2026 UCI Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Women's Road Race: Cheering the Podium?

Purchase this painting here: "Cheering the Podium UCI26-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

The thousands of cycling fans along every kilometer of the course in Montreal were being treated to a spectacular race today.  As they cheered this trio of Demi Vollering (Netherlands), Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy), and Kasia Kiewiadoma (Poland) it seemed clear that they were cheering for the top three steps of the podium.  In another twelve kilometers we will all know who will stand on which step at the finale.

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 → 

2026 UCI Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Women's Road Race: Blowing Up the Peloton!

Purchase this painting here: "Blowing Up the Peloton UCI26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

With 39 K to race the Dutch finally made the move they had been riding for all day.  As they elite of the peloton hit the climb up Mont Royal for the third time, Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) went to the front and drove the pace for her teammate Demi Vollering.  The two were able to drop everyone except Dominika Wlodarczyk (Poland) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy).  Just after I painted this, Vollering went off on her own hoping to go solo to win the Rainbow Jersey.  Several other women thought differently.

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 → 

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: Tagged onto the Back

As the peloton was about to start another lap around Zurich the cold and wet was seeping into the bones of many hoping to factor in the race for the Rainbow Jersey.  The Italian Gaia Realini (Italy) found herself just getting tagged off of the wheel of the recently crowned Olympic Road Race Champion, Kristen Faulkner (USA).  They were losing the wheels along with a rider I couldn't identify due to so much rain gear and warm jackets, arm-warmers and soggy socks.  I did manage to figure out that the local rider, Elena Hartmann (Switzerland) was another that was finding the multiple trips up the steep climbs and wet scary descents becoming a bit too much.

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.

"Tagged onto the Back Z24-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Track Cycling Omnium Tempo Race: Chasing the Italian

In the second event in the Men's Omnium is the Tempo Race.  The riders amass points by either winning lap sprints (1 point) or by lapping the peloton (20 points).  Whomever amasses the most points by the end of the 40 laps of the velodrome wins the race, however the points they win do not carry over into the Omnium points total.  With just a lap or two to go, Elia Viviani (Italy) decided he should earn at least one point, meaning he should hold eighth by the end of the second event.  Chasing the Italian is another road cyclist, Ethan Hayter (Great Britain).  He finished one place behind Viviani.

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.

"Chasing the Italian PO24-81" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Individual All Around

Alice D'Amato (Italy) personifies the idea of artistic gymnastics.  It was most evident in her floor exercise were her grace and movement really had a chance to shine.  As I now look at this painting, I should have added some shadows on the mat just to help you see where she is in space.  I imagine that is a problem for many of these athletes as they flip themselves high above the gym floor.  She had that horrible fate of just missing the podium and doing so by a mere 0.132 points.  Still, it was a brilliant performance worthy of both art and our praise.

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. 

"Artistic Gymnastics PO24-50" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Team Fencing - Foil: A Golden Touch

I do enjoy how NBC opens their primetime coverage of the Olympics with a perfect moment of Team USA winning a gold medal.  Tonight it was L. Scruggs (USA) scoring the winning touche against A. Errigo (Italy) to give her team the Gold Medal.  Naturally, it is Italy winning the Silver.  I love this sport having had the chance to learn it in Junior College so very many years ago.  Side note, Scruggs is currently a student at Harvard.  I will never measure up to either her academic prowess or her physical prowess.

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. 

"A Golden Touch PO24-46" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Team All Around: Balance

The Italian Team was in the same rotation as the Americans and were being very supportive of their main rivals for an Olympic Medal. They would hug and congratulate each other as the other left the stage after their competition. Alice D'Amato (Italy) was on great form as she helped carrier her team to a Silver Medal in the Women's Gymnastics Team All Around competition on the Balance Beam. They just edged out Brazil for the honor, with the latter coming home with the Bronze.

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.

