Tour Femmes '26, Stage 3: Stuck in the Middle

Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) jumped free of the peloton with fifty-eight kilometers to go.  She was after the lone leader who was four minutes ahead when she attacked.  With another forty-five kilometers to race she had closed to within a minute and thirteen seconds behind.  She narrowed that gap to thirteen seconds in the closing kilometers of the stage.  However, she never got to the leader.  In fact, while she finished second on the stage, she was a minute and twenty-four seconds behind the stage victor. 

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.

Purchase this painting here: "Stuck in the Middle TdFF26-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

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Tour Femmes '25, Stage 7: Up Close

The fans lined both sides of the summit of the Cote de Saint Franc, many with their children on their shoulders, to cheer the breakaway across the top of the first climb of the day.  The break was led over the Queen of the Mountains point by yesterday's stand-out Maeva Squiban (UAE Team Emirates).  She was followed over the top by Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek), Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime), Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal), Mareille Meijering (Movistar) and Celia Mouel (Ceratizit).  There were three more just behind the sextet, but I can't see everyone all of the time, unlike these fans who will see everyone come over this mountain eventually.

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.

"Up Close TdFF25-38" (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)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Going Together

With just one woman up the road, it was Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and her teammate Lorena Wiebes going on the attack.  The duo of champions used the four-star pave sector 12 to attack the vastly reduced peloton of favorites to go on the offensive.  Working together, they quickly built up a twenty second advantage.  It was hard to tell who was working for whom between the World Champion and the European Champion.  However, it was easy to tell that it was working either way.

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.

"Going Together PR25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

UCI Road World Championships, Zurich 2024, Elite Women's Road Race: Doubling Up!

Despite everyone gunning for her, Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) still out sprinted the pack of seven women to claim her second World Championships in a row.  While Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) being the one to start the sprint, she was swamped by Kopecky, Liane Lippert (Germany) and Chloe Dygert (USA).  To her credit she fought back just catching the German to claim the third step of the podium.  Dygert was a full bike length behind Kopecky, but roughly another bike ahead of the Italian.  It is worth remembering that Dygert had to chase down the leaders, so it may have been that effort that burned just enough of her legs to blunt her sprint to the line.  It will be nice painting Kopecky in the Rainbow Jersey for another year.

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.

"Doubling Up Z24-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

UCI Road World Championships, Zurich 2024, Elite Women's Road Race: Four Women Two K

Just two more kilometers to race and it seems as though the podium would be decided between these women.  Ever cautious, Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) looks back to check and see just how close those chasing behind might be. Right behind her is Demi Vollering (Netherlands) who is a prolific racer who has yet to win the World Championships.  Behind her is Liane Lippert (Germany) and it is Elisa Longo-Borghini (Italy) riding shotgun.  The Italian is best positioned to launch a surprise attack in hopes of out sprinting the others.

If they get too cute trying to out fox each other, the two or three behind could catch back on and spoil the party.  Two out of the three are known to be great sprinters.

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.

"Four Women Two K Z24-5" (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 ITT: Starting in Paris

Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) gets here first cycling race underway within sight of the Grand Palais. She hopes to medal in three different events in these games, naturally all cycling related.  Despite falling out on course she did post the best time when she finished by an advantage of eleven seconds.  Her first goal of medaling in the Women's Individual Time Trial didn't pan out having ended the day in sixth place for the Road Cycling World Champion.

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. 

"Starting in Paris PO24-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: What She Wanted

Clearly, every woman who started the fourth edition of Paris Roubaix Femmes wanted to win the race, and many had a realistic chance of doing just that, but Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) had built her spring campaign around winning today.  As the five women ramped up their sprint, it looked like the World Champion was going to get boxed in.  As Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) sprinted shoulder to shoulder on the inside, Kopecky had to swing up high to get around the equally fast closing Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) to contest for victory.  But she wasn’t to be denied today, claiming the title of the Queen of Paris Roubaix.  Georgi wasn’t quite able to just get pass Balsamo with the Italian taking second, and the Brit in third.  Vos came up just a bit short on her bike throw finishing the day in fourth.  Behind them, Amber Kraak (FDJ-Suez) finished fifth.  Ellen Van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) who had done so much for her teammate finished about eight seconds later, with the rest of the chasers coming in nearly a half a minute after Kopecky.

