Strade Bianche Donne 24, Leading the Chase

Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) had been in the early break, but lost the wheels on the first trip up the the gravel section Le Tolfe the first time.  She was joined by her teammate Amanda Spratt along with Christina Schweinberger (Fenix-Deceuninck), Anouska Koster (Uno-X) and the rest of the strong women of the peloton in trying to chase the remaining three down.  Both of the Lidl-Trek women had their team leader just a bit further back, so they were on the front trying to close down the 27 second gap to the leaders.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/4002662-74-207546/Painting/leading-the-chase-sb24-3.html

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 7: No Escape

Despite attack after attack going in the opening kilometers of the penultimate stage of the Tour de France Femmes, no one was being allowed to escape the peloton.  It felt like every time we saw the front of the group it was another Lidl-Trek woman attempting to launch off the front.  This time it is Lizzie Deignan going for another try with Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma) and the rest of the peloton covering her move.  At this point it had been eleven kilometers of attacks, catches, and counter attacks, over and over, and still no one was off the front.  With two big climbs awaiting the roughly 140 still in the Tour de France Femmes, I thought they would have been happy to let a small group go so they could approach the back half of a hard, hard stage a bit more easily.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2023/3968907-182-297438/Painting/no-escape-tdff23-38.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes: The First Queen of Roubaix

Winning a race is always special, winning the very first Paris Roubaix that women can race is surely an amazing moment in anyone’s life.  Today, it was the moment being savored by Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo).  And she did it by going free on the very first section of pave over eighty kilometers earlier.  And she did it literally all on her own.  Chapeau! And chapeau to the ASO and UCI for finally making this happen.  Now let’s work on equal prize monies, equal distances, and equal base salaries.

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 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3839953-55-290150/Painting/the-first-queen-of-roubaix-pr21-8.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes: She Should Be the First

As Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) took the bell for her final lap around the Roubaix Velodrome, it was looking like she would be the first woman to win the first Paris Roubaix Femmes.  As the rain fell her closest competitor was over a minute behind.  As long as she didn’t slip on the wet concrete of the velodrome her name will go down yet again in the history of cycling.  

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 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3839952-54-290150/Painting/she-should-be-the-first-pr21-7.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes: Making Her Own Luck

Traditionally most riders who get bib number 13 will flip one of the numbers over to ward of the bad luck of the number.  Not Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) wasn’t having any of it, neither the superstition nor the bad luck.  She was so on fire that even has she slid in the mud of the corners on the pave sections, she had no trouble keeping her bike upright.  As she rode onto the next section of pave, the Bourghelles a Wannehain she still had just over two minutes on the those chasing her from behind.  Still another six section of cobble stones and 24 kilometers to go, this race was far from over.

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 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3839949-51-290150/Painting/making-her-own-luck-pr21-4.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes: The First of the First

It was an extra year in coming, but come it did.  Today was the very first time that the pro women took on the fabled “Hell of the North,” Paris Roubaix.  Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) attacked on the very first section of pave (cobblestones).  By the time she came of the Section 12, the Auchy a Bersee paves, she had built up another two minutes on the large group of chasers behind her.  As the riders come off a section of the cobbles, there are their soigneurs lined along the smoother pavement ready to hand them a bottle, a gel, or in needed a wheel or a bike change.  The race gets so strung out, that getting help from the following team cars is near impossible.

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 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3839940-48-290150/Painting/the-first-of-the-first-pr21-1.html

 

LBL Femmes, She Left It All on the Road

 Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) had ridden of the front of a very talented peloton for roughly 25 kilometers, so it is natural that she was completely spent after taking the victory salute at the line in Liege.  With her head down and her soigneur there to congratulate and assist her, it was a joyful and spent woman draped across her handlebars.  Shortly after this, she was congratulated by her teammate who took third.  And then it was time to pull on a face mask and speak to the press as the winner of the fourth Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors 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/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714944-22-280747/Painting/she-left-it-all-on-the-road-lbl20-5.html