"Balance PO24-34" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's 4x100 Freestyle Relay: Final Leg

Not only fast swimming, but perfectly timed transitions took Team USA to Gold.  The last swimmer for USA had a clear advantage diving into the pool as Team Italy jumped, and Team Australia prepared to chase down the Americans.  Unable to catch the final American swimmer, Australia pulled into second to claim the Silver Medal and Italy faded a bit to take home the Bronze.

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. 

"Final Leg PO24-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Wollongong 2022, Elite Men's Road Race: The Rainbow Is Gone

All during the women's road race the cameras kept catching rainbows appearing while the rains pelted the women's peloton.  Today the sun shone all day, but then that is not the rainbow that has left this quartet.  Instead it is the rainbow bands of the world champion that have ridden out of their grasp at the end of the 270 kilometers of racing.  Pascal Eenkhoorn (Netherlands), Mauro Schmid (Switzerland), Mattias Skjelmose (Denmark) and Lorenzo Rota (Italy) had seen both Alexey Lutsenko and Remco Evenepoel ride away from them.  They didn't have the legs to go with either rider.  Lutsenko was still up the road, so the best these four could hope for was to race for the bronze medal.  In the end, their race fell even further apart.  They managed to catch Lutsenko, but then slowed down too much as they each watched the other not wanting to be the one to be on the front of the group in the final kilometers.  They were caught by the chasers, and all hopes of even being on the podium evaporated in an instant.

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 $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3907917-32-295031/Painting/the-rainbow-is-gone-uci22-32.html

Wollongong 2022, Mixed Team Relay: One More Minute

Using what is now becoming obviously the winning stradegy, the Italians Vittoria Guazzini (the new U23 Women's Time Trial Champion) and Elisa Longo Borghini (the current World Road Champion - at least until Saturday) are inside the final kilometer with just about a minute left to get to the finish line in the Mixed Team Relay.  As strong as they were, they didn't quite have enough speed to better the time of their Swiss adversaries.  They came home just under three seconds behind the Swiss team for the Silver Medal.  Their time did knock the Australians into the Bronze medal position with just two other teams to finish behind them.  Coincidentally, they were the Netherlands and Germany, the only two teams to have ever won this event thus far.  The Netherlands had poor luck losing Bauke Mollema to a mechanical problem and then Annemiek Van Vleutin to a rather frightening crash just as she rolled down the start ramp.  Despite their misfortune, they did manage a fifth place today.

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 $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3906802-18-295031/Painting/one-more-minute-uci22-18.html

Wollongong 2022, Women's ITT: Young & Fast

Vittoria Guazzini (Italy) will now be the first woman under the age of 23 to claim a Rainbow Jersey as the first U23 Women's Individual Time Trial Champion.  Unlike the men's races, the women competed together at the same time in both the Elite and the U23 classifications.  So when Guazzini came to the line she was in the postion to win the Bronze Medal in the Elite race.  That is until the last woman on the road crossed the line in first place.  While it did knock her off of the podium of the elite women, it still meant that she was the new (and first) champion of the Women's U23 Individual Time Trial.  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 painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3905973-6-295031/Painting/young-fast-uci22-6.html

Beijing 2022: Making Sure

There are two disciplines in the Winter Olympics that strongly resemble all of the aspects of cycling.  Speed skating is one of those.  Many of its events are identical to track cycling.  Riding a velodrome is still one of the things on my cycling bucket list. Meanwhile, back at duscussing this painting... Irene Schouten (Netherlands) keeps a close eye on her main competitors; Gina Lollabridgida (Italy), Valerie Maltias (Canada) and the Japanese skater who's name I wasn't able to catch.  She crashed out of this semi-final heat and her name wasn't posted on the finish listing.

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 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/Winter-Olympics-2022/3868136-54-293321/Painting/making-sure-beijing-2022.html

Beijing 2022: Getting There First

The trio of Choi Min-Jeong (Korea), Arianna Fontana (Italy), and Suzanne Schulting (Netherlands) skated away from the rst of the field in the Women's Short Track 1500 M.  The trio came out of the final term to race for a share of the three medals on offer.  Each skater has already won a medal in these games, the only question was what color of medal would each receive.  None were able to overtake the other in the final meters to the line making it Gold for Choi, Silver for Fontana, and Bronze for Shulting.  Don't feel too bad for the ladder, each already have a Gold medal from these Games.

