2026 UCI Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Women's Road Race: Chasers & Disrupters

Purchase this painting here: "Chasers and Disrupters UCI26-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

With her teammate up the road, Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) shifted from launching the attack to disrupting those trying to chase down Demi Vollering.  It was her job now to slow the chase being mounted by Marlen Reusser (Switzerland) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland).  Niewiadoma does have a teammate in the trio thirty-one seconds up the road.  With twenty-five kilometers to race, there was still a chance for these women to vie for the podium.  

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

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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, 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, Men's Road Race: Who Do We Have Now?

Valentin Madouas (France) looks over his shoulder to see who is in this chase group with him.  He finds a dangerous Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) along with Stefan Kung (Suisse), Marco Haller (Austria), and Fred Wright (Great Britain).  The group has built a bit of an advantage over what is left of the main peloton with another 34 kilometers to race through the streets of Paris.  They are still chasing on man, Ben Healy (Ireland) who is still holding them off by about thirty seconds.  

Since there won't be another painting of Madouas today, I should tell you that he was able to take the Silver Medal for France, making that the third Silver in this event in the history of these Games.  They have yet to win a Gold Medal.

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 Do We Have Now? PO240-55" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Triathlon: Running Up the Champs Elysees

Without the chance to see the Champs Elysees in the Tour de France, it was nice to get a peek today in the Women's Triathlon.  The women had already made the loop by bike, but they went back up the famous Parisian boulevard again in the final leg of their race.  It was Julie Derron (Suisse) leading the small group containing Beth Potter (Great Britain), Cassandre Beaugard (France) and her teammate Emma Lombardi.  Chasing behind is first the defending Gold Medalist, Flora Duffy (Bermuda) and then a bit further back is Taylor Spivey (USA).  Beaugard does go on to win with Derron taking silver and Potter taking the bronze.  I am sure that Beth Potter gets quite a bit of teasing about being a Potter in the UK.  Here is hoping we will see the Champs again in the men's and women's road races this coming weekend.

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.

"Running Up the Champs Elysees PO24-40" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Mountain Biking: Leading Them Around

Unlike the women's race yesterday, the men stayed in a large peloton as they made their way around the first two laps of the four and a half kilometer Mountain Bike course.  They were led up the climb again by Mathias Flueckiger (Suisse) who was closely watched by Victor Koretzky (France) and Tom Pidcock (Great Britain).  Just peeking into the frame is his teammate Nino Schurter.  Each country is only allowed a maximum of two men in the race, but most are the only one representing their country.

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.

"Leading Them Around PO24-20" (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: Finishing What the Men Started

Just like their male counterparts, Elise Chabbey and Nicole Koller added to their advantage, and posted a new best time as they finished their lap of the Mixed Team Relay.  And just like the men, they elected to use one of their teammates up as they came across the costal road inside of the final kilometers of the course.  Clearly, that was the winning stradegy as it was the Swiss who were able to fulfill their favored status and take home the Gold Medal in this relatively new event.  With the Swiss winning today, the gold medals have gone to three different European teams since the start of this event in 2019 in Great Britian.  

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/3906791-17-295031/Painting/finishing-what-the-men-started-uci22-17.html

Wollongong 2022, Mixed Team Relay: Setting It Up for the Women

Stefan Kung and Stefan Disseger were the two men who came together to the line for Switzerland.  The duo of Stefans posted the best time at the finish of the men's lap.  Since the time is taken on the second man to cross the line, it was not a problem that only two of the three finished together.  This duo was handing over a sixteen second advantage to the trio of Swiss women.  And it was a very strong line up of women that are just now waiting for the green light to start their race through the streets of Wollongong.  

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/3906773-16-295031/Painting/setting-it-up-for-the-women-uci22-16.html

Wollongong 2022, Men's ITT: On the Rivot

"On the Rivot" is an old cycling expression that goes back to the days of leather saddles (Brooks made the best - I raced on one back in the 70s).  The saddle had a brass rivot on the front of the seat.  When one is putting everything into the pedals, one has a tendency to slide forward, and thus finding oneself on the rivot at the front of the saddle.   It has come to mean that the rider is going as hard as they possibly can.  That is exactly what Stefan Kung (Switzerland) was doing on this ride.  He was second at the first check and first at the second one.  With only three men behind him, those time stood.  He was 14 seconds ahead of the Norwegian, Tobias Foss, at the second time check, but lost 17 seconds in the final ten kilometers of the time trial.  While he held off those behind him, he would have to settle for the silver medal 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/3906194-11-295031/Painting/on-the-rivot-uci22-11.html

Beijing 2022: Any Part Will Do

Well, not really, the skis don't count, any body part will do.  At the end of their semi final in the Women;s Freestyle Cross, Daniela Maier (Germany), Fanny Smith (Switzerland) and Brittany Phelan (Canada) stretched as they could to claim a chance to ski for a Gold Medal.  Maier and Smith got the chance.  However, Smith finished in third but was yellow carded moving her to fourth and Maier into 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 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-2022/3867274-44-293321/Painting/any-part-will-do-beijing-2022.html

Flanders 2021: Better Line Up, Better Speed

The trio of Elise Chabbey, Nicole Koller, and Marlen Reusser found it necessary to reset their riding order as the kilometers ticked by.  Reusser was hitting a brutal pace on the front and Chabbey just couldn’t pull through when her teammate needed to drop off of the front.  As she struggled, Koller moved up to the front to take over the pace making for the team.  It wasn’t long after the Chabbey had to surrender to the pace of Reissner (who plans to attempt the hour record next week) and left it to her two country women to finish the leg of the Mixed Team Time Trial.  They just barely lost out on the bronze medal by a fraction of a second to Italy.  Was this the moment it happened?

