Paris Roubaix Femmes '26: We Need to Chase Now!

As the chasing peloton came off of another section of pave, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) seemed to encourage those with her to help give chase for those up the road.  Her teammate, Blanka Vas was dropped so she was free to try and catch the leaders.  Her move was covered by the American Megan Jastrab (UAE Team ADQ) as Zoe Backstedt (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto) tried to join in the effort.  At a minute and a half disadvantage with a mere 26 kilometers to race, it was unlikely that they would ever see the leaders on course again.

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.

"We Need to Chase Now! PRF26-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

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)

Ronde Van Vlaanderen 23, Men's Race: Back Together

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) may have dropped the pair of Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) on the Oude Kwaremont, but they were able to get back up to him in a few kilometers time.  The three went together up and over the Koppenberg, but it did look like Van Der Poel was having a bit more trouble staying there then Van Aert.  He does have the honor of wearing bib number 1 as the defending champion of Ronde Van Vlaanderen.  Will he have the legs to repeat the feat?

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, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3943944-518-195767/Painting/back-together-rvv23-5.html

 

Paris Roubaix Femmes '22: A Change of Plan

Within moments of her teammate Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) being pulled off the bike in disqualifcation, Elisa Longo Borghini went off on her own.  She quickly built up a lead of fifteen seconds as she left yet another section of pave.  Obviously, with their team leader out of the race, it was time to change the race plan.  I don't know if this move was the Italian Champion's own idea, or it came from the team director, but it did help set the team's delimma to rights.  They were even better off with two more members of the team in the chase group behind this Elisa.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3879572-489-195767/Painting/a-change-of-plan-pr22-5.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes '22: Is This The Move?

As the peloton crossed Sector 12 it was Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) who went on the offensive.  As she road off the front it was only Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ) who could hold onto the Belgium Champion's wheel.  Once the pair had a gap they set about working together to grow their advantage.  While they had just under 53 kilometers to race, these two have the legs to make this attack stick.  However, so many different things can go wrong one the cobbles.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3879563-486-195767/Painting/is-this-the-move-pr22-2.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes: Not the Best Debut for the Rainbow

 

Last week Elisa Balsamo (Valcar-Travel & Service) was winning the UCI Road World Championship, today, bedecked in her brand new rainbow jersey she was sliding through the mud in the Hell of the North.  Balsamo, was in the middle of the group chasing the lone leader when she fishtailed in the mud of Section 11 of pave, the Mons en Pevele.  She had braked a little too hard to avoid another rider going down just ahead of her.  With all of the wet mud on the rough cobblestones, it was to hard for her to keep her bike upright.  It was that much worse as she slid to a stop in a soggy mud puddle.  It could have been much worse, the road surface is very, very painful fall onto at speed.  She wasn’t hurt, but lost the wheels of the chase group and I never saw her on camera again.

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/Spring-Classics-2021/3839943-49-290150/Painting/not-the-best-debut-for-the-rainbow-pr21-2.html

Paris Roubaix: Eyes Down

Both an expression of all out effort, and sound advice when racing on cobblestones.  Tim Declercq (Decenunick Quick Step) was tasked with setting the pace for his teammates in the peloton.  Declercq was setting such a pace that he rode eveyone off of his wheel.  Decenunick Quick Step clearly had a plan for the day, and the team had the legs to put that plan into play.

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/Spring-Classics-/3319163-431-195767/PaintingEyes-Down--PR19-2.html

Paris Roubaix: Tete de la Course

I look forward to this, my most favorite of the Monuments, Paris Roubaix.  I picked up the race as the leaders, the "tete de la course" entered the 24th section of "pave."  The large break, almost the leading peloton, was taken onto the cobbles by Matti Breschel (EF Education First).  The cobbled sections of the race are numbered in descending order starting with #29 with the final section being comparably as smooth as glass just before the velodrome in Roubaix.

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/Spring-Classics-/3319159-430-195767/PaintingTete-de-la-Course-PR19-1.html

Tour, Stage 9: Cobbles, Dust & Noise

Amongst the screaming crowds, the rough cobbled roads and the unending dust of the roads to Robaix, thes three road away from the rest of the peloton.  Initially, the commentators, Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggett, claimed that it was three Belgiums off the front.  It would make sense, Belgium is the home of the spring cobbled races that kick off the season.  Instead it was the Belgium National Champion, Yves Lampaert (Quickstep) leading his countryman, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) followed by the German sprinter, John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo).  Van Avermaet was looking to hold his jersey and bring some joy to his team that has lost their captain and their second place rider is falling further and further behind.  With just 17 kilometers to race, and only one more pave section, this was beginning to look like the winning move.  You can see one of the soigneurs holding aloft a set of wheels in case one of his team's riders has a flat (or a broken wheel - which seem to be plaquing this stage).

