Paris Roubaix Femmes '26: On to the Velodrome

It was just three women who came onto the fable velodrome at the end of Paris Roubaix Femmes.  They were led into the first lap by the defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike).  She has made it clear throughout the race that she is here to ride for her teammate Marianne Vos who amazingly has yet to win in Roubaix.  The duo was going to have to contend with the German champion Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ).  The odds were clearly in the favor of the Visma women, but it still was uncertain who would be crowned the next Queen of Paris Roubaix.  However, it was certain that all three will be on the podium in just over a lap around the Roubaix velodrome.

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.

"On to the Velodrome PRF26-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix: A Great Spring!

This painting expresses the joy and frustration that is bike racing.

As feared, the trio of Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Zdenek Stybar (Quickstep) and Sebastian Langeveld (Cannondale-Drapac) were got on the final turned by both Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) and Giani Moscon (Sky).  In fact, it was Moscon that opened up the sprint to the line.  He was quickly swamped by Stybar.  However it was the on-fire Greg Van Avermaet who had the legs to take out the sprint and claim victory in Roubaix.  Stybar was clearly frustrated with his second place finish as he slapped his handlebars on the line.  Langeveld held on for third, with Stuyven and Moscon rounding out the top five.

It wasn't fated to be the fairy tale end of Tom Boonen's career.  In fact he wasn't able to sprint to victory within his finishing group either.  But he has provided us all with excitement, class and guts through his spectacular career.  Chapeau!

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 start of the Giro d'Italia, I will be crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  Please feel free to become a follower of this blog to be informed of the project and your chance to participate in helping to make it happen.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/2947379-396-195767/PaintingA-Great-Spring!-PR17-10.html

Paris Roubaix: Looking It Over

After 250 kilometers of some of the roughest roads in northern Europe, the final kilometer is raced on the very smooth outdoor velodrome of Roubaix.  The high banks afford the racers a chance to look each other over and to possibly get a jump descending off of the high side of the curve.  The trio of Zdenek Stybar (Quickstep), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Sebastian Langeveld (Cannondale-Drapac) had enough of a lead that they could slow down and try to out strategize each other.  However, if they get too carried away, the chasing duo of Giani Moscon (Sky) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) might catch them and carrying speed steal the race at the last moment.

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/Spring-Classics-/2947371-395-195767/PaintingLooking-It-Over-PR17-9.html

Rio Olympics: Slipping to the Back

The Dutch team took to the polished wood of the Rio Velodrome to show their stuff in the qualifying rides today.  The team of four will take turns pushing the pace on the front of the quartet and then use the high banks to swing off the front and slot back onto the back.  Once on the back they can catch a breather until it is their turn on the front again.

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/2836466-81-226051/PaintingSlipping%20to%20the%20Back%20Rio81-Greig-Leach.html#.V63sK5grLIU

Rio Olympics: With Precision

One of the most famous road cyclists to ever make the switch back to the rack is Sir Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain).  Here he is in a tight well drilled Team GB on the velodrome in Rio.  Wiggins is the third in line at this moment coming off of the bank in their qualifying ride of the Team Pursuit.

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/2836454-79-226051/PaintingWith%20Precision%20Rio79-Greig-Leach.html#.V63hfpgrLIU

Paris Roubaix: Embracing His Victory

It was Matthew Hayman (Orica GreenEdge) who had slipped away at 72 kilometers to go, only to be brought back into the fold, that got the jump on the more season campaigners who came into the velodrome with the Australian.  Hayman seemed stunned and perhaps incredulous that he had actually one this most fabled of one day races.  He had just held off the veteran Tom Boonen (Etixx-Quickstep), as well as Ian Stannard (Team Sky).  Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL Jumbo) who had felt sure the race was his twenty minutes earlier, missed the podium, having poured all of his energy into the solo effort.  Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) came home almost a minute and a half later, with Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) arriving another three minutes later covered in the mud of northern France and the sweat of disappointment in a poorly timed tumble.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  In addition this painting, and all of my cycling artwork, is 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.

