Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Prevailing

The title was taken from the announcer on Peacock, Anthony McCrossan, attempting to make a pun out of the winner's name, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike).  She came to the line after a lap and a half of the Roubaix Velodrome with just a butterfly to accompany her to the line.  It was a brilliant attack that she was able to make stick through the closing kilometers with no one getting any closer once she had established her break.  She becomes the first Frenchwoman to win Paris Roubiax Femmes in its now five-year history.  I became a fan back in 2014 when she won the UCI Women's Road World Championships, and am thrilled to see her come back to road cycling after conquering almost every other cycling discipline.  I think even the insect world was thrilled for her 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 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.

"Prevailing PR25-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Almost a Minute

With the marquee riders all watching each other in the closing kilometers, it was the Frenchwoman Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) who jumped clear of the leading group.  The reigning Olympic Mountain Biking Gold Medalist quickly built up a lead of almost a minute on those chasing behind.  She flew over the cobbles of the final hard sector with just eight kilometers left to go in the fifth edition of the Paris Roubiax Femmes avec Zwift.  It was looking like she may have a serious chance of being the first Frenchwoman to win in Roubaix.

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 a Minute PR25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Alone on Sector 6

It was Emma Norsgaard (Lidl-Trek) who hit the three-star sector six alone.  The Norwegian has built up a twenty second lead on the chasing favorites (although she can count herself as one of those favorites as well).  With her time trialing capabilities, she would prove a difficult woman to track down from behind.  She has just another twenty-four kilometers to go.  Will she have the stamina to race alone over the cobbles to come solo onto the velodrome in Roubaix?

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.

"Alone on Sector 6 PR25-5" (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)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Needing Help

Before painting this I kept seeing Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic-PostNL) gesture that she needed help from her team car. After the end of each pave section, teams place soigneurs loaded with bottles and wheels to help out their riders.  After painting and titling this artwork, I discovered that she had already swapped her race bike for her spare from her following team car.  At this point the British Champion is trying to catch back up with the leading peloton.  Side note, she did get back there, making the final selection vying for the podium in Roubaix.

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.

"Needing Help PR25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: First to the Cobbles

The duo of Quinty Ton (Liv-Alula-Jayco) and Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal) were the first to hit Sector 17 of Paris Roubaix Femmes.  The had built up about a two and a half minute advantage over the smoother roads of the first sixty-four kilometers of the race.  But we all know, the racing doesn't really start until the cobbles are under the wheels.  With another eighty-two kilometers to go, they were facing just shy of forty kilometers of 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"First to the Cobbles PR25-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: Backward & Forward

Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) was coming back to the front of the race having tangled wheels with one of her teammates.  Both managed to stay upright, but it left the British champion chasing back across the Carrefour de l’Arbre sector.  Conversely, Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) was going through a bad patch and was dropping away from the leading group.  Thus the title, backward for the actions of Balsamo, and forward for those of Georgi.  With just sixteen kilometers to race, and this being the final truly tough section of cobbles, it was going to be tough for either of these women to see the leaders of the race 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 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/Spring-Classics-/4008377-564-195767/Painting/backward-forward.-pr24-5.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: Gaining an Advantage

On the pave section named after the windmill off to her right, Jade Wiel (FDJ-Suez) opens up a twenty second lead with another 33 kilometers to go.  She must have felt good to ride solo past her team’s main sponsor’s banners as she neared the end of the eighth pave section, the Templeuvue Moulin de Vertain.  Behind her, the erstwhile leading quartet were getting their chase of the former French National Champion organized.

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/Spring-Classics-/4008375-563-195767/Painting/gaining-an-advantage.-pr24-4.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: A Bit of a Gap

As they came off of Sector 14, Ellen Van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) pushed the pace getting a bit of a gap on the chasing peloton.  Not only was she helping herself, she was pulling Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) away from those behind.  With another 64 kilometers to race, it was too early to tell if this move was going to become “the move,” but others have gone off on their own by this point in early editions of both the women’s and the men’s races over the years.

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/Spring-Classics-/4008371-560-195767/Painting/one-done.-pr24-1.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes ‘24: One Done

As the peloton hit 76 kilometers to go they had only gone through the first of the seventeen pave sections of the fourth edition of the Paris Roubaix Femmes.  At this point as they crossed the narrow bridge in La Scarpe, the group was still one large peloton.  At the tail of the group is Roxane Fournier (St Michel-Mavic-Auber 93).  Not the best place to ride when so much can go wrong at a moments notice.

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/Spring-Classics-/4008371-560-195767/Painting/one-done.-pr24-1.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes 23: Caught by the Peloton

This trio of Susanne Anderson (Uno-X), Marjolein Van ‘T Geloof (Human Powered Health) and Romy Kasper (AG Insurance-Soudal-Quick Step) had been off the front for virtually all of Paris Roubaix Femmes, but with just ten kilometers left to race, they found themselves being caught by the remnants of the peloton of race favorites.  Kasper had spent some time off the front on her own, but it may have been too much energy spent.  Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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-/3944965-526-195767/Painting/caught-by-the-peloton-prf23-6.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes 23: Down in Front!

