Koksijde, Women's Cyclo-Cross: Climbing the Dune

It is just sand that makes Koksijde so difficult.  Within sight of the start line the peloton faces a wall of sand that can only be scaled by shouldering one's bike and running up the deep sand.  I can't imagine scaling this once, let alone the five times that the pro women managed this feat.  At this point the Dutch Champion, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) is leading the World Champion, Fem vamn Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) up the climb as they both chase the sole leader already down the other side.

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.

"Climbing the Dune CX-K25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes '24, Stage 5: Building Their Advantage

Twenty-four kilometers later Loes Adegeest (FDJ-Suez) was joined by Julie Van de Velde (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Fem Van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike).  Once the two women arrived, the trio started building on their lead over the peloton.  They were able to stretch out a two minute lead on the peloton before it started to chase them in earnest.   With forty-nine kilometers to race, they have a slim chance of making it all of the way to the finish in Amneville.  While they ended up not taking the stage, Adegeest was awarded the most combative rider of the stage.  Tomorrow we will find her with a green bib number as a marker for her guts 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.

"Building Their Advantage TdFF24-24" (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)