2026 UCI Road Championships, Montreal, Elite Women's Road Race: Shades of the Tour

You can purchase this painting here: "Shades of the Tour UCI26-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Despite Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland) having gotten the jump on Demi Vollering (Netherlands) it was the Dutch woman who raised her arms in victory in Montreal!  Niewiadoma appeared to cramp up just as Vollering pulled even with her in the sprint.  In the distance you can just see Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) who had just caught the other two when the sprint kicked off.  So it is that Vollering takes first with Niewiadoma in second, just as they were in the Tour de France Femmes, and Longo Borghini takes another bronze medal at another World Championships.  I don't image that the animosity that erupted at the Tour Femme between second and third was quelled today.  Instead, I think it has been further inflamed.  As on prone to cramps, I truly feel for Niewiadoma 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 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 → 

Tour '26, Stage 3: Shaking a Leg

I couldn't resist this painting for multiple reasons.  First, is that I am someone who suffers from leg cramps both on and off the bike, so I sympathized with Alex Baudin's (EF Education-EasyPost) pain.  Then it was the play on the phrase 'shake a leg' which usually means to hurry up.  And hurry up is certainly what Baudin needed to do as the peloton continued to draw even closer to his rear wheel.  He has spent at least eighty kilometers off in the breakaway and now with just seventeen kilometers to race the peloton was just twenty-three seconds behind him.  At one point he was the virtual leader on the road, but now he will have to content himself with claiming the third Maillot a Pois of this Tour.  

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: "Shaking a Leg TdF26-21" (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 → 

Milano Sanremo: Cramped Up, Cramped Out

Having lost the wheels of his erstwhile break away companions near the top of the Capo Berta, Filippo Conca (Lotto Soudal) had pushed deep to catch back on.  Perhaps he went too deep.  As he rode along the bottom of the climb he suddenly shoot out his leg as straight as possible.  The next thing we knew he was grimacing in pain and rubbing out his legs as he came to a stop.  I felt the need to paint this moment having had a similar experience on century rides all too often.  Conca had cramped terribly after being off the front in a break away for over 250 kilometers thus far.  As he stretched his leg out, he soon fell to the ground in pain.  It looked like his day of racing was done, but that would be assuming he wasn't determined.  Surprisingly, he got back on his bike moments after I painted this.  He would have been caught by the peloton not long after, but I didn't see him for the rest of the day.  Still, particualry for an Italian it is very important to finish a race on his home soil.  I can relate, I have finished every century I have started, leg cramps or not.

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-/3873549-466-195767/Painting/cramped-up-cramped-out-ms22-3.html

Vuelta, Stage 13: Down to Two

Despite having been in mulitple breaks in this year's Vuelta, it was Alessandro de Marchi (BMC) and Thomas de Gendt (Lotto Soudal) who rode away from their erstwhile French companions.  However, it looks like de Gendt is trying to beat a cramp out of his right leg.  No wonder the bright sun and 39 degree celsius temperatures weren't helping matters.  With just fifteen kilometers left to race, and the loss now of de Gendt, de Marchi had very little hope of holding off the peloton, but no point in surrendering now.

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/Vuelta-2017/3024811-17-239162/PaintingDown-to-Two-V-18.html