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 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/Winter-Olympics-2022/3866939-39-293321/Painting/getting-there-first-beijing-2022.html

Beijing 2022: No Bad Luck

This title is both an incantation and a statement of fact.  Sophia Goggia (Italy) had a bad crash while racing a month prior to these Olympics.  She fought hard to get back to race level and was thrilled to just be able to complete her run in the Women's Super G.  However, today she did more than complete the run, she put herself in the lead as she finished her race.  She walked away from the podium with a Silver medal.  In cycling riders will turn their 13 bib number upside down to spill out the bad luck.  That option isn't available wyth the Olympic race bibs.

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 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/Winter-Olympics-2022/3866903-38-293321/Painting/no-bad-luck-beijing-2022.html

Beijing 2022: Skiing Well

The Biathlon may be my new favorite Olympic winter event, and this from someone is near anti-gun.  So as soon as I recover from this shoulder surgery I am going to figure out how to start cross country skiing here in Virginia.  This is Dorothea Wierer (Italy) skiing towards the grandstands after her final turn on the shooting range.  She skiied (and shot) well enough to earn a Bronze Medal in the Women's Biathlon Sprint.

 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 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/Winter-Olympics-2022/3866291-24-293321/Painting/skiing-well-beijing-2022.html

Bejing 2022: Going One, Two

 With only a single pass in the entire 500 meter Women's Short Track, Arianna Fontana (Italy) held off a fast closing Suzanne Schulting (Netherlands) to claim Gold and had to her ever growing trophy cabinet.  Schulting isn't exactly lacking in Olympic medals either adding a silver medal to her collection.  Both American skaters had fallen in the quarterfinals, thus unable to compete for medals in the 500.  I sure hope we will get to seem them skate in the longer events later in the Games.

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 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/Winter-Olympics-2022/3865055-3-293321/Painting/going-one-two-bejing-2022.html

Flanders 2021: Just a Few More Pedal Strokes

For Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) and her teammate, Marta Cavalli it was just a few more rotations of the cranks before their Mixed Team Time Trial was over.  With their male counterparts, and the woman this duo left behind (Elena Cecchini) the effort earned the Italians a bronze medal.  They just squeaked in ahead of the Swiss but it was enough to be on the podium in Brugge.

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 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/Flanders-2021/3838545-21-292177/Painting/just-a-few-more-pedal-strokes.-uci21-21.html

Flanders 2021: Celebrating Another One

Flippo Ganna (Italy) had the rare opportunity to celebrate his victory in a time trial as he crossed the line in Bruges.  As the defending World Champion in the time trial discipline he had the luxury of being the last guy to ride down the start lamp, so as he crossed the line, he knew his best time would be THE best time.  The Belgium cycling fans pressing against the barriers would have to content themselves with the knowledge that their men, Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel had taken silver and bronze respectfully.  I believe the last man to win back to back TT titles was the man who will retire after these Worlds, Tony Martin.  Chapeau, Ganna!

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 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/Flanders-2021/3837391-7-292177/Painting/celebrating-another-one-uci21-7.html

Olympics 2020, A Strong Move

While the early break was still up the road, in the peloton others were getting antsy to make their move.  With 50 kilometers to race it was none other Vincenzo Nibali (Italia) jumping out of the peloton on one of the two major climbs on the course.  His attack brought out Remco Evenpoel (Belgium) and Eddie Dunbar (Ireland).  Team Belgium had been setting the pace and covering all of the moves all day long.  Clearly they thought the day would belong to Wout Van Aerts.  After his performance at the end of the Tour de France, their faith in him wasn't misplaced.  They were so all in for Van Aerts, that the now former Olympic champion, Greg Van Avermaet, was the guy on the front setting the early place (sacrificing his chances of keeping the gold medal for another Olympics).

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 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/2020-Summer-Olympics/3826098-2-291661/Painting/a-strong-move-o21-2.html