As this chase group of 16 got close to the early break away on Pave Sector 9, the Pont Thibaut, last year’s winner, Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) lost control of her bike on the muddy cobbles.  As she went down the rest of the group either went down with her or were caught behind the twisted pile of bikes and bodies.  Somehow, only Romy Kasper (AG Insurance-Soudal-Quick Step) manage to stay upright.  She was able to push on as Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) and her teammate in the WWT points jersey fell over the former Italian champion.  As I said in an early post, Paris Roubaix can have a way of changing riders’ fortunes in a blink of an eye.

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-/3944955-524-195767/Painting/down-in-front-prf23-4.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes 23: Checking the Damage

As she came off of Sector 12, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) looked back to see just how much damage her pace did over the cobblestones.  Still holding onto the Belgium’s wheel is Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM) and behind her a couple of the women of Trek-Segafredo.  As the riders come off of each section of pave, their soigneurs hold spare wheels aloof in case the stones weren’t kind to their riders wheels.  While neither of the women on the front of this group were French, the cycling fan on the side of waved the French tricolour for everyone riding by.

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-/3944943-523-195767/Painting/checking-the-damage-prf23-3.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes 23: Going Off on Her Own

Tired with the pace of the break away, and the number of passengers, Daniek Hengeveld (DSM) decided to head off on her own.  She used Sector 15, the stretch of cobbles from Tilley to Sars et Rosieres to open up a gap on those behind.  She grew her advantage up to a half of a minute before her former companions got their chase organized.  With another 71 kilometers to Roubaix, it was a bit of a tall order to race the rest of the cobbles off the front on her own.

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-/3944940-522-195767/Painting/off-on-her-own-prf23-2.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes 23: The First of Many

By the time the large early breakaway reached the first of 17 sections of cobbles they were already setting a new fastest time in the women’s Paris Roubaix.  Marion Borras (St. Michel-Mavic-Aauber93) and Lisa Van Helvoirt (Parkhotel-Valkenburg) were on the tail end of the group of 18 women who had build up over a five minute lead on the chasing peloton.  While it is very rare that a break away stays away all of the way to the end of a race, this gap was going to make it a tough day out for those behind.  Of course, “the Hell of the North” has a way of turning the racing upside down in the blink of an eye.

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-/3944938-521-195767/Painting/the-first-of-many.-prf23-1.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes '22: The Sprint Behind

Unable to chase down the Italian Champion, the sextet of Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), Lucinda Brand and her teammate Ellen Van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo), along with Floortje Mackaij (DSM), Marta Cavalli (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), and Elise Chabbey (Canyon/SRAM) found themselves sprinting it out for second place.  That honor went to Kopecky with Brand taking the final step of the podium. Chabbey took fourth, Cavalli in fifth, Mackaij in sixth.  Van Dijk dropped off a few seconds having let of the sprint for Brand and finish in seventh.  Trek-Segafredo clearly would have loved to have had their team leader still in the race, but taking first and third for the team and three in the top seven seems a very good result to me.

I'll be back tomorrow to paint the men's race.  It being Easter, I may not be able to finish it all on Sunday.  It will all be up by Monday then.

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-/3879623-492-195767/Painting/the-sprint-behind-pr22-8.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes '22: The Second Queen

There is a certain symmetry in Elisa Longo Borghini's (Trek-Segafredo) win today.  Last year she took third as her teammate Lizzie Deigan won the first Paris Roubaix Femmes and Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) took second.  This year Deigan didn't race and Vos had to pull out before the race start due to a positive Covid test.  I hope she recovers quickly and completely.  (Not that she didn't win today on her own merit!)  Her 23 second advantage over the six women chasing behind was no fluke, clearly she had the legs today to avenge her team leader's disqualification.  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 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-/3879613-491-195767/Painting/the-second-queen-pr22-7.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes '22: Ready for Her Close Up

 I enjoy when the camera operators get each other into one of their shots.  Here the helicopter is not only showing us Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) alone with a 38 second advantage, but they are also letting us see one of the TV moto guys standing on the back of the motorcycle so we can see a close up of the Italian Champion looking like she will be the second queen of Paris Roubaix Femmes.  I pharaphrased Gloria Swanson's famous line,"I'm ready for my close up Mister DeMille" to title this painting.  I feel certain now that Elisa will get a close up as she crosses the finish line in the fabled Roubaix velodrome in another four and a half kilometers.  I don't think it will be a group photo either.

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-/3879610-490-195767/Painting/ready-for-her-close-up-pr22-6.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: Too Sticky

There is an expression in cycling, "Getting a sticky bottle."  It means that a cyclist and the team director in the car will hold onto a water bottle a little longer than necessary thus towing the cyclist along.  The UCI Road World Champion, Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) was having a rough Paris Roubaix Femmes with both a crash and a poorly timed flat tire.  As she was working her way back up to the peloton she use a sticky bottle move to catch a bit of a rest.  Problem was, she was caught on camera and disqualified for holding onto her team car for way too long.  She was pulled out of the race so as not to provide any help to her teammates that were still in the race.  I'm used to seeing this move resulting in a time penalty in the big tours, but this is the first time I have seen a rider kicked out of the race.  I guess that is a difference of a stage race versus a one day race.

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-/3879571-488-195767/Painting/too-sticky-pr22-4.html