Tour Femmes '26, Stage 4 ITT: Sprinting for Seconds

As Marlen Reusser (Movistar) came up the finishing straight she came up out of the saddle to sprint to the line in hopes of taking the stage in the discipline that she is the World Champion of.  It worked she finished just four seconds ahead of the woman who had been in the hot seat for most of the day, Leike Nooijen (Visma-Lease a Bike).  But she did more than win the stage, she is the new Maillot Jaune, the leader of the Tour de France Femmes.  And that she holds by fourteen seconds over the woman she out rode by seventeen seconds.  

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Sprinting for Seconds TdFF26-23" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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 →   

Tour '26, Stage 6: Creating Some Space

With another five kilometers to climb up the Tourmalet, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) up the pace with his teammate Tadej Pogacar on his wheel.  The two champions opened up a bit of a gap on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and the youngster Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM).  Pogacar has had his team on the front for the last fifty kilometers and now it was time to try and drop everyone else and go off the front.  Would the Dane be able to regain his composure and get back to his main rival's wheel?  I think you already know the answer.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Creating Some Space TdF26-42" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 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 → 

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Going Together

With just one woman up the road, it was Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and her teammate Lorena Wiebes going on the attack.  The duo of champions used the four-star pave sector 12 to attack the vastly reduced peloton of favorites to go on the offensive.  Working together, they quickly built up a twenty second advantage.  It was hard to tell who was working for whom between the World Champion and the European Champion.  However, it was easy to tell that it was working either way.

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.

"Going Together PR25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Koksijde, Women's Cyclo-Cross: Climbing the Dune

It is just sand that makes Koksijde so difficult.  Within sight of the start line the peloton faces a wall of sand that can only be scaled by shouldering one's bike and running up the deep sand.  I can't imagine scaling this once, let alone the five times that the pro women managed this feat.  At this point the Dutch Champion, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) is leading the World Champion, Fem vamn Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) up the climb as they both chase the sole leader already down the other side.

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.

"Climbing the Dune CX-K25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Strade Bianche Donne 24: Two Champions

Inside of the last ten kilometers of the 2024 Strade Bianche Donne, the race had come down to two champions and former winners of the race.  The Italian national champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) was battling it out with the world champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime).  Both women had teammates in the small group just fourteen seconds behind, but neither seemed willing to let anyone join them as they pedal their way back into the heart of Sienna.  Their every move was being captured both by the helicopter camera overhead and by one of the cameramen standing astride a speeding motorcycle riding beside them on the Tuscan roads.

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 $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/4002670-76-207546/Painting/two-champions-sb24-5.html

Women's Rond:e van Vlaanderen: Off on Their Own

Somehow the peloton let two very powerful women ride off the front on the final ascent of the day.  Emma Johansson (Wiggle High 5) hit the front knowing that she was dragging the World Champion Lizzie Armitstead (Boels Dolmans).  Before the race, Johansson stated in an interview that she was really hoping to add this race to her palmares.  It may not help that it was Armitstead who had gone on the move with her, then again they may be the two who could hold off the peloton.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  Plus this painting and all of my cycling art is available at my website, www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, as the painting is an original work of art, it is first come first served.

Be sure to check out my most recent book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  It is available internationally through most online bookstores, and at www.artofcycling.bike.  Or you could ask your local bookstore to get it for you.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional%20Womens%20Cycling/2761687-14-207546/Painting.html#.VwNRRvkrLIU

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Untitled

I was no less excited than everyone watching on the roads of Richmond, across the world on the television or in the Convention Center with me, to watch Peter Sagan make his move stick up the final climb of Governor's Street and along the berserk cycling fans lining the false flat to the line.  So excited with his victory that I neither signed not title this painting.  I was surprised to not see one of Sagan's creative and jubilant victory salutes.  He had plenty of time to celebrate the moment leaving the rest of the charging peloton 3 seconds down the road.  Perhaps is 6 second place finishes in the Tour de France had left him wanting to make sure the victory was his before he celebrated.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The works were done live in the middle of the Fanfest area across from the awards podium as the racing was going on.  Prints and the originals will be available before very long at www.richmond.com (the website of the Richmond Times Dispatch newspaper).