2026 UCI Road World Championships, Montreal, Elite Men's Road Race: Three Decades Later

Purchase this painting here: "Three Decades Later UCI26-17" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold, but digital prints are available.

When Brandon McNulty (USA) held his head in disbelief as he claimed victory in the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal it is wild to think that it has been thirty-three years since and American has won the Rainbow Jersey.  That was five years before McNulty was born!  He is only the third American to ever pull on the Rainbow Jersey of world champion.  With Lance Armstrong having won in 1993 and Greg Lemond winning it in both 1983 and 1989.  I was amused that while mentioning that it had been thirty-three years since an American had won, the announcer Anthony McCrossan neglected to say Armstrong's name.  As I mentioned in my previous painting, he takes over the title from his trade team teammate, Tadej Pogacar, giving UAE Team Emirates reason to celebrate and allows them to continue to post of having the best cyclist in the world.  Chapeau, Brandon!

The clump of riders behind included the Silver Medalist Michael Matthews (Australia) and the Bronze Medalist Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands).  McNulty's teammates Quinn Simmons finished fourth and Matteo Jorgenson finished seventh, making it three Team USA guys in the top ten!

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 Men's Road Race: One Last Peek

Purchase this painting here: "One Last Peek UCI26-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Brandon McNulty (USA) takes one last look behind him as he can see the flame rouge and the final kilometer just ahead.  When he looked back there was no one in sight.  He has twenty-three seconds over the best men in the pro peloton who just can't chase him down.  In his post-race interview, he revealed that even at this point he didn't truly believe that he would be the next UCI Road Champion.  Which may explain why he kept making sure that no one was going to surprise him inside of the final kilometer.  There is a certain beauty that he rides on the same team as Tadej Pogacar, UAE Team Emirates, who was unable to defend his two-time title this 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 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 Men's Road Race: A Big Advantage

Purchase the painting here: "A Big Advantage UCI26-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold, but digital prints are available.

Brandon McNulty (USA) made the classic cycling move.  He attacked from the back of the group just as they caught the leaders.  With those on the front having dug deep to catch the escapees, none had the strength to jump onto his wheel as he sped up the other side of the wide road in downtown Montreal.  As he took the sharp left turn to start the penultimate lap he had opened up a thirty-six second lead on those he had just left behind.  Now, can he hold them all of for another twenty-eight kilometers?

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 Men's Road Race: Having to Chase

Purchase this painting here: "Having to Chase UCI26-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

With two groups of three up the road it was time to chase down the leaders for two young men Paul Seixas (France) and Isaac Del Toro (Mexico).  The two stars of the Tour de France efforts were being thwarted by Matteo Jorgenson (USA) and Tom Pidcock (Great Britian) since they have teammates in the leading groups.  Joining in the efforts are Michael Matthews (Australia) and Santiago Buitrago (Colombia).  It looks like they are counting on Del Toro and Seixas to do the pulling to put them back into the fray in the remaining forty-nine kilometers.

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 Men's Road Race: Three Going Away

Purchase this painting here: "Three Going Away UCI26-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Under the strength of Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands) this trio dropped their former breakaway companions.  Quinn Simmons (USA) had clearly decided he was going to stay on the only former champion in the group's wheel and was going every time Van Der Poel attacked.  Oscar Onley (Great Britian) was not the team's original plan, but it seems that the burden of winning for his country has now fallen to him.  Both Simmons and Onley have teammates in the chasing groups that are under a minute behind with another seventy-four kilometers left to race in these Worlds.

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 Men's Road Race: A Powerful Sextet

Purchase this painting here: "A Powerful Sextet UCI26-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

It was Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands) who started this move.  He was quickly joined by Quinn Simmons (USA) and Wout Van Aert (Belgium).  Those three were joined not much later by Primoz Roglic (Slovenia), Oscar Onley (Great Britian), and Anthon Charmig (Denmark).  Given the short punchy climbs and constant turning of the urban course, this was a group that had the chops to stay of the front for the remaining eighty kilometers.  At this point they have forty-two seconds on the disorganized chase behind.  The presence of Simmons and Van Aert means that their teammates are doing their best to disrupt the chase of the other riders 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 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 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, Elite Men's Road Race: Trying to Cover Pogacar

Knowing that the real race was up the road, Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) attacked the peloton on Witikon Climb.  The first to attack was Quinn Simmons (USA) but when the Slovenian superstar came up to him, he just couldn't stay on the wheel of the lime green express train.  Michael Matthews (Australia) was fading away just as quickly as the American.  With 100 kilometers to go, I don't think anyone really expected him to launch so early, but it wasn't like the Slovenian teammates didn't telegraph the impending attack.  However, knowing Tadej is going to go, and being able to go with him are two entirely different things.

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.

