2026 UCI Worlds; Montreal Women's Elite: Still Off the Front

You can purchase this painting here: "Still Off the Front - UCI26-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

I had hoped to be able to paint this year's UCI Road World Championships in Montreal live on site as I did back in 2015 in Richmond, Virginia, but alas I couldn't make it happen.  Then, other projects pushed me out of being able to create the works live - although I now know that YouTube makes that possible had I not had another art project that was time specific.  Anyway...

The women's race was upset by a large crash that took out many of the favorites, including the Canadian defending World Champion Magdeleine Valliers.  With the peloton trying to get itself sorted without race radios, this duo of Natalie Quinn (USA) and Marte Berg Edseth (Norway) were able to build on their lead.  They had dropped several others on the second climb up Mont Royal.  With six more laps and another 97 kilometers to race it was rather doubtful that they would stay clear to the finish, but they do have almost a minute and a half over the chasing peloton.  There were caught around 23 kilometers later.

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 Worlds, Zurich 2024, Women's Elite Road Race: Attacking in the Rain

For a wide number of reasons, it has taken me quite some time to finish painting the UCI Road World Championships in Zurich.  In fact, I've had to limit myself to just the women's and men's road races.  My wife had shoulder replacement surgery the day before the races started and recovery has been tough.  I had the pleasure of serving has her nursemaid, so painting wasn't really an option.  And then there has been lots of administrative issues on top of that.  Nevertheless, here we are.

The weather was horrible for the elite women's race, but despite the slick roads and biting cold, it was an aggressive and exciting race.  With 71 kilometers to race the aggressions were started by Riejane Markus (Netherlands) use one of the seven trips around Zurich to launch an attack.  First to respond to the Dutch woman was Niamh Fisher-Black (New Zealand). They were marked in turn by Mie Bjorndal Offestad (Norway) and Chloe Dygert (USA).  Behind these four, the leading peloton struggle to get on terms with Markus' move.

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 in the Rain Z24-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Wollongong 2022, Men's ITT: Coming Home, Fast!

Tobias Foss (Norway) proved today that there is a reason that you race the race.  No one had mention Foss as a potential winner of the Elite Men's Individual Time Trial.  He was posting new best times at every check point on the road, including at the finish.  But as his bib number shows, he had eleven other men racing their hearts out behind him, many of whom are renowned specialists against the clock.  Most notably were; the two time winner of the Tour de France, the current winner of the Veulta d'Espania, and the two time Rainbow Jersey in this very discipline.  Yet in the end he was able to but in an amazing final ten kilometers to win the gold medal (and the right to wear the Rainbow Jersey everytime he races a time trial for the next 12 months).  Kung came close, but came up just a mere three seconds short of Foss' time.  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/3906195-12-295031/Painting/coming-home-fast-uci22-12.html

Beijing 2022: Over the Top

The second Winter Olympic sport the bears a resemblance to cycling is cross country skiing.  Going so far as the announcers refering to the main group of skiiers as the 'peleton' and those off the front as the 'breakaway.'  The high winds of the final days of these Games meant that the men's mass start "ski marathon was shorten from 50k to 28k.  The bitter cold and fear of exposure had to have factored into the decision as well.  Simen Hegsted Kreuger (Norway) used a climb with just 10k lrft to ski to try an get away from the Russian duo of Artem Maltsev and Ivan Yakimushkin and Clement Parisse (France).  The American Scott Patterson hid in the peloton most of the day finishing in 8th place (two placings higher than his proclaimed goal).  Kreuger was caught by the Russian duo in the final kilometers with Maltsev winning Gold and his countryman Yakimushkin taking Silver. Kreuger held on to take the final medal of the day bringing Norway's medal count to 38, a record for the Winter 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/Winter-Olympics-2022/3868188-56-293321/Painting/over-the-top-beijing-2022.html

Beijing 2022: Skiing Faster, Shooting Cleaner

The title is the simplified plan to winning a biathlon.  The Norweigian duo of  Marte Olsbu Roeiseland in front and hidden behind her, Tiril Eckhoff were doing just that.  As they left the first shooting range their perfect shooting put them over forty seconds ahead of the rest of the field in the Women's Mass Start Biathlon.  Alas, their lead didn't quite hold up (others can use the same formula), but Eckhoff ended the race wuth the Silver Medal and Roeiseland took home the Bronze.  This Bronze meant she has earned five medals in these Games alone, a new Norweigan record and Winter Olympic Women's record as well.

