Paris Roubaix '26: Tough Time in the Forest

The Trouvee d'Arenberg claims the hopes of many in their goal to win (or even finish) Paris Roubaix.  So it seems for Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech).  He was with a teammate who passed him his bike, but apparently, they road different pedals so Van Der Poel was unable to pedal that bike.  Meanwhile another teammate had switched out his own good wheel onto the defending champion's bike, but it seemed that didn't work either.  By the time he was reached by his team car and mechanic he was now two minutes behind the front of the race.  He does have 92 kilometers to chase back, but those are not mere mortals that are up the road.  Of course, he isn't a mere mortal either.

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. 

"Tough Time in the Forest PR26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: Into the Woods

Just because everyone knew that the move would come when they entered the Trouvee d'Arenberg, that didn't mean everyone could do anything about it.  As they rode into the infamous Forest of Arenberg, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) went on his long-expected attack.  He was quickly covered by the trio of favorites led by Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck).  All three have raced the cobbles to Roubaix before, with van Aert having won one, and van der Poel having won the last two editions.  Pogacar is a neophyte to the Hell of the North.

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.

"Into the Woods PR25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix 23: Chaos in the Forest

While I don’t normally paint the crashes, they are so much a part of Paris Roubaix that I felt it was necessary.  As they went into one of the most fabled pave sectors, the peloton shook apart and bodies went flying.  It was so chaotic that I wasn’t able to get any of the names of those on the ground or tangled up in the piles of broken bikes.  Some riders races ended at this moment in pain, most particularly last year’s winner, Dylan Van Baarle (Jumbo-Visma).  For most of the others, it might as well have been over, since the attacks were going off the front as they were lying on the unmerciful cobblestones.

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-/3945232-531-195767/Painting/chaos-in-the-forest-pr23-11.html

Paris Roubaix: In the Forest

Only one time every year is this stretch of pave open through the forest of Arenberg.  Well to be fair, it was twice last year since the Tour de France covered the same stretch of cobbles in stage 5.  Since team cars are diverted over the pave sections, team mechanics and soigneurs will stand along the road holding up wheels should their men need them.  At this point the peloton is still 5 minutes behind the break away as they are led through the forest by Lotto Soudal and BMC.  Tucked in behind the domestiques is Peter Sagan (Saxo Tinkoff) in his Slovak National Champion's kit.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular watercolor just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.

If you are enjoying reading about Paris Roubaix with the accompanying artwork, be sure to search out my recently published, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France".  It can be found through most every online bookseller around the world.  Google the title to discover where you can get a copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2541128---195767/Painting.html#.VSr54vnF-xU

Tour Stage 5: The Ride of His Life

Covered in mud, soaking wet, cold and shaken to the core for over three hours, a jubilant Lars Boom (Belkin Pro Cycling) had time to savor his solo victory as he road up the final kilometer by himself.  Boom came no where near taking over the over all lead, but he can now claim a victory in the Tour de France on his resume.  This was one of the epic stages of the Tour full of drama, heartbreak and triumph that will be added to the lore of this Grand Tour.  And all but one will get up tomorrow to race another 194 kilometers, fortunately on smoother roads.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This painting will be included in my soon to be self published "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, pre-order your copy or discover how to become involved in bringing this art of this Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour  There are some great incentive rewards for those who choose to become a backer of the "Book de Tour" through the Kickstarter site.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2399436---199992/Painting.html#.U73f5svD_IU

Tour Stage 5: It's About Gaining Seconds

With riders sliding all over the course, Andrew Talansky (Garmin Sharp) included, the end of the stage became all about trying to gain time on one's rivals.  Talansky may have lost time against the Astana trio, he gained seconds on most of the other GC men.  You can just see Geraint Thomas and Richie Porte (Team Sky) rounding the corner ahead of the Garmin leader.  I am very impressed with Team Sky's response to Froome's abandonment of the Tour, whether it had been a contingency set in place before the start of the race, or a mid race gut reaction, the team immediately rallied around Porte as their new team leader and "protected man".  At the end of the day only Nibali's teammate was able to maintain the two second deficit to the Yellow jersey with Talansky, Kwiatkowski, Bardet and van Garderen suffering the least amount of time damage in the stage.  It was Alberto Contador who lost the most on the surprising Italian National Champion, Nibali.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  This painting will be included in my soon to be self published "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, pre-order your copy or discover how to become involved in bringing this art of this Tour de France to print, please visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour  There are some great incentive rewards for those who choose to become a backer of the "Book de Tour" through the Kickstarter site.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2399426---199992/Painting.html#.U73c9MvD_IU

Paris Roubaix: Into the Forest

With the 28 cobbles to be conquered probably the most famous (and most difficult) is the stretch that goes straight through the famed Forest of Arenberg.  Like most of the cobbled sections of Paris Roubaix the stretch of road is only open to traffic once a year, and that one time is for this, the Hell of the North.  This is the eight riders of the early break mainly representing the Wild Card Teams of Bretagne-Seche Environnment, Net App-Endura, Topsport, and United Healthcare, although Lotto-Belisol and Tinkoff Saxo did make the break as well.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2345155---195767/Painting.html#.U0rTvc_D_IU