Strade Bianche Donne 2026: Pushing Her Advantage

With some of her main competitors over three minutes back, the Italian Champion Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) presses her advantage pulling a rather elite quartet along with her with just under twenty kilometers still to race.  Joining her in the effort to add to their seven second advantage was Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatley), Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), Elise Chabbey (FDJ United-SUEZ).  Keeping a close eye on them all is the ever-wise Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike).  It was beginning to look like these would be the women that would vie for victory in roughly another half hour.

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.

"Pushing Her Advantage SB26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 3: Third Is Enough

It may not have been absolutely necessary, but finishing third in Stirling gave Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatley) three extra bonus seconds ensuring her final victory of the 25th Women's Tour Down Under.  Her nearest competitor, Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco) was trying to sprint for the win on the stage, but came second.  While that position gave her six bonus seconds and she managed to finish one second ahead of this sprinting trio, it still allowed Ruegg to win the race by thirteen seconds.  Ruegg proved she could climb yesterday with the win on Willunga Hill, but she put up a fierce sprint to best Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) and Sarah Van Dam (Ceratizit) to get third on the day.  

It was a great three days of racing!  I'll be back in a couple of days to paint the six days of the men's Tour Down Under.

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.

"Third Is Enough TDU25-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Alone at the Top

While on the climb it seemed to me that Noemi Reugg (EF Education-Oatley) was about to be dropped any moment.  She was pushing a big gear and looked to be using her shoulders to push her pedals over.  But once an attack was made by Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco) the Swiss Champion went on the offensive.  She dropped the Dutch woman and went on to win atop Willunga Hill by ten seconds.  Winning the stage moves out of her national champion's jersey and into the Ochre Jersey of race leader.  She also now sits third in the Queen of the Mountains competition, and she leads the Sprint Points competition as well.  Not a bad day out on the bike, at all.

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.

"Alone at the Top TDU25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: The Leading Four

As the peloton sped through Willunga at the base of the final climb, it was Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) who attacked first in hopes of climbing to the summit of Willunga Hill alone.  However, she was soon caught by Neve Bradbury (Canyon/SRAM-Zondacrypto), the Swiss Champion Noemi Reugg (EF Education-Oatley) and Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco).  The foursome shadow boxed up the two and a half kilometer climb, letting those behind catch back up.  Regardless of the delay, two of these women took the top to steps of the podium at the summit, all of them were in the top nine of 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The Leading Four TDU25-10" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Starting a Move

As the women returned to Paris, it looks like Mavi Garcia (Espana) is starting a move out of the peloton with 67 kilometers to go.  The Spaniard was joined in the effort by Marianne Vos (Netherlands), Noemi Ruegg (Suisse) and Ashleigh Mooman (South Africa).  They opened a bit of a gap, but no one was going to let this strong of a group get away.  With this move, attacking became the pattern for the rest of the race.  Most every time someone went, they were chased down by the rest of the peloton.  What would it take to break things open?

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 a Move PO24-61" (Original art by Greig Leach)