Tour Femmes '25, Stage 3: Tightly Packed

The peloton had started the process of pulling back the breakaway when there was still another seventy-five kilometers to ride to Angers.  The gap had been out to four minutes but by now it was just over three minutes to the four-woman group off the front.  Inside the peloton Kimberley Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) was riding with her teammates shepherded by the Belgium Champion Justine Ghekiere.  Next to the Maillot Jaune Herietta Christie (EF Education-Oatley) passes a bottle over to her teammate (an USA National Champion) Kristen Faulkner.  Faulkner came to the world's notice when she won the Gold Medal in the Olympic Road Race on the same course that the men finished the Tour de France yesterday.

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. 

"Tightly Packed TdFF25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

UCI Road World Championships, Zurich 2024, Elite Women's Road Race: Tagged onto the Back

As the peloton was about to start another lap around Zurich the cold and wet was seeping into the bones of many hoping to factor in the race for the Rainbow Jersey.  The Italian Gaia Realini (Italy) found herself just getting tagged off of the wheel of the recently crowned Olympic Road Race Champion, Kristen Faulkner (USA).  They were losing the wheels along with a rider I couldn't identify due to so much rain gear and warm jackets, arm-warmers and soggy socks.  I did manage to figure out that the local rider, Elena Hartmann (Switzerland) was another that was finding the multiple trips up the steep climbs and wet scary descents becoming a bit too much.

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.

"Tagged onto the Back Z24-2" (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 3: Riding Around Town

This title is a bit of an understatement.  While it is true that today's second stage was an individual time trial around the downtown streets of Rotterdam, it wasn't remotely a calm noodling around a city center.  The newly crowned Olympic Road Race Gold Medalist, Kristen Faulkner (EF-Oatley-Cannondale) was flying around the course just barely missing the hot seat by less than three quarters of a second.  Her finish time was enough for her to hold onto fifth place on the second stage of the day.  I should note that she also won a gold medal in the Olympic Track Cycling Team Pursuit.  She is here with two others from that gold medal winning team, but neither are on her trade team 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.

"Riding Around Town TdFF24-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Track Cycling Team Pursuit: Looking Smooth

The women of Team USA were looking really smooth, and really fast in the Team Pursuit Gold Medal Race.  The quartet of Chloe Dygert on the front followed by the road cycling Gold Medalist, Kristen Faulkner and in turn by Lily Williams - just swinging off with her job done is Jennifer Valente - were up against the powerful New Zealand team.  Both Dygert and Faulkner have already competed in the road cycling, in fact Dygert has already done the time trial as well.  They were so smooth and fast that they claimed the win for the Gold Medal in Team Pursuit.  That does mean that Faulkner now has two Olympic Gold Medals, and Dygert has the medal that crashes prevented her from winning last week.  Their Gold is part of why the USA now has the most total Olympic Medals and the most Gold Medals in these games.  It makes you wonder what the next games in the United States will look like in the medal count.

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.

"Looking Smooth PO24-74" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Golden Upset

I think Kristen Faulkner (USA) might have been so surprised that her gamble for victory was so successful that she may not have believed that she had actually won the Gold Medal by fifty-eight seconds that she didn't even give a victory salute.  Once she had caught the two leaders, Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Blanka Vas (Hungary) towing Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) along she knew that she had to try to go on her own.  She got the surprise jump on some of the best women in cycling.  Instead of immediately jumping on the American's wheel, they each looked at the other wondering who was going to make the effort.  While they dithered, the gold medal rode up the avenue.  Faulkner returned the Gold Medal to the United States last won in the first Olympic Women's Road Race in 1984.  Chapeau!

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.

"Golden Upset PO24-67" (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: 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)

Strade Bianche Donne 23: Catching Their Prey

Within the final 600 meters of the race the SD Worx duo of Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering  were able to catch Kristen Faulkner (Jayco-Alula).  The two caught the lone American of the 15% gradient up to the old city of Sienna (or Siena if you want to use the English name).  I assume Faulkner was moving to the right to allow the duo to pass, but she ended up putting Vollering up against the barriers.  Vollering had to pause and then get back up to speed on probably the steepest climb of the day.  It had to be heart breaking of Faulkner to see the multi-colored jerseys join her so close to the finish.  She can take some comfort in know that she still would stand on the podium no matter what happens in the remaining meters.  The greatly reduced peloton was another two minutes behind this trio.  Now, will Vollering ride to give Kopecky her second victory of Strade Bianche Donne in a row?  Or would they simply see who had the better legs of the team on 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 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/3938118-59-207546/Painting/catching-their-prey.-sb23-6.html

Strade Bianche Donne 23: Caught Her, Dropped Her

 The American on the Australian team, Kristen Faulkner (Jayco-Alula) was the next to jump clear of the peloton.  She bridged up to Swindels and quickly dropped the Dutch rider on the Dutch team.  Faulkner went off on her own building up an almost two minute lead with under thirty kilometers to race.  She had already proven this season that she was capable of the long solo effort.  Could she pull off the upset 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 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/3938057-55-207546/Painting/caught-her-dropped-her-sb23-2.html

Wollongong 2022, Women's ITT: Chasing Down Under

I couldn't resist the opportunity to make this pun.  Not only is Kristen Faulkner (USA) racing in Australia, but she is chasing the time of the current leader, Grace Brown of Australia.  If you don't know, the country is known as "down under."  At this point, Faulkner was riding in second place on the road.  And did finish the day in sixth place.  Not a bad showing for a former venture capitalist!  

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, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3905964-3-295031/Painting/chasing-down-under-uci22-3.html