Men's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Photo Finish

Once we all looked at the photo finish, it was clear that Soren Werenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) has won the mass sprint, but in real time, no one was sure who had won.  It was interesting to watch Warenskjold listening to his race radio trying to discover whether he had gotten the better of Paul Magnier (Soudal-Quick Step) or not.  Hidden by Magnier is the powerful sprinter, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) whom many would have tapped to win a mass sprint today.  The extra icing on the cake for Warenskjold is that he was a very late call up to race Omloop Nieuwsblad for his team.  Way to step up to the plate (or bike cleat in this case)!

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.

"Photo Finish OHN25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Almost Up to the Kapel

With just sixteen kilometers to go, everyone was trying to make their move on the Kapelmuur.  While two or three had just crested the summit in front of the famed church, it was Sam Watson (Ineos-Grenadiers), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and the American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) who were the next to drop the majority of the peloton.  With so many still in touch, it was looking like it might be a mass sprint to finish this Omloop Nieuwsblad, a rarity for this race.  Surprisingly, I searched for the name of this church and could not find it.

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 Up to the Kapel OHM25-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: The Long Thin Line

You can read a lot about what is happening in the race just by the shape of the peloton.  In this case, the long thin line, complete with small gaps, shows that this group is giving everything it has to chase down the leaders.  On the previous climb, many of the favorites had escaped, but not all.  So those that didn't were doing everything they could to set matters to rights.  They were lucky that the winds had kept down on the flats of Flanders as they raced through the fields left fallow in the late winter months. 

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 Long Thin Line OHN25-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)  Prints are available, too.

Men's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Escaping the Peloton

Despite a breakaway still being two and a half minutes up the road, it was Visma-Lease a Bike that was animating the race all day.  This time it was their man, Matthew Brennan, who jumped away from the peloton on the cobbled climb of the Eikenberg.  He brought Vito Braet (Intermache-Wanty) - who looks back to see what the gap is - and Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).  With another fifty-four kilometers to race, I am sure that van Dijke and Brennan were making the race hard in hopes of aiding their team 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Escaping the Peloton OHN25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Men's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Problems

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) really wasn't having the best days.  Having already had a flat tire and a bike change, he was still struggling to get his bike right with 65 kilometers to go.  Behind him, the race juror is stopped with his fist in the air to warn those behind that a rider is stopped on the side of the road.  As De Lie got his chain back on the chainring, his team car pulled up on the right side of the road.  He was back onto his original bike and chasing, again.  But as the race got to the business end of the day, his efforts had sapped his legs.  He found himself unable to go with the pace on the final climbs of the day.  A sad turn of events for the Belgium Champion on the opening day of racing in Belgium.

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.

"Problems OHN25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Attacking the Kapelmuur

As the peloton hit the fabled Kapelmuur, it was Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) in her new team's kit that attacked.  The only one able to go with the former Dutch Champion was her countrywoman, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck).  With just eleven kilometers and one more climb to race, it is unlikely that this effort will make up the five minutes the two leaders have.

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.

"Attacking the Kapelmuur OHN25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Omloop Nieuwsblad '25: Done with No Man's Land

Try as she might, Julie Stockman (DD Group Pro Cycling) wasn't able to bridge up to the four leaders on the road.  At long last, she surrendered the effort and looked back to see the peloton about to sweep her up on the cement slab roads of Flanders.  I suppose I should say that she had been stuck in No Woman's Land, but the phrase does come from the trench warfare of WW1 that was fought on these very fields over a hundred years ago.

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.

"Done with No Man's Land OHN25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: An Emphatic Win!

Jan Tratnik (Visma-Lease a Bike) had out foxed the seasoned Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) in the final kilometers of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.  Not only had he made the German do most of the work in the final five kilometers, he made sure he was on the front as the went under the flame rouge.  Politt is not the best of sprinters (his strengths lie elsewhere), so he had little hope of being able to drop the smaller Tratnik once he started his sprint.  As the Visma man went away, Politt dropped his head in defeat then looked back to make sure the chasers weren’t going to steal his podium spot.  Meanwhile, Tratnik celebrated his well ridden victory (and that of his team) as the crush of the cycling press photographed away.  Moments later, Tratnik’s teammate Wout Van Aert out sprinted the rest of the field to claim third in this year’s Omloop.

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-/4001385-553-195767/Painting/an-emphatic-win-ohn24-10.html

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: Won’t You Work?

The former German National Champion Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) was getting a bit frustrated with Jan Tratnik (Visma-Lease a Bike).  Politt had made the move that got away from the rest of the leading group and then was joined by Tratnik, a move that Visma had been pulling repeatedly over the last fifty kilometers.  However once the man in yellow had joined Politt, he left the German to do all of the work.  Politt wanted to stay away from the chasers that contained some strong sprinters.  His only hope was to ride alone into the final meters of the race.  There seemed to be no way that Tratnik was going to let that happen.  The two had eighteen seconds on those behind with under six kilometers left to 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.

