Paris Roubaix Femmes '26: We Need to Chase Now!

As the chasing peloton came off of another section of pave, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) seemed to encourage those with her to help give chase for those up the road.  Her teammate, Blanka Vas was dropped so she was free to try and catch the leaders.  Her move was covered by the American Megan Jastrab (UAE Team ADQ) as Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) tried to join in the effort.  At a minute and a half disadvantage with a mere 26 kilometers to race, it was unlikely that they would ever see the leaders on course again.

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.

"We Need to Chase Now! PRF26-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 9: The Final Descent

Both Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) used the final descent off of the Col du Corbier to try and put pressure on the Maillot Jaune.  It didn't work, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot was right behind the Polish Champion all of the way down and across the valley.  On the other hand, they put even more time into the former holder of second place.  There efforts did move them into second and third respectively for the fourth Tour de France Femmes.  That means that the two have been on the podium of every reincarnation of the women's Tour.  Both have won the race once each, too.

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.

"The Final Descent TdFF25-57" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 9: Favorites

With seventy-eight kilometers left, the favorites (meaning those high up in the general classification) all had their eyes on each other.  Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez) was coming back up to the front to take over the pace making for her teammate Demi Vollering.  On her wheel is the defending Tour Femmes champion, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) followed in turn by Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) and Pauline Ferran-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the Maillot Jaune.  Sadly, Kerbaol and Niewiadoma crashed on a sharp turn at the base of the climb of the Col de Joux Plane.  While the Polish Champion was up and back in the group of favorites almost immediately, it took Kerbaol longer to get going.  Since the course when up immediately, despite her hard chase with two teammates, she never rejoined this group.  She dropped from her fifth place at the start of the stage to eighth in the final general classification.

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.

"Favorites TdFF25-54" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 7: With a Solid Lead

As the breakaway went up the Cote de Saint Franc, they had shed about half of original group.  Some of those still there on the climb were the two Americans, Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) and Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) along with Celia Le Mouel (Ceratizit), Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and the ever-aggressive Maeva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ).  The group increase their advantage on the way up the first categorized climb of the day.  They now have over four minutes on the peloton that includes the Maillot Jaune, the Maillot Vert, and the Maillot a Pois.  Is this the move that will win the stage?

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.

"With a Solid Lead TdFF25-37" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 6: A Few More Seconds

With the lone attacker up the road, the favorites for the Tour were sprinting for four and two seconds bonus in Valcivieres.  This was anyone's last chance to pick up a few seconds in the middle of the stage.  For the remaining stages bonuses will only be rewarded for at the finish line.  Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) added even more seconds to her lead, with Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) mopping up the remaining bonus.  Yet again, Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) missed out in the bonus sprint, but on the other hand she is right there with the favorites for the over-all victory.  The three were a minute and seventeen seconds behind the lone leader with another twelve kilometers to race.  I'm sure they won't see Maeva Squiban again.  That means when this sprint happens again at the line in Amberet it will be for second place.

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. 

"A Few More Seconds TdFF25-34" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 5: Chasing the Bonus

With the breakaway now back in the fold, or on out the back of the peloton, it was time to wind up the time bonus sprint.  In three separate stages of this Tour, there are sprints late in the stage that award bonus seconds.  Actually, they give you a bonus of subtracted seconds from your overall time.  The American Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) was leading out her teammate in the Polish National Champion's Jersey, Katarzyna Niewiadoma who was chased in turn by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike), an apparently recovered Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez). Pauline took second in the sprint, followed by Katarzyna getting four seconds and two seconds removed from their overall time respectively.  Demi just missed out getting a bonus.  It is Anna Van Der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) who is just sneaking into the frame of 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Chasing the Bonus TdFF25-27" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Femmes '25, Stage 4: She Found Her Way Through

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) got a bit boxed in at the start of the spint, even using her shoulder to make a little room to find some open space.  She finally had a lane when the American Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-zondocrypto) opened her sprint a bit early.  Wiebes' kick for the line left everyone chasing with only Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) able to hold the Green Jersey's wheel.  But again, as it was in stage 3, Wiebes took the win with Vos in second unable to get around the sprinter.  Behind Dygert faded to fourth when Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) got around her for third in Poitiers.  Today is the first day that none of the leaders' jersey changed hands.  I don't think that will hold true tomorrow.