Be sure to discover my most recent book, Art of Cycling: Richnond 2015 UCI Road World Chanpionships.  You can find the book at your favorite online retailer or at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2767310-318-195767/Painting.html#.Vwsn9fkrLIU

Paris Roubaix: A Joyful Finish

What happened in the bell lap was what everyone of the riders (except Degenkolb) feared, the strongest sprinter took the sprint out of the six men who contested for the line.  So it was the John Degenkolb (Giant Alpecin) threw his arms in a joyful victory salute, moving one step up the podium from 2014.  Zdenek Stybar (Etixx Quickstep) managed to just hold off Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) to grab second place with the Belgium claim the third step of the podium.  Rounding out this group is Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling), Lars Boom (Astana) and Jens Keukeleire (Orica GreenEdge).  Just finishing this race is a victory, but winning it can make a career.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that 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%20/2541216---195767/Painting.html#.VSsVZPnF-xU

Paris Roubaix: Swinging in to the Velodrome

Etixx Quickstep made the final turn into the Velodrome in Roubaix with the advantage of numbers, I hesitate that they have been in this position before.  It was Yves Lampaert playing the roll of sacrificial domestique for his teammate, Zdenek Stybar.  Swinging in behind the Etixx Quickstep duo is the Belgium favorite, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) follow closely by Lars Boom (Astana) and 3 others.  Paris Roubaix always ends on the Velodrome, a smooth steep banked track after the notorious pave, it must feel like a treasure reward of 750 meters.  Under the velodrome are the other reward, showers for victor and vanquished alike.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that 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%20/2541180---195767/Painting.html#.VSsNc_nF-xU

Hour Record: The Record & More

Wow!  Jens Voigt, at the end of his career, is the new holder of the Hour Record.  He covered 51.115 kilometers in one hour.  He managed to cover one and a quarter kilometers more than the previous record.  With the new record, he has ensure that his name will appear in a very important list of impressive men on two wheels.  He accomplished this feet the day after he turned 43 years old.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is 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-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2438730---195767/Painting.html#.VBuQmM_D_IU

Hour Record: Almost Home

Jens Voigt, as he reached the final fifteen minutes of his effort, actually began to turn in even faster laps.  He, and his coaches, had worked out that he needed to keep turning laps under 18 seconds for the total 199 laps it would take to tie the record.  With the hour almost over, he had sped up from 17.5 seconds to a couple that were less than 17.  After the very first lap, that included getting the single big gear to turn over, he never once went over 17.9 seconds with most laps logging in below 17.5.  Not bad for the old man of our beloved sport!  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is 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-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2438724---195767/Painting.html#.VBuOT8_D_IU

Hour Record: 45 More Minutes

Voigt was riding solid on the bike, turning in laps under 18 seconds, the magic number that would lead him to success.  When in the peloton, he is a rider known for fighting his machine and himself, trying to get every second out of the cranks.  Today he was rock solid in his tuck, laser focused on holding a clean line and a perfect aerodynamic tuck.  At 15 minutes into the effort, he had already picked up 15 seconds on the existing record, barring having gone out to hard at the start, he was on his way.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2438704---195767/Painting.html#.VBuLns_D_IU

Hour Record: Awaiting

Jens Voigt, not one to go quietly into the night, set out today to set a new Hour Record in the National Velodrome in Switzerland.  Voigt has raced his last road race earlier this year in the USA Pro Challenge in Colorado, narrowly missing a stage win in two different break aways on two different stages in the race.  Knowing the spirit of the oldest man in the 101st Tour de France, it should come as no surprise that he hoped to end his professional racing career on a high note.  This is an original watercolor and ink small painting created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition the painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com, with international shipping available.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2438700-116-114-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.VBuI6M_D_IU

Paris Roubaix: Punching the Air

Omega Pharma Quickstep had the perfect set up for the day with three teammates in the final break of the day.  First it was Tom Boonen going on the attack and softening up the other teams.  He even succeeded in isolating last year's winner, Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing).  Once the vastly reduced peloton joined all of the attackers, OPQS was able to send another guy off on his own.  However this one stuck for Niki Terpstra as he left the group with around 3 kilometers left to ride.  He got such a gap that he was able to ride into the velodrome that marks the final 750 meters of the race on his own.  And so much time that he spent the finishing straight celebrating his victory that had eluded him on previous attempts.  The podium was completed in a bunch sprint with John Dekenkolb (Giant Shimano) claiming second just out sprinting Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) who had to settle for third.  Oddly, Peter Sagan, could only manage a sixth place (5th amongst the sprinting group).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2345311---195767/Painting.html#.U0r3Is_D_IU