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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: Who Do We Have Now?

With a teammate up the road, both Wout Van Aert and Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike) soft pedaled to discourage others from chasing Matteo Jorgenson.  The problem was, that allowed those chasing behind to join in to the mid race break away.  Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) seems to be scolding Laporte for letting Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar), Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech) and Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) back into the race.  Just behind this group, another was just seconds behind.  After looking like the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was going to come down to a six man race, everything suddenly changed with just eleven kilometers left to race.  It was looking like it may come down to a field sprint after 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 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.

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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: No One Chased

Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) was the third of his teammates to attack the other three in the break away.  Whether it was that the other two attacks had tired the others in the break or whether it was that they didn’t quite recognize the American as a big threat to go solo for nineteen kilometers, no one chased Jorgenson.  He quickly build up thirteen seconds on his erstwhile companions and another thirty-five seconds to the closing peloton. Whatever the reason it was great to see him off the front in his new team’s colors.  Unfortunately for him the remaining kilometers contained two of the hardest climbs of the entire 202 kilometers of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

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-/4001332-550-195767/Painting/no-one-chased.-ohn24-7.html

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Men’s Race: Still Working Together

The late break of the day was a dream come true for Visma-Lease a Bike.  They had managed to get three of there guys into the break.  While Christophe Laporte was one the front driving the pace of the group of escapees, Matteo Jorgenson and Wout Van Aert were able to conserve their energy at the back.  It was a nightmare for the other three in the group.  Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers), Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) and Arnuad De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) were going to be forced to chase each of the moves one of the Visma guys made or conversely, should any one of them try an attack one of the Visma guys can chase while the others continue to save themselves for the finale.  All the while, these six were continuing to build a gap on the peloton that was now over a minute behind.

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-/4001329-549-195767/Painting/still-working-together.-ohn23-6.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

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Women’s Race: Still Own Her Own

Ten kilometers later, Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) was still not caught by the chasers, the only difference was now there was no longer anyone ahead of her to catch.  She had built a twenty second lead on the group of chasers, but they were slowly reeling her back in cutting her lead almost in half with another nineteen kilometers left to race.  Unfortunately for the reigning Italian Champion, there were two short steep climbs between her and a possible solo victory.

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/4001043-68-207546/Painting/still-on-her-own.-ohn24-2.html

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Women’s Race: Here Comes the Chase

While there were still five women up the road, the race was shaping up after Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) jumped clear of the peloton.  The next group of chasers, lead by Demi Vollering (SD Worx) and Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), used the climb of the Berendries to try and reel the Italian Champion back into their midst.  With another 29 kilometers to race, it was looking like the 57 second advantage of the leaders would soon be swept away.

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/4001034-67-207546/Painting/here-comes-the-chase.-ohn24-1.html

Women's Omloop: Building a Gap

Using the climb of the Elverenberg-Vossenhol, this quartet got off the front of the peloton.  As she had on the previous climb, Ellen Van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo) lead the other up the climb including Liane Lippert (DSM), Anna Henderson (Jumbo-Visma) and the Swiss Champion, Marlen Reusser (SD Worx).  With 30 kilometers left to race they had built up a 27 lead over the chasers, and their advantage over the peloton was continuing to climb.

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/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3868985-24-207546/Painting/building-a-gap-ohm22-8.html

Women's Omloop: A Drink on the Leberg

As the women took to the course, and after the men at that.  It looked as though the lion share of the peloton was going to stay together the whole way through.  As the group headed up the Leberg, their teams had stationed soignuers along the side of road ready with a wheel, a bottle, or just to cheer their teammates on.  It was the other European Champion on the road today, Ellen Van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo) reaching out to her guy for a bottle just before the racing turned truly serious with another 36 kilometers to 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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3868966-23-207546/Painting/a-drink-on-the-leberg-ohn22-7.html

Men's Omloop: Riding Away

I am beginning to wonder if there is anything Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) can't do on a bike.  Van Aert used his teammate, Tiesj Benoot, to soften up the ten man break.  Once Benoot had been pulled back, it was Van Aert's turn to go off the front - on his own.  Even with nine guys chasing him, the Belgium Champion, kept extending his lead finishing the day almost a minute ahead of the sprint of Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) and Greg Van Avermaet (Ag2r-Citroen) who finished in that order.  It had to be that much more special to win the first race of the season in Belgium in the Belgium National Jersey. 

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-/3868965-458-195767/Painting/riding-away-ohn22-6.html