"Trying to Cover Pogacar Z24-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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: Chasing on Her Own

Dropped on the final big climb of the course, and the descent, Chloe Dygert (USA) used her time trial skills to chase down the leading foursome on her own.  Behind her the defending champion, Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) was working with the other dropped Dutch woman Riejane Markus.  At this point, Dygert was gaining on those ahead, and putting time into the rest behind her.  With just over fifteen kilometers left to race, it was now or never if she wants to compete in the finale for the Rainbow 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Chasing on Her Own Z24-4" (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)

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)

Paris Olympics 2024, Track and Field Men's 200 Meters: Running for Mom

Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) was running not only with his legs, but with his heart also.  His mother had passed away this year and it was her dream to see him race in the Olympics.  Clearly that wouldn't be possible, but he did run with her name and birthdate on his shoes.  Equally clear was that he had that extra lift to outsprint a field of great athletes to take the only Gold Medal (or any medal for that matter) for his country.  And the only Gold for his continent in the men's 200 ever.  Rounding out the podium are Kenneth Bednarek (USA) taking Silver - he is at the bottom of the frame - and Noah Lyles (USA) for the Bronze running in the lane just inside of Tebogo.  Lyles had hoped to do the double Gold in both of the men's sprints, but Tebogo's mother intervened.

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 for Mom PO24-79" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Track and Field Men's 110 M Hurdles: Leaps and Bounds

It was Grant Halloway (USA) who was literally leaps and bounds, or I guess bounds and leaps ahead of the rest of the field in the Men's 110 Hurdles.  He was over the final hurdle before either of the other two medalists had even started their leaps.  In the land next to him was Rasheed Broadbell (Jamaica) who took Bronze.  Ruining next to the Jamaican is the second of three Americans in the final, Daniel Roberts (USA) who just eked out the Silver Medal giving the Americans the top two spots on 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 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.

"Leaps and Bounds PO24-78" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Track Cycling Team Pursuit: Looking Smooth

The women of Team USA were looking really smooth, and really fast in the Team Pursuit Gold Medal Race.  The quartet of Chloe Dygert on the front followed by the road cycling Gold Medalist, Kristen Faulkner and in turn by Lily Williams - just swinging off with her job done is Jennifer Valente - were up against the powerful New Zealand team.  Both Dygert and Faulkner have already competed in the road cycling, in fact Dygert has already done the time trial as well.  They were so smooth and fast that they claimed the win for the Gold Medal in Team Pursuit.  That does mean that Faulkner now has two Olympic Gold Medals, and Dygert has the medal that crashes prevented her from winning last week.  Their Gold is part of why the USA now has the most total Olympic Medals and the most Gold Medals in these games.  It makes you wonder what the next games in the United States will look like in the medal count.

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.

"Looking Smooth PO24-74" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Surfing: The Perfect Wave

It was Caroline Marks (USA) who had the Gold Medal winning ride in the unique waves off the coast of Tahiti.  It was the pile of skulls at Teahupo'o provided the perfect and consistantly similar waves for these Olympics.  They almost seemed man made in their uniformity.  The Olympics next move to the United States in Los Angles.  I guess we will be looking at some California surfing, or perhaps they will take a page out of the French playbook and go to Hawaii for the surfing competition.

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 Perfect Wave PO24-73" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Greco-Roman Wrestling: Powering to Gold

The Gold Medal Match in Women's Greco-Roman Wrestling pitted the young American Amit Elor (USA) against Meerim Zhumanazarova (Kyrgyzstan).  Kyrgyzstan has never won a gold medal in this event, so I am sure she felt the pressure to perform.  Elor got the early two points for a take down and then towards the end of the first round she got another point for Meerim's inactivity.  That was all of the points scored which gave the Gold Medal to Elor and the Silver to Zhumanzsarova.  It was fun to watch the American gambol around the mat waving the American flag behind her like a cape.

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.

"Powering to Gold PO24-69" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Hammer Throw: A Silver Medal Throw!

I got a bit overwhelmed with painting the Olympics, so after the Men's and Women's road races, I've decided to paint from various high lights in hopes of not burning myself out.  That being said, it is back into the Track & Field for the newly minted American Annette Nneka Echikumwoke (USA) and her medal winning hammer throw.  She has recently gained US citizenship coming from Ethiopia.  Her first of three throws was enough to put her in medal contention, but she was out thrown in the end by her Canadian competitor.  Still, an Olympic Silver Medal is quite the achievement.  Welcome to the USA, Annette.

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 Silver Medal Throw PO24-68" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Golden Upset

I think Kristen Faulkner (USA) might have been so surprised that her gamble for victory was so successful that she may not have believed that she had actually won the Gold Medal by fifty-eight seconds that she didn't even give a victory salute.  Once she had caught the two leaders, Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Blanka Vas (Hungary) towing Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) along she knew that she had to try to go on her own.  She got the surprise jump on some of the best women in cycling.  Instead of immediately jumping on the American's wheel, they each looked at the other wondering who was going to make the effort.  While they dithered, the gold medal rode up the avenue.  Faulkner returned the Gold Medal to the United States last won in the first Olympic Women's Road Race in 1984.  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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Golden Upset PO24-67" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Almost There

Kristen Faulkner (USA) has been chasing hard with little help from the race favorite Lotte Kopecky (Belgium).  Kopecky may be excused she worked very hard to bridge up to the chasers after getting caught behind the crash on the first circuit through the streets of Paris.  As the two chasers rode through the grounds of the Louvre they could see the two leaders riding out through the gates on the other side.  It was looking like it would be a four woman race for the three medals available at the Eiffel Tower.  Not at all what both Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Blanka Vas (Hungary) were hoping to see.  Since this is the last painting of the four women, I'll tell you that one slipped off the front.  The other three sprinted for the two remaining medals, with Vos just getting the better of Kopecky for Silver and Bronze respectfully.

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 There PO24-66" (Original art by Greig Leach)