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/Spring-Classics-/4008379-566-195767/Painting/what-she-wanted.-pr24-7.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: On the Velodrome

Having followed the wheel of the British Champion Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL), Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) was able to ride onto the Roubaix Velodrome with the leaders.  She did have a slight advantage despite having gone through a rough patch.  She was the only one in the group with a teammate.  Ellen Van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) was again on the front driving the pace in hopes of aiding her Italian teammate.  On the wheel of Van Dijk was Georgi, who was followed in turn by Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime), and Amber Kraak (FDJ-Suez).  It was a fairly evenly matched group that started the final lap of the velodrome, but three are all known for their sprinting abilities.  Possibly Balsamo is the best at the sprint game, but just what she has left remains to be seen.

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/Spring-Classics-/4008378-565-195767/Painting/on-the-velodrome.-pr24-6.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: Is the Selection Made?

With another 51 kilometers to race, this marquee foursome were opening up a ten second gap on the chasers.  Is it possible that these four will be the ones to fight it out in the sprint on the velodrome in Roubaix?  As they ride pass on of the soigneurs for Uno-X, Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) looks over at Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) as they follow Christina Schwienberger  (Fenix-Deceunick).  Watching them all is Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike). Between them there are four current of previous national champions, and a former and the current World Champion.  Certainly, this is a group that has the pedigree to hold of the peloton all of the way to Roubaix.

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/Spring-Classics-/4008373-562-195767/Painting/is-the-selection-made-pr24-3.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: A Bit of a Gap

As they came off of Sector 14, Ellen Van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) pushed the pace getting a bit of a gap on the chasing peloton.  Not only was she helping herself, she was pulling Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) away from those behind.  With another 64 kilometers to race, it was too early to tell if this move was going to become “the move,” but others have gone off on their own by this point in early editions of both the women’s and the men’s races over the years.

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/Spring-Classics-/4008371-560-195767/Painting/one-done.-pr24-1.html

Strade Bianche Donne 24: Making Sure

Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) had spent a good part of the final twenty-five kilometers pushing the pace in order to keep any of the chasers from catching back up.  Conversely, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) had spent that same time surfing the wheels of others thus saving her energy for the final ascend up to the central piazza of Sienna.  When they were about 500 meters from the finish, Kopecky jumped the Italian Champion.  Longo Borghini just didn’t have enough left in her legs to go with the Rainbow Jersey on Kopecky’s gritty shoulders.  As they swung around the final corner, Kopecky glanced back on more time just to make sure that neither the Lidl-Trek rider nor anyone else were going to surprise her at the line.  This will have to do with her victory image since her victory salute at the line was hidden from the TV camera by a spectator’s cellphone.  He got a great shot of Kopecky winning her second Strade Bianche Donne, but we did not.

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/4002671-77-207546/Painting/making-sure-sb24-6.html

Strade Bianche Donne 24: Two Champions

Inside of the last ten kilometers of the 2024 Strade Bianche Donne, the race had come down to two champions and former winners of the race.  The Italian national champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) was battling it out with the world champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime).  Both women had teammates in the small group just fourteen seconds behind, but neither seemed willing to let anyone join them as they pedal their way back into the heart of Sienna.  Their every move was being captured both by the helicopter camera overhead and by one of the cameramen standing astride a speeding motorcycle riding beside them on the Tuscan roads.

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/4002670-76-207546/Painting/two-champions-sb24-5.html

Strade Bianche Donne 24: Checking the Damage

As she comes off of one of the gravel sections of Strade Bianche, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) looks back to see what sort of damage she has done to the peloton on the rather steep climb.  Behind her, the duo that sprinted for the win last year are the teammates Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime).  They were just under a minute behind the leading breakaway with another 42 kilometers of the 137 kilometer race.