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3187726-46-251072/PaintingCobbles,-Dust-&-Noise--T18-46.html

Tour, Stage 9: A Drink Before the Cobbles

I am somewhat at the mercey of the video broadcast of the Tour, so I wasn't able to paint the peloton hitting the first section of pave today.  Instead, this is section 14, d'Eswars a Paillencourt, (counting backwards to Roubaix).  Just before the day's break away riders hit the cobble stones they wisely grab a drink.  No one should try to take a hand off of the handle bars once on the incredible rough pave sections.  At the back of the nine man group are Chad Haga (Sunweb), Olivier Le Gac (Groupama-FDJ), Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) and Omar Fraile (Astana). Every kilometer of today's stage will be lined by fans, many of home have been waiting (and drinking) for days just to see the Tour fight it out on these iconic roads of northern France.

You can watch this painting come together as I talk about watercolor painting, the Tour, professional cycling and who knows what else.  I hope you will take the time to watch the videos, and to become a subscriber to the channel (no charge).  And you can watch the video right 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3187631-42-251072/PaintingA-Drink-Before-the-Cobbles--T18-42.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: Quick Change

Alexey Lutsenko (Kazakhstan) was the first out on the most unusual of UCI Road World time trial courses.  Like the women's race, it feature techincal sections, cobble stones and climbs, but what differ for the men was the last three kilometers were up the steeps climb yet, the Mount Floyen.  The course took them over much of the same roads we have seen thus far before a turn onto the big climb.  The riders were given the choice of swapping out the TT bikes for a climbing road bike, if they did it on a specific area of a red carpet.  Lutsenko was the first to face the decision, and the first to take it.  It must be said that his was not the smoothest bike swap I saw today.

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/3036132-22-239826/PaintingQucik-Change-Bergen-22.html

Giro, Stage 14: Rough Roads

The base of the final climb of the day (actually, the only climb of the day) twisted through narrow cobblestone roads before beginning the ascent.  With so many riders wanting to be on the front of the peloton for the climb, it just got to be too many bikes, too little road, and slippery cobbles for Adam Hansen (Lotto Soudal).  Fortunately, Dmitrii Kozonchok (Gazprom-Rusvelo) and the rest of the peloton was able to avoid the sprawled Australian.  However, the tumbel took the Hansen out of contention for the climb.  Lotto Soudal had pinned their hopes on him since their sprinter, Andre Greipel pulled out of the Giro given that there are no more stages for the sprinters.

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.

With the racing of the 100th Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in helping this book get made, please consider backing the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included. With Kickstarter, if there is not a 100% funded, no one is charged a dime, and the project recieves 0% funding.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2970194-88-235247/PaintingRough-Roads-G17-96.html

Rio Olympics: Rough Road - Rough Start

Team USA should have taken Brent Brookwalter's first 200 meters as a sign.  As the American turned into the first corner, cutting across the wet cobble stones, his front wheel slid out from under him.  He scooted across the slippery road before getting back on to his TT machine.  It had to rattle his cage, and I am sure it contributed to his being outside of the top 15 finishers.  It is so tough that an athlete only gets one shot at the Olympics.

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/2835755-64-226051/PaintingRough%20Road%20-%20Rough%20Start%20Rio64-Greig-Leach.html#.V6vlopgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Back Underway

Richie Porte (Australia) continued his bad luck from the Tour de France.  Today he had mechanicals almost every time he crossed the short cobbled section on course.  Later he would crash out on the penultimate descent of the day.

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/2833907-6-226051/PaintingBack%20Underway-Greig-Leach.html#.V6ZyUrgrLIU

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Hoping to Bridge Across

Perhaps tired of the shadow boxing in the peloton, or just feeling strong on the cobbles, Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) jumped out from the main group in a solo effort to bridge across to the big names up the road.  Stuyven gained a quick 30 seconds on the peloton, but then it seemed to reach a stalemate.  He was neither gaining on those up the road nor getting further ahead of those behind.  Unfortunately for the man from Belgium, he over cooked in on one of the main sharp corners and slid into the muddy gutters along the side of the sections of pave.  However the only thing that was injured was his chances to make it to the leaders.  So it was that he returned to the peloton, muddy and a bit shaken up.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  Plus this painting is avialable through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to purchase your piece of this early spring semi-classic.  International shipping is available.

