Strade Bianche Donne 2026: Going the Wrong Way

It is a rare occurrence but sometimes a group of riders will go off the racecourse.  That is what happened to a group of about ten women who were chasing the leading group with about 34 kilometers left to race.  While the course is usually well marked, the leading motorcycle went down a dirt road (just like the famous gravel sections that the Strade Bianche is known for) and the leading rider intuitively followed the motorcycle rather than staying on the hard surface road.  Amongst those going off course was Anna Van Der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ), Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek), Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Millie Couzens (Fenix-Premier Tech) the current British Champion.  Others went of course as well.  They were about a minute behind the leading group but by the time they got turned around and back on course they were over three minutes behind the front of the race.  It was already a long shot that they would rejoin the front of the race before their errand turn, but now their chances of a high finished are 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 work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Going the Wrong Way SB26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gullegem, Women's Cyclocross: Laying on the Power

In the final lap of Gullegem Superprestige series, it was Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) laying down a blistering pace in the mud to pull away from the rest of the field.  By this point, she has put four seconds into her nearest competitor on her way to winning the race.  With this win she moves into first place in the series with just one more race left to go.  It was a photo finish between the former leader of the series, Ceylin del Carmen Avardo and the Brit, Zoe Backstedt.  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.

"Laying on the Power CX-G24-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gullegem, Women's Cyclocross: Almost On

After a bit of a struggle on the first lap in Gullegem, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) was getting to catch back onto the leading trio.  At this point on the second lap, she has both Leonie Brentveld (Pawels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines) and Zoe Backstedt (Canyon-SRAM) within her sight.  Also there, but not visible at this angle is the woman leader her in the Superprestige series, Ceylin del Carmen Alvaredo (Fenix-Deceuninck).  With such a slippery and muddy course, her Dutch Champion's jersey is clearly getting rather speckled in muck, just another exciting element of cyclocross.

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 On CX-G24-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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, Final Stage: Having to Chase

With the two up the road flirting with the virtual Maillot Jaune, the current Maillot Jaune on the shoulders of Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM).  She was getting some help from those with her each with their own ambitions for the stage and the Tour.  On the back of the group is Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) with her teammate Gaia Realini beside her.  Trying to slow the chase is Demi Vollering's teammate Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime).  Also in this chase group is Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez).  While it is Niewiadoma's race lead that is being threaten, all of these women have a vested interest in the chase, even if Fisher-Black's interest is to make it not succeed.

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.

"Having to Chase TdFF24-42" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour de France Femmes, Final Stage: In the Alps

The Tour de France Femmes has been in the Alps since yesterday, but this image just captured the vibe of riding and racing in the French alps for me.  This group of seven has just broken clear of the much larger early break as they started up the Col du Glandon.  On the tail of this group is Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ceratizit-WNT) just ahead of her is Liane Lippert (Movistar) along with Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) and Katrine Aalerud (Uno X-Mobility) to mention a few of those that I can make out in this painting.  They have already built up almost a minute and a half on their erstwhile companions with another 62 kilometers to ride.  The next eleven of those kilometers are up to the top of the mountain.

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.

"In the Alps TdFF24-38" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '22: The Sprint Behind

Unable to chase down the Italian Champion, the sextet of Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), Lucinda Brand and her teammate Ellen Van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo), along with Floortje Mackaij (DSM), Marta Cavalli (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), and Elise Chabbey (Canyon/SRAM) found themselves sprinting it out for second place.  That honor went to Kopecky with Brand taking the final step of the podium. Chabbey took fourth, Cavalli in fifth, Mackaij in sixth.  Van Dijk dropped off a few seconds having let of the sprint for Brand and finish in seventh.  Trek-Segafredo clearly would have loved to have had their team leader still in the race, but taking first and third for the team and three in the top seven seems a very good result to me.

I'll be back tomorrow to paint the men's race.  It being Easter, I may not be able to finish it all on Sunday.  It will all be up by Monday then.

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/Spring-Classics-/3879623-492-195767/Painting/the-sprint-behind-pr22-8.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes '22: Now There Are Three

Turns out at least one more woman had the legs to bridge up to Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx).  That was Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo).  As they left Pave Sector 10, the three were continuing to add to there advantage on the peloton.  Will they be able to keep growing their gap?

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/Spring-Classics-/3879566-487-195767/Painting/now-there-are-three-pr22-3.html

LBL Women: The Next to Try

This trio was the next to try and escape the clutches of the peloton of favorites.  Yet again, one of those in the break was a SD Worx rider, Ashleigh Moolman.  She was joined by Cecilie Uttrup Ludwid (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope), who is driving the pace at this point.  Rounding out the threesome is Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo).  This group really has the power and the palmares to be a serious threat to run away with the race.  Staying away for another 34 kilometers might be a bit tough, but others have done as much just last year.  Unfortunatley for these ladies, that rider is chasing them from 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 the direct 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3808285-44-290150/Painting/the-next-to-try-lbl21-9.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Mixed Relay: Finishing What the Men Started

As the Dutch women rolled down the start ramp, they knew that they had been handed a strong lead over the rest of the field by their countrymen.  Should they be lucky and as strong as they knew they could be, the first Gold Medal in the Mixed Relay of the UCI Road World Championships would be theirs.  Lucinda Brand and Riejanne Markus crossed the line together having added to the advantage that they had been given.  Amy Pieters was just a few seconds off the back of the Dutch duo, but her time wasn't the one that mattered.  The three started their celebrations in the scrum of the press cameras before being joined by the men of the team.  This was a great new addition to the Worlds race week, perhaps even more enjoyable than the Team Time Trial it replaced.

I will be painting most every event from Yorkshire, but my schedule will not allow me to paint them all.

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/Yorkshire-2019/3392825-9-266225/PaintingFinishing-What-the-Men-Started--UCI19-9.html

La Course: What's Left?

Laura Stephens (Tibco Silicon Valley) looked into the eyes of Lucinda Brand (Rabo Liv) trying to determine if she had anything left.  The two were joined in the next break by Amy Pieters (Wiggle High 5).  With just eight kilometers left to go, they were in with a real chance.  In less than a kilometer they would hear the welcome sound of  the bell signifying one lap to go.  As the race has gone on the crowds have grown by leaps and bounds.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional%20Womens%20Cycling/2828543-20-207546/PaintingWhat's%20Left?%20LC5-Greig-Leach.html#.V5W4K7grLIU

La Course: Making the First Attack

It was a power foursome that were to get off the front of the third annual La Course.  La Course is a Pro Tour Women's race contested on the finishing circuit of the final stage of the Tour de France.  It was the newly minted British National Champion, Hannah Barnes (Canyon SRAM), who was joined by Lucinda Brand (Rabo Liv), Olga Zabelinskaya (BePink) and Chantal Blaak (Boels Dolmans).  The women used the downhill section of the Champs Elysees to open up a bit of a gap on those behind.  It was rather early in the race, so it was unlikely that they would be able to stay away for the rest of the day.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, just follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional%20Womens%20Cycling/2828532-16-207546/PaintingMaking%20the%20First%20Attack%20LC1-Greig-Leach.html#.V5WrZLgrLIU