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/4002622-72-207546/Painting/checking-the-damage-sb24-1.html

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Women’s Race: A Perfect Sprint

Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime), Elisa Longo Borghini and Shirin Van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek) had all tried in turn to drop the Dutchwoman, Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), but to no avail.  As each woman feared, when it came time to sprint the final 400 meters to the finish, it was Vos who had the legs to out sprint both Kopecky (in second) and Longo Borghini (in third).  With her win Vos was able to show in no uncertain terms that she was still a force to be reckoned with in the women’s peloton.  I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the Flanders Classics play out over the coming month.

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/4001218-71-207546/Painting/a-perfect-sprint.-ohn24-5.html 

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Women’s Race: One of These Four

This foursome of Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) and her teammate, Shirin Van Anrooij, along with Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) had built up a twenty three second lead on the five chasers behind.  They in turn had another minute and a half on the remnants of the peloton.  So with just under ten kilometers to race, it seems that the winner will be one of these four women.  Longo Borghini has the advantage with a teammate in the group, but her long solo attempt may have drained too much energy from her legs.  With that, the advantage then swings to Vos, who has the best sprint of the group (all things being equal).  It will be exciting to see the race strategies play out as they draw ever closer to the flame rouge.  The one thing they can’t do is play cat and mouse and let the chasers back into the race.

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/4001190-70-207546/Painting/one-of-these-four.-ohn24-4.html

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Women’s Race: Attacking on the Kapelmuur

Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime), in her rainbow jersey, uses the steepest section of the fabled cobbled climb of the Kapelmuur to launch her attack on the small group left at the front of the race.  She gets a little daylight between herself and the others at first.  But, it is Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) who is able to get back onto the World Champion’s wheel.  Kopecky used this climb to ride solo to her win in 2023, and she couldn’t have been thrilled to see the former champion holding onto her on the climb.  Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) lost a bit of ground on the climb, but quickly got back to the two leaders once on the smooth roads over the top.

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/4001101-69-207546/Painting/attacking-on-the-kopelmuur.-ohn24-3.html

Tour de France 23, Stage 8: From Yellow to Green

Wasn't it sweet of the race coverage to find this image so I could make this point?  All week while wearing the Maillot Jaune, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) has also owned the Maillot Vert, too.  Today having lost her lead in the Tour de France Femmes to her teammate on the climb of the Col du Tourmalet, she started the day in green instead.  Kopecky started the day in fourth place in the general classification, but went out determined to get herself back onto the final podium of the Tour de France Femmes.  She succeeded.  She actually put herself into second by mere tenths of a second over Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM).  That had to be the closest margin ever in a grand tour for either the women's or the men's pro tour.  Kopecky has had an amazing Tour Femmes!

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-2023/3969049-193-297438/Painting/from-yellow-to-green-tdff23-49.html

Tour de France Femmes 23, Stage 6: Just Enough Road

When a break away is caught by the peloton just in sight of the finish line the expression is "if the road had been just a bit shorter," or " the line a bit closer."  Today Emma Norsgaard (Movistar) had dug deep enough to hold off the charging peloton by a mere second.  She was the last to join the other two in the early break, and she was also the last to be caught, oh, wait a minute, she wasn't caught.  One of  her break away companions did get swamped by the peloton but stayed in close enough to still finish in the top ten on the stage.  Behind the Norwegian, the sprint went to Charlotte Kool (DSM-firmenich) just edging out the Maillot Jaune, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime).  I can't see her but apparently Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) took fourth.  Visible are Soraya Paladin (Canyon-SRAM) taking fifth and Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ).  I believe that makes four of the six stages thus far in the Tour de France Femmes have been won by a solo rider who went in either an early, or in Kopecky's case a very late break.

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-2023/3968626-181-297438/Painting/just-enough-ride-tdff23-37.html