvered by Kristen Faulkner (EF-Oatley-Cannondale) who won the Gold.  Vas knew what Faulkner had done just two weeks ago, so she wasn't going to lose to the American Champion again.  Today Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) waited to sprint but was still beaten by the Hungarian champion.  She dropped her head in disappointment with not winning the stage, only to learn later that she had taken over the Maillot Jaune, a long searched for accomplishment.  Taking third on the day was Liane Lippert (Movistar).  Faulkner was equally disappointed to miss the podium for this stage, but it did work out that she now sits second in the general classification just nineteen seconds behind Niewiadoma.  All of these new GC positions were created by a crash with just over five kilometers left to race.  The crash took down the Maillot Jaune.  While she was able to finish, Demi Vollering (Visma-Lease a Bike) lost almost two minutes.  The race also ended the Tour for three; Spela Kern (Cofidis), Magdaleine Valleries (EF-Oatley-Cannondale), and Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL).  Let's all hope that their injuries aren't too severe and that they will recover quickly.

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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"It's Me TdFF24-26" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 4: Almost Back

The seventh categorized climb of the day, the Cote de la Redoute, split the peloton into multiple groups leaving these nine women to chase down the leaders.  On the back of the nine are Victoire Guilman (St. Michel-Mavic-Auber93), Silvia Perxico (UAE Team ADQ) along with Fem Van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike), Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime) and Ane Santesteban (Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi).  Persico had been driving the pace all day and at this point is the virtual Queen of the Mountains.  With three more tough climbs yet to go before Liege, she may not claim the Polka Dots at the end of the day.  It is sure that someone new will pull on the Maillot a Pois on the podium this evening.

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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Almost Back TdFF24-18" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Almost There

Kristen Faulkner (USA) has been chasing hard with little help from the race favorite Lotte Kopecky (Belgium).  Kopecky may be excused she worked very hard to bridge up to the chasers after getting caught behind the crash on the first circuit through the streets of Paris.  As the two chasers rode through the grounds of the Louvre they could see the two leaders riding out through the gates on the other side.  It was looking like it would be a four woman race for the three medals available at the Eiffel Tower.  Not at all what both Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Blanka Vas (Hungary) were hoping to see.  Since this is the last painting of the four women, I'll tell you that one slipped off the front.  The other three sprinted for the two remaining medals, with Vos just getting the better of Kopecky for Silver and Bronze respectfully.

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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Almost There PO24-66" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Vos and Vas

I admit that part of the reason I painted this was just to get to use the title.  That and the fact that Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Blanka Vas (Hungary) were off the front of the race with a twenty-five second gap and a mere eighteen kilometers to go.  Vas was the one who launched on the Montmartre climb with only Vos able to hold the Hungarian's wheel.  As they went back down the other side from Sacre Coeur, the two built on their lead over their erstwhile companions.

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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Vos and Vas PO24-64" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: The Narrow Climb to Montemartre

J'adore Paris!  And have been many times including walking this very street.  At the top of the hill is a lovely square populated by artists selling their tourist focused artwork.  I doubt they were out there today.  Bridget and I had the chance to talk with a few and she let them know I was an artist.  We were invited back to the studio of one guy to space that many of the "tourist artists" kept their studios where they made their "real" work.  If I am not mistaken, the door to that space is just to the left as we look that this painting.  It almost looks like Kristen Faulkner (USA) is looking to see what paintings she can spy through the door.  In reality, she is looking at Mavi Garcia (Espana).  The pair were leading this small group that got established after a crash at the base of this climb.  Along for the ride are Blanka Vas (Hungary) and Marianne Vos (Netherlands).  This feels like it must be the move that will stick 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 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 $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The Narrow Climb to Martmontre PO24-62" (Original art by Greig Leach)