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-2022/3867743-48-293321/Painting/skiing-faster-shooting-cleaner-beijing-2022.html

Beijing 2022: The First to Get Under

The young American (great, now I have that David Bowie song stuck in my head...) Jordan Stolz (USA) was the first speed skater to finish the 500 meter race in under 34 seconds.  Naturally, he held the lead for a bit, but finished his Olympic debut in 13th place overall.  He does have his best event the 1000 meter yet to go.  He manage to edge out Bjorn Magnussen (Norway) to win his heat.

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-2022/3866444-30-293321/Painting/the-first-to-get-under-beijing-2022.html

 

Yorkshire 2019 - U23 Road Race: One of These Five

As they started the final lap through the outskirts of Harrogate, it looked as though the new Rainbow Jersey was going to come from these five off the front.  The hometown fans had to be thrilled to see their man, Thomas Pidcock (Great Britain) in the right move.  Remember, he had to chase back on after the crash earlier in the race.  Along with the Yorkshire man, were Tobias Foss (Norway) and gesticulating Samuele Battistella (Italy), Szymon Sajnok (Poland) and Stefan Bissegger (Switzerland).  All they had to do is keep pushing and not let those behind catch back on.

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.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3397252-33-266225/One%20of%20These%20Five%20%20UCI19-33.html

Yorkshire 2019 - U23 Road Race: Is This the Move?

With 24 kilometers left to race, it looked like these two had made the move that should take the day.  After a bit of cat and mouse, it was Szymon Sajnok (Poland) and Idar Andersen (Norway) who rode off the front of the lead group.  It may have been that they saw the chase group about to catch and didn't like their changes with an increase in numbers.

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.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3397250-32-266225/Is%20This%20the%20Move?%20%20UCI19-32.html

Yorkshire 2019 - U23 Road Race: Where Did You Go?

"Where did you go?"  That had to be the question Idar Anderson (Norway) asked as he looked behind him.  He had been driving the pace of this small escape group, flicking his elbow for someone to come through to share the work.  When no one pulled through, he swung to the right and peered over his shoulder to find no one behind him.  Behind, Kaden Groves (Australia) wiped his nose and Anreas Lorentz Kron (Denmark) refused to hold onto the Norwegian's wheel.  The fight seemed out of the group despite having a half a minute on the chasing peloton.

Watch this painting come to life in a quick time lapse video on my YouTube channel and here:

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.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3397192-31-266225/Where%20Did%20You%20Go?%20%20UCI19-31.html

Yorkshire 2019 - U23 Road Race: Catching Back On

After a large crash, there was a big split in the peloton.  With several riders ending their hopes and their day early, many others had to get sorted and chase down the peloton.  After a few kilometers the majority were able to catch back on including, Thomas Pidcock (Team GB) the local boy who was carrying the hopes of his team, Jason Costhuizen (South Africa), Martin Bugge Urianstad (Norway) and Colin Heiderscheid (Luxemburg).  It has been rough chase that brought them to the tail of the group just as the climbs were about to start.  How spent was Pidcock and the others?  Only the road will answer that question.

You can watch as I paint this watercolor and talk about the race, watercolors and composing an interesting image on my YouTube channel here;

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.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3397187-30-266225/Catching%20Back%20On%20%20UCI19-30.html

Olympics 2018: Leader of the Pack

The final event of the games is traditionally the women's 30 K mass start in cross country skiing.  Early in the race those who would be a factor at the end were making their presence known.  Stinna Nilsson (Sweden) was leading with about 3/4s of the race left to go.  She went on to finish with the Bronze Medal.  Behind her is Marit Bjoergen (Norway) who later escaped on her own to win the Gold Medal.  Behind her teammate was Ingvild Flugstad Oestburg who finished the day in 4th place.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available by emailing me at greigsart@gmail.com.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  It is $75 plus shipping.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com.  And yes, international shipping is available.

Olympics 2018: Skiing Home

It was Marit Bjoergen (Norway) putting in the best times all along the course of the Women's 10K Freestyle today.  Bjorgen passed Ebba Andersson (Sweden) who had started a full minute ahead of her on her way to the finish line.  The Norwegian held the lead at the line, but a couple of her countrywomen were chewing up the snow behind her.  Ultimately she ended the day in a tie for the Bronze Medal.  Since I paint these images from live feeds, I didn't manage to get a painting of any of the other medalists.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available by emailing me at greigsart@gmail.com.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  It is $75 plus shipping.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com.  And yes, international shipping is available.