LBL Femmes, Schooling the Peloton

 Sometimes there is an image that I just can't resist painting.  This was just such a moment, and it fit the story of what was happening in the final kilometers of today's race.  Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) was schooling all of those behind on how to race the final kilometers of the Liege Bastogn Liege Femmes.  As she hit the foot of the final climb, the Cote de la Roche aux Faucons, she had a minute on those that seemed unwilling to commit to chasing and just fifteen kilometers to race.  I'm often ask how I choose what to paint from each race, here is an example of part of that selection process.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors 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/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714911-20-280747/Painting/schooling-the-peloton-lbl20-3.html

LBL Femmes, Some Help at the Top

 As Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) neared the top of the Cote de la Redoute (the penultimate climb of the race), she was begining to open up a gap on the group of nine she had been with.  At the top she was passed a bottle by one of the team soigneurs.  With just 30 kilometers to the finish, this seemed a bit to dangerous of a rider to let get a few seconds on those behind.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above.  Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors 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/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714877-18-280747/Painting/some-help-at-the-top.html

La Course, The Throw to the Line

It came down to a well timed bike throw for Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) to claim victory in La Course on the Promenade des Anglais.  (Appropriate, given she is an English licensed racer.)  Her throw gave her the victory over the fast closing Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv).  Seems about right since both women are former UCI Road World Champions.  Watching from the sprint from the third step of the podium was Demi Vollering (Parkhotel Valkenburg).  Unlike the men, this is only a single day race (although it has been a two stage race in the past).  I am excited that the 2022 edition will be a week long race that starts the day after the men's Tour de France.

So naturally, this concludes that Women's race, but I will be painting every stage of the Tour live going forward.  Well, up until I go into surgery on Stage 17.  I will be donating a kidney as my wife gets a kidney transplant.  After I am recovered enough to finish painting the Tour, I will go back to sharing the artwork.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3687247-11-282744/Painting/the-throw-to-the-line-lc20-6.html

La Course, Not Tactics Needed

Now this should be the break that stays away.  First there are two former World Champions and on who is both current and former, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Mitchelton-Scott), and second they have over a minute on the chasers with just downhill a flat roads to race.  Van Vleutin has spent the last 15 kilometers trying to ride the rest of the six woman break off of her will.  She has not yet succeeded in that effort.  Stuck on the Champion's wheel were Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo Women) and her teammate, Lizzie Deignan.  Close behind the Trek duo was Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon SRAM).  While the crowd sizes are down from normal Tour de France (and La Course) standards, there are still thousands lining the course, and most are doing their best to social distance and wear their masks (as required by French state mandate).

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2020/3687229-9-282744/Painting/no-tactics-needed-lc20-4.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Women's Road Race: Thirsty Work

Soraya Paladin (Italy) dropped back from the front chase group to get a bottle and talk race tactics with her coach.  The Italians were in a good position with two riders in this group.  In even better shape is defending World Champion, Anna Van Der Breggan (Netherlands) whose teammate was the one off the front solo.  The American, Chloe Dygert, was the one leading the chase.  It doesn't look like this group is making much of an impression on the former Time Trial Champion, although it is Dygert who is the brand new Champion against the clock.

Watch this painting come to life in this time lapse video on my YouTube channel, and here:

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3398404-38-266225/Thirsty%20Work%20%20UCI19-38.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Women's Road Race: Making It Hard

As the peloton started up the second early climb, up the Lofthaus, it was some of the big names of women's cycling pushing the pace.  Annemiek Van Vleuten (Netherlands) seemed to be riding team strategy by going as hard as she could in hopes of softening the race for her teammates.  At this point it was Lizzie Deignan (Great Britain) was holding her wheel, riding shoulder to shoulder with the Italian, Elisa Longo Borghini.

See this painting come to life as I talk about the race, painting this image and who knows what else that popped into my head on my YouTube channel (and right here);

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3398397-37-266225/Making%20It%20Hard%20%20UCI19-37.html