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)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's 200 Breaststroke

Shortly before the race was to begin, the announcer on NBC teased the race by saying, "When we return, we will have the women's 200 breasts." My inner pubescent boy just found that rather amusing.  In the pool, it was Kate Douglas (USA) touching the was first for a Gold Medal.  Silver went to Tatjana Smith (South Africa) who was the odds-on favorite in the race.  And it was Tes Schouten (Netherlands) rounding out the podium for 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. 

"A Stroke of Gold PO24-48" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Mountain Biking: Who Will It Be?

It was truly amazing to see Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) fight his way back to the front of the race after having a flat tire.  I am quite sure that neither Victor Koretzky (France) nor Alan Hatherly (South Africa) were overjoyed to see the Brit.  Pidcock has just come off of the Tour de France, so he has a deeper fitness and stamina then most anyone else in the race.  These three just have about another kilometer to race and it is unclear who will take which medals, but it will be these three for the top three places.  Koretzky had one more attack in him and dropped Pidcock for a bit.  Pidcock did come back and passed the Frenchman on a narrow stretch making contact in the effort.  Koretzky had to pull a foot out of his cleats and there went his Gold Medal.  Pidcock repeated his Tokyo Olympics Gold, with Koretzky finishing with the Silver, and Hatherly the Bronze.  The Bronze is the first Olympic Mountain Biking medal for his country, his continent and his hemisphere.  Well done all three!

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.

"Who Will It Be? PO24-23" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Mountain Biking: In the Middle

Alan Hatherly (South Africa) found himself caught almost exactly halfway between the lone leader and the group chasing behind.  With three more laps to race, he was fourteen seconds off of the lead, and thirteen seconds ahead of a chasing group of four guys.  Should things go right for him, he will become not only the first South African to medal in an Olympic Mountain Biking event, but he will be the first from the southern hemisphere to do so.

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.

"In the Middle PO24-22" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Wollongong 2022, Women's Road Race: Getting the Jump

Annemiek Van Vleutin (Netherlands) had been off the back, just out of contention for most of the final two laps of the Wollongong city circuit.  She had started the day with a broken elbow that she suffered in the first 50 feet of the Mixed Team Relay.  But as those in the front group began to look at each other whilst going under the red kite, she came from the back at full speed.  As she flew past them at full speed they didn't jump on their pedals immediately.  A huge mistake! Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa) looked first to see if any of those behind her were going to take up the chase.  On her wheel was Liane Lippert (Germany), Arlenis Sierra (Cuba), Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Denmark).  They had all been racing flat out on the front and may have thought it was going to come down to a sprint betwixt themselves and just weren't ready for an attack from behind.  Nevertheless, Van Vleutin was not one they should have let get even a pedal stroke.  She may not be a great sprinter, but she is a strong time trialist, and will not be easy to pull back at any distance, but with less than a kilometer to race, it will be near impossible to catch 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 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/3907683-25-295031/Painting/getting-the-jump-uci22-25.html

Olympics 2020, Trying to Stay Cool

This foursome off the front of the peloton by over five kilometers was doing everything they could to stay cool in the 95 degree heat.  Anna Plichta (Poland) pour her water over her neck and back, while Omer Shapira (Israel) reached for bottles from her team car.  Both Anna Kiesenhofer (Austria) and Ashliegh Moolman (South Africa)  made to with open jerseys and pedaling on towards a dream of an Olympic medal.  My wife was very found of this painting.  As she put it, you could see the feminity of the rider, leaving now doubt about which Olympic road race this was.

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/3826232-11-291661/Painting/trying-to-stay-cool-o21-11.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

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's Road Race: A Substancial Gap

The early break had swollen to ten riders (not all of whom you can see here) that built up a lead of just under 10 minutes on the idling peloton.  Four of the riders in the break were the sole representatives of their countries including Matti Manninen (Finland), Eugert Zhupa (Albania) and Salaheddine Miraouni (Moracco).  One of the main drivers of this break was the American with the Dutch name, Alexey Vermeulen.  Just swinging off of the front is Willem Smit (South Africa).  Smit would eventually be caugt by the peloton, spit out the back and then pulled from the course for being too far off the pace.

With a course of 11 laps, the organizers don't want any lapped riders endangering the full speed peloton in the final laps.

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/3038023-49-239826/PaintingA-Substancial-Gap--Bergen-49.html

Doha 2016, Elite Women's Road Race: Gapping the Peloton

As I said, the Dutch were attacking one after the other.  As soon as one rider was caught by the peloton, another would go.  This time it was one of my favorites, Chantal Blaak (Netherlands) who went out on the offensive.  Initially only Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa) could stay with the Boels Dolmans rider.  It is nice to finally see some fans (or the merely curious) out along the side of the road today.  This grouping of lycra clad women being watched by Qatari men in traditional desert garb seemed like a poignant juxtaposition.  Behind you can just see one of the Australian women trying to bridge up to the fast disappearing duo.

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/2865774-51-227958/PaintingGapping%20the%20Peloton%20Doha51-Greig-Leach.html#.WAJz_uArLIU

Rio Olympics: With Gold in Sight

Michael Phelps took the pool tonight having already added to his career Olympic Gold tally.  This 200 Meter Butterfly was important to him, he had lost by 1/100th of a second to Chad Le Clos (South Africa).  Tonight you can see Le Clos to the left of this painting looking over at the fleeing Phelps.  Phelps went on to take yet another Gold Medal, his twenty first. Le Clos fell off the pace so much so that he missed the podium all together.  Le Clos had been talking trash, something Phelps didn't join in on.  Instead he let his swimming do the talking.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835385-54-226051/PaintingWith%20Gold%20in%20Sight%20Rio54-Greig-Leach.html#.V6rD95grLIU