Then there is my new book of the 2015 Road World Championships entitled, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  Available world wide and at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2720281-255-195767/Painting.html#.VtMsVfkrLIU

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Flying Up 23rd

With this the third to last trip up the 18% wall of 23rd Street, Ian Stannard (UK) jumped out of the greatly reduced peloton attempting to make the early (perhaps too early) move.  Bauke Mollema is the Dutch rider was the one to respond in hopes of joining the Brit to create the upset escape.  The Elite peloton is far to crafty to let a move like this one succeed, plus this is the hill everyone expects to be where the attacks will occur.  The road use to have an asphalt strip that ran up the center of the climb, but felt it necessary to "improve" the road by returning it to its original Belgium Cobble surface.  Keeping an eye on the duo and then going after them was Tom Boonen. "Tom Frites" as he is nicknames throughout Europe seemed to be very confident of his own chances for the podium today.

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). 

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Looking for Their Sprinter

I quickly lost count of how many laps the peloton had made, but I never lost sight of just how strong these men are.  As the German lead peloton crested the cobbles of  Libby Hill, Tony Martin swung his head around to make sure he still had the two German sprinters, John Degenkolb and Andre Greipel.  It should be interesting to see who the team has designated for the sprint, the duo spent the Tour de France contesting all of the sprint stages against each other.  Degenkolb rides for Giant Alpecin and Greipel for Lotto Soudal.  The Germans had brought an incredible strong group of riders to Richmond, and the fans were thrilled to see them.

Since I was painting all of these works publicly, Bettina Martin was sitting next to me watching as I painted this of her son.  Needless to say, she left Richmond with the original and a number of prints in her suitcase.  Plus, she is an incredible kind and charming woman.

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).

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Taking Them Up Libbie Hill

The Junior Women's Road Race was the first race of the road racing section of the UCI World Road Racing Championships.  The course featured some Belgium style cobble climbs, one up Libbie Hill to the top of Church Hill and the second even steeper one up 23rd Street back up to Church Hill again.  The racing took in one more climb before the finishing line, but at least the asphalt was as smooth as silk by comparison.  Emma White (Team USA) was the first to attack on the first lap up the much feared Libbie Hill.  White had taken the Silver medal earlier in the week in her class's Individual Time Trial.  I am elated to say that she garnered silver again at the finish line 7 laps later.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  These paintings are created live while watching the races through a feed provided by the Richmond 2015 Worlds organization.  For two more days, you will be able to watch me create the works live at the Fanfest area at 5th and Marshall Streets near the finish line.  You can also purchase either the originals or one of two different sizes of prints while you are there, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Gazing at Davis

Hincapie Racing Team seemed to take a moment to gaze at the monument to Jefferson Davis, the short lived President of the Confederacy.  Later in the week the UCI World road races will swing around the monument in a Champs Elysees style u-turn.  The similarity is continued to the asphalt cobbles that adorn the road surface.  While these cobbles are rough to ride, they are smooth as silk when compared to those that face the peloton on other sections of the road racing course.  At least the organizers were kind enough to avoid the Paris Roubaix level pave for the time trial racers.  Not long after the team went down the avenue, a drunk and foolish man drove his hot rod Camero on to the course nearby, apparently hoping for fame.  Fortunately no one was hurt except for his hopes of ever owning a driver's license again.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available as an original or two different size prints at the Convention Center.  Later they can be purchased through www.richmond.com.  This was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.

Paris Roubaix: Bumping Along

Mid April means it is time for the "Hell of the North" the fabled, Paris Roubaix.  Over 300 kilometers of racing and 100 of those kilometers are over some of the roughest cobble stones in the world.  This race is so known for those pieces of pave, that the trophy for the winner is a granite cobble stone.  Quite a humble award for such a noble undertaking.  The day had the early breakaway, originally numbering 9 riders that gained 9 minutes on the peloton before the chase began.  This is the back of the break away as the rumble over an early section of pave.  Alexis Gougeard (AG2R) follows Time Declercq (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Alexijs Saramotins (IAM Cycling) amongst the others as the group try and stay away from the favorites and the wantabes behind.

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.  They are a small family run art supply business in Wisconsin and have incredible great art making materials.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular watercolor just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.

If you are enjoying reading about Paris Roubaix with the accompanying artwork, be sure to search out my recently published, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France".  It can be found through most every online bookseller around the world.  Google the title to discover where you can get a copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2541126---195767/Painting.html#.VSr33fnF-xU