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-2021/3838531-17-292177/Painting/better-line-up-better-speed.-uci21-17.html

Flanders 2021: Leading All the Way to Brugge

Marlen Reusser (Switzerland) was posting the new best times as she went through both the first and second time checks.  She was holding off Annemiek van Vleutin (Netherlands) behind her.  I am sure that her sport director was yelling encouragement in her ear the whole 30 kilometers to Brugge.  Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands) had a brilliant final kilometers actually increasing her pace as she got closer to Brugge.  Reusser wasn't quite able to accomplish the same acceleration coming up just 10 seconds shy of van Dijk's time.  So it wasn't the Rainbow Jersey for the Swiss woman, but she does end the day with the silver medal.

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-2021/3837725-13-292177/Painting/leading-all-of-the-way-to-brugge-uci21-13.html

Flanders 2021: Fastest at the Second Check

Stefan Bissegger (Switzerland) was laying down a brilliant ride.  When he got to the second time check he logged the best time thus far.  Yes, there were some big names on the road behind him but he looked to be on a podium worthy time trial.  Unfortunately, he wasn't going to replace the lore of his countryman, Fabian Cancellara.  It was a combination of fading a bit towards the finish and some of the other behind him that left him with a seventh place on 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 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-2021/3837375-2-292177/Painting/fastest-at-the-second-check.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Men's Road Race: Three Men, Three Medals

It was now down to just three men on the front end of the race.  With just four kilometers left it was Mads Pedersen (Denmark) leading Stefan Kung (Switzerland) and Matteo Trentin (Italy) towards the final turns and climbs of these rather amazing (although wet) World Championships.  Of the trio, it is Trentin who had the reputation of being a world class sprinter.  He has spent the last couple of months racing in the European Champion's Jersey, but would gladly trade it in for the Rainbow Jersey of World Champion.  So with three men, it means they all will take home a medal, it just comes down to what medal it may be.  It seems very unlikely that anyone can come across the gap given it was over a minute with less than four kilometers.

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%202019/3400879-51-266225/Three%20Men,%20Three%20Medals%20%20UCI19-51.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Men's Road Race: Launching

Mads Pedersen (Denmark) was the first to bridge across to the duo of Stefan Kung (Switzerland) and Lawson Craddock (USA).  As the Dane and Kung climb up the Oak Beck Hill, it was Craddock who found his legs just didn't have it anymore.  Craddock, as he had in his first Tour de France, fought to stay in the race, but this time he eventually pulled off the bike.  With the American gone, it was looking like Pedersen and Kung were going to have the legs to go the distance.  And it was quite a distance, 258 kilometers in the cold and wet.

Watch this painting come together in this quick time lapse video.  You can see it here and on my YouTube channel.

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%202019/3400872-48-266225/Launching%20%20UCI19-48.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Men's Road Race: A Small Gap

I had wanted to entitle this painting, "Showing Their Colors," but then realized there isn't much color between the two of them.  It appears that Lawson Craddock (USA) and Stefan Kung (Switzerland) had gotten their kit from the same store.  Beneath their rain kits, one was in red, white and blue and the other was wearing a white cross on a read field.  The only color in the painting came from the fans and officials along the side of the crest of the climb Oak Bend. 

The duo was opening up a small fifteen second gap on the every dwindling peloton.  Was this going to be the move that ended in a Rainbow Jersey?

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%202019/3400671-47-266225/A%20Small%20Gap%20%20UCI19-47.html

Yorkshire 2019 - U23 Road Race: Arms Spread Wide

So it wasn't one of the leading five to take the victory in Harrogate after all.  It was Nils Eekhoff (Netherlands) had bridged across to the leaders and then had the legs to out sprint everyone.  As I am writing this, I am listening to the NBC Sports online podcast and learning that Eekhoff has been disqualified.  I still don't know why.  That means that each of the finishers have been moved up a spot.  Therefore, Samuele Battistella (Italy) wins the race, with Stefan Bissengger (Switzerland) takes Silver and the Yorkshire man, Thomas Pidcock (Great Britain) does make a medal run after all taking the Bronze.  That was a bit strange.

In the end it was determined that Eekhoff had spend to much time drafting off the back of his team car trying to rejoin the race after crashing out on course.

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%202019/3397276-35-266225/Arms%20Spread%20Wide%20%20UCI19-35.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Mixed Relay: Dog Leg of the First Leg

Sorry, I couldn't resist the title.  The Mixed Relay is being raced in two legs, first the men and then the women.  Here two of the Swiss male riders, Joel Suter and Claudio Imhof, are making the final turn before starting the climb to the finish line in Harrogate.  The men had been posting good times along the course, but just not fast enough to take over the lead from the British, much to the delight of the home crowd.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire-2019/3392809-4-266225/PaintingDog-Leg-of-the-First-Leg--UCI19-4.html

Olympics 2018: Soaking It In

After winning the Gold Medal in the Men's Parallel Giant Slalom Nevin Galmarini (Switzerland) laid down on the snow at the end of the race.  Not so much in exhaustion but in disbelief at his accomplishment.  It was just a moment to absorb his success and the roar of the crowd.

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.