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's Road Race: Throwing for His Third

When the Elite Men finally reappeared into the stationary camera lens, it was clear that Julian Alaphilippe (France) and Gianni Moscon (Italy) had been caught by the cream of the men's peloton.  And that we were going to be treated to an intense mass sprint for the line, and for the World Road Championship.  It was looking like Alexander Kristoff (Norway) was going to pay back all of his countrymen and women along the sides of the road in Bergen.  Seemingly he had the better of the two time defending world champion, Peter Sagan (Slovakia).  But it was Sagan's perfectly timed bike throw (a move similar to a runner throwing their chest out to break the tape at the line) that won him an unprecidented third Men's Road World Championship.  It was Michael Matthews (Australia) pounding his handle bars in frustration taking the bronze medal and Matteo Trentin (Italy) finishing just off the podium in fourth.  For Kristoff, while disappointing not to win his home country Worlds, he can consol himself knowing he provided Norway with their only medal in the 2017 UCI Road World Championships.

He will have a tough time equally Jeannie Longo (France) who has taken the title four times in a row from 1995-89 (there was no race in 1988 due to disputes between Russian and the United States over boycotting the Olympics).  She came back in 1995 to get her fifth title.

But for now he can claim the honor of the most consistent Men's UCI Road World Champion!  Chapeau, Peto!

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

This is most likely the last race I will paint for the 2017 season.  Thank you for reading!  See you when it all starts again in January of 2018

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3038157-56-239826/PaintingThrowing-for-His-Third--Bergen-56.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's Road Race: Is this the Move?

A number of riders bridged up to the attack by Marco Haller (Austria) and worked hard to make it stick.  For Lars Boom (Netherlands), Jack Haig (Australia), David de la Cruz (Spain), Odd Christian Eiking (Norway) and Time Wellens (Belgium), they were hoping that this was going to be the winning move.  The group quickly opened a gap on the peloton.  With representatives from the most aggressive teams of the race thus far, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway and Australia, the peloton was being a bit slow to react.  On the other hand, the French, Poles, and Italians had missed the move and would soon be obliged to chase.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3038065-52-239826/PaintingIs-this-the-Move?--Bergen-52.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: Cheering Their Man

It looked like the entire country of Norway had spilled onto the slopes of Mount Floyen to give their full throttle support to the elite men of the pro peloton.  To be fair, they were very enthusiatic to every single person struggling up the hill, but they really let lose when Andreas Vangstad (Norway) one of their own rode past.  Vangstad was not one of those to figure in the medals (although he did post some great times on the flatter sections of the course), but that did nothing to dampen the patriotic ferver on the roadside.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3036163-24-239826/PaintingCheering-Their-Man-Bergen-24.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Women's ITT: Climbing Well

Vita Heine (Norway) was being carried by the support of her home country fans as she reached the top of the now dreaded Birkelundbakken climb.  Heine was hoping to put on a medal winning performance for her countrymen who haven't had much to celebrate thus far in Bergen - patrioticly at least.  Riding behind her in the team car was her coach giving her encouragement, time splits and perhaps a kick in the cycling shorts as well.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3034984-18-239826/PaintingClimbing-Well--Bergen-18.html

Doha 2016, Men's U23 Road Race: By a Wheel

The Norwegian team had done quite a bit of work to get their man to the front.  It looked like it might have been in vain when both Pascal Ackermann (Germany) and Jakub Mareczko (Italy) had the jump on the Norwegian sprinter.  Ackermann had a teammate along with him, Phil Bauhaus.  But it was the legs and determination to reward the work of his teammates that fired Kristoffer Halvorsen to the line.  His sprint brought him from behind, just catching Ackermann, nudging pass him by less than the diameter of a front wheel.  So it was Halvorsen for the Gold (and the Rainbow Jersey), Ackermann for the Silver and Mareczko for the Bronze.  Bauhaus rolled across the line in fourth with the Spaniard Ivan Garcia Cortina claiming 8th.  There are plenty of other sources if you want to know each riders placing.  I am just relating the riders that are in this painting.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Doha%202016%20UCI%20Road%20World%20Championships/2865112-48-227958/PaintingBy%20a%20Wheel%20Doha48-Greig-Leach.html#.WAAN3eArLIU

Doha 2016, Men's U23 Road Race: Leading the Chase

With the early nine man break beginning to dwindle in numbers, the entire Norwegian team went to the front to pull them back to within a minute's advantage.  Ole Forfang, Amund Grondahl Jansen, Fridfjof Roeinaas and Anders Skaarseth were on the front pulling for their sprinter Kristoffer Halvorsen.  The sixth member of the team, Henrik Evensen had already given all he could give.  He swung of the front and slide back through the peloton completely exhausted.  Riding right behind the Norwegian were the Dutch, ready to launch there effort should the white clad Norse falter.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Doha%202016%20UCI%20Road%20World%20Championships/2865088-45-227958/PaintingLeading%20the%20Chase%20Doha45-Greig-Leach.html#.V__1HOArLIU