Paris Roubaix 23: Glued Together

 The front group contained the two main favorites for this year’s Paris Roubaix.  Try as each might, the others were sticking tight to the other’s wheels.  Matthieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) used his power over the cobbles to put the others into jeopardy.  However, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) was glued to the Dutchman’s wheel.  Van Der Poel, did have a teammate with him, Jasper Philipsen, to aid in his team leader’s efforts.  On Philipsen’s wheel is Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) with the former winner of the race John Degenkolb (DSM) following close behind.  It is clear that here is were the winner of the 120th Paris Roubaix lies, question is, who will that winner be?

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-/3945235-533-195767/Painting/glued-together-pr23-13.html

Paris Roubaix 23: Ticking Off Another One

Another piece of Paris Roubaix is dealing with poorly timed mechanical problems.  As the attacks came in the Forest of Arenberg, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) had a flat tire.  He had been there to support the team leader, who crashed out of the race.  He quickly shifted to supporting his teammate Wout Van Aert until a flat left him chasing the lead group with another teammate, Nathan Van Hooydonck.  Their chase was aided by Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Dstny).  Each team will station their soigneurs with bidons and wheels to help their riders out at the end of each section 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 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-/3945233-532-195767/Painting/ticking-off-another-one-pr23-12.html

Paris Roubaix 23: Chaos in the Forest

While I don’t normally paint the crashes, they are so much a part of Paris Roubaix that I felt it was necessary.  As they went into one of the most fabled pave sectors, the peloton shook apart and bodies went flying.  It was so chaotic that I wasn’t able to get any of the names of those on the ground or tangled up in the piles of broken bikes.  Some riders races ended at this moment in pain, most particularly last year’s winner, Dylan Van Baarle (Jumbo-Visma).  For most of the others, it might as well have been over, since the attacks were going off the front as they were lying on the unmerciful cobblestones.

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-/3945232-531-195767/Painting/chaos-in-the-forest-pr23-11.html

Paris Roubaix 23: Onto Another Sector

The pair of Jonas Koch (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Juri Holman (Movistar) were the first to escape off the front of the peloton.  So they were the first to hit Sector 24 with enough of a gap that the flotilla of press and race motorcycles was allowed to slot in behind them.  I loved the image of the foreshortening that shows the arch announcing the entrance into this sector in the background enough that I felt it was worthy of being captured in watercolors.  That is part of my selection process of what I chose to paint.  I look for images that tell the story of the race, but then I also look for a captivating image as well.  After all, this is also about making art.

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-/3945231-530-195767/Painting/onto-another-sector-pr23-10.html

Paris Roubaix 23: And So It Begins

First, I should say that my wife had knee surgery the Wednesday before Paris Roubaix weekend.  She had a tough recovery that left her sleeping most of Saturday during Paris Roubaix Femmes.  Sunday she still had troubles but was more awake yet more uncomfortable.  Therefore while I was able to painting this image the day of the men’s race, most were done either the following Monday or Tuesday.  She is home now and I am able to take care of her a bit more easily.  So it goes.

After 160 kilometers of racing the peloton arrived at the first sector of cobbles all together, an unusual state for Paris Roubaix.  You may notice that it is labeled “29.”  The cobbles count down from 29 to the ceremonial “1” just before to the entrance to the fabled Roubaix Velodrome where the race finishes.  Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) led Jumbo-Visma and the other 20 teams onto the first of 54 kilometers of cobblestone roads that make up the Hell of the ‘Hell of the North.’

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-/3945230-529-195767/Painting/and-so-it-begins.html

Paris Roubaix Femmes 23: The Third Queen of Roubaix

It was a brilliant sprint that took Alison Jackson (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) to the victory on the velodrome in Roubaix.  She becomes the first Canadian to win either the men’s or the women’s Paris Roubaix and is only the third woman to win the now three year old women’s edition.  Marron Borras (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93) opened the sprint but faded to fifth.  It was Katia Ragusa (LIV Racing TeqFind) in second followed by Martha Truyen (Fenix-Deceuninck) grabbing the last step of the podium. Just out of the frame, you can see the arm of Eugenia Duval (FDJ-Suez) who finished fourth on the day.  They collectively held off the peloton of favorites by twelve seconds, marking that rare occasion in professional cycling when the early break away actually wins the day.  It was Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) who won the best of the rest sprint.  A small consolation to the woman who had targeted this race to add to her rather exceptional spring campaign.

Since my wife is in the hospital recovering from a knee replacement revision, I doubt I will be painting the men’s race live.  But I hope to get it done over the next two days.  So, shhhh, no spoilers please.

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-/3944985-528-195767/Painting/the-third-queen-of-roubaix.-prf23-8.html

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Paris Roubaix Femmes 23: Still Away

The early break away was still away as the remaining six rolled onto the fabled velodrome in Roubaix.  As they approached the line they were led into the bell lap with Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT) on the front.  She was followed by Alison Jackson (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB).  To Jackson’s left was Lisa Klein ISD Worx).  Just after I painted this, Klein crashed.  Surprising since this was the smoothest stretch of road of the entire 145 kilometers of racing.  They were joined in the race for the line by their fellow break away companions, Katia Ragusa (LIV Racing TeqFind), Emilia Fahlin (FDJ-Suez), Martha Truyen (Felix-Deceunick) and Marron Borras (St. Michel-Mavic-Auber93).  So while they only had about 15 seconds on the peloton, their ride is proof that every once in a while the break away actually succeeds. 

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-/3944974-527-195767/Painting/still-away-prf23-7.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: Tete de la Course

As they neared the end of the final truly bad section of pave, Sector 4, the Carrefour de l’Arbre, the early break away was now reduced to just six women.  Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT) led them over the cobble stones as she had over most every sector.  Behind her the former Canadian champion, Alison Jackson (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB followed in turn by the Swede on the French team, Emilia Fahlin (FDJ-Suez) swung left pass the gendarmes, press photographