2026 UCI World Champions; Montreal Elite Women's Road Race: Paying Honor

Purchase this painting here: "Paying Honor UCI26-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

With several laps to go, the defending champion Magadeleine Vallieries (Canada) found herself in a group with her teammate Adele Normand, Aqua Marina Espinola (Paraquay) and others now over six minutes behind the leaders.  It was clear to all that her injuries and the time it took to get going again she would not be contending the finale in her home country.  However, in honor of racing on home roads, and to the Rainbow Jersey, she kept riding until this whole group was pulled of the course by the race commissares.  She was in tears as she struggled to dismount from her bike when her day was finished.  It was finished when she went down in the first lap on the climb up Mont Royal, but she wanted to keep going regardless.

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 top of this post to purchase this painting. 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.

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist → 

Tour Femmes '26, Stage 5: Every Climb!

Over the top of the Cote de Pruzily, it was Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) taking the maximum Queen of the Mountain points, again.  That makes six climbs out of six where she claimed the max points on offer.  She started the day in the Maillot a Pois of best climber, but she has spent seventy-six kilometers proving it today.  I am afraid I cursed her with this title, after this climb, she didn't figure in the points over the remaining two climbs of the fifth stage of the fifth Tour de France Femmes.  She was followed over the climb by the reigning UCI Women's Road Race Champion Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly).  With four more stages to race her twenty-three-point advantage won't be enough to hold the Polka Dots on the end of the final day in Nice.

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: "Every Climb! TdFF26-28" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →   

Tour Femmes '26, Stage 5: Unchallenged

Despite one rider being up the road, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) was unchallenged for the remaining sprint points available in Monsols.  Just as Mads Pedersen had done in the men's Tour, she got herself over the opening climbs of the day with the peloton just so she could grab these sprint points.  She had her teammate, Elena Cecchini on her wheel just to make sure no one tried to come around her.  On their wheels were Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'IMAD) and the Women's World Champion Magdeleine Valliers (EF Education-Oatly).  I think this is the first time I have had the opportunity to paint her since she claim the title in Rwanda last fall.  The rainbow stripes look good on her!

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: "Unchallenged TdFF26-26" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

Learn More About the Artist →   

Strade Bianche Donne 2026: Chasing Champions

With a nineteen second gap up to the leaders with only seventeen kilometers to race, it was the current World Champion, Magdeleine Vallieries (EF Educations-Oatley) going to the front to chase down the leaders.  She was followed by the German National Champion, Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) and the Polish Champion, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto).  It was going to take some strong legs and a bit of luck for these women to rejoin the leaders by the time they arrive in the grand piazza in Siena.

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.

"Chasing Champions SB26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)