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.

"She Found Her Way Through TdFF25-22" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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Tour Femmes '25, Stage 2: We Have a Gap

Perhaps they thought they could catch the breakaway before the Bonus Sprint, or maybe they just felt it was time to stretch out their legs, regardless the reason, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-Protime) in her Polish Champion Jersey attacked the peloton covered by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike).  The two quickly opened a gap on those behind but didn't catch up to the breakaway either.  It wasn't long before those behind got organized and pulled these two potential Tour Femmes winners back.  Actually, Niewiadoma is the defending champion of the Tour de France Femmes now.  She won by the narrowest of margins - a mere four seconds after eight stages ending atop Mont Ventoux in the fog.

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. 

"We Have a Gap TdFF25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: They Caught Us

After the attack by Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and her teammate Lorena Wiebes were caught by the quartet containing Jelena Eric (Movistar), Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto), Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatley) and Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) the sextet didn't really seem to want to keep riding.  With a motivate group behind, it wasn't too long before Kopecky looked back to see the chasers almost on their wheels.  For the SD Worx-Protime duo and Eric, no help was arriving, but the rest found they now had reinforcements to help in their bids to win the fifth Paris Roubaix Femmes.  With just another thirty-three kilometers to race, I was a little surprised that they let themselves be caught by a group of another eight women.

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.

"They Caught Us PR24-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 3: A Sterling Sprint

I couldn't resist the pun for the title of this painting.  First off, it was truly a sterling solo attack that carried Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-Zondacrypto) to the stage victory in Stirling.  But I had to go for the play with the name of the town that the peloton began and ended the final stage of the 25th Women's Tour Down Under, Stirling.  Dygert was chased by the woman sitting second in the general classification, Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco), but showed a clean set of wheels by the time she crossed the line.  Smulders was hoping to score enough bonus seconds and real seconds to take over the Ochre Jersey, but it didn't quite work out.  She did pull within thirteen seconds of the Tour Down Under Victory but will have to content herself with second place.

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.

"A Sterling Sprint TDU25-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '24, Stage 3: Getting Something Started

With 77 kilometers left of the Women's Tour Down Under, Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) decided it was time to enliven the final stage.  Her move was quickly covered by a rider from Canyon/SRAM, Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) and someone from UAE Team ADQ.  A few others tacked onto their wheels as they escaped the clutches of the peloton.  Like other escape attempts, this one was chased down.  It was to risky to led Fisher-Black go given that she sits in ninth place at the start of the day.

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.

"Getting Something Started TDU25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: The Leading Four

As the peloton sped through Willunga at the base of the final climb, it was Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) who attacked first in hopes of climbing to the summit of Willunga Hill alone.  However, she was soon caught by Neve Bradbury (Canyon/SRAM-Zondacrypto), the Swiss Champion Noemi Reugg (EF Education-Oatley) and Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco).  The foursome shadow boxed up the two and a half kilometer climb, letting those behind catch back up.  Regardless of the delay, two of these women took the top to steps of the podium at the summit, all of them were in the top nine of the day.

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 Leading Four TDU25-10" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 1: Disorganized

Frustrated with the lack of help with the chase of the lone break away, Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-Zondacrypto) rode off the front of the peloton with less than five kilometers to race.  She was chased by Anya Louw (AG Insurance-Soudal) amongst others.  Regardless of the American's efforts, she (nor the rest of the peloton) caught Danieka Hengeveld who claims the first Ochre Jersey of the 2025 Tour Down Under.

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. 

"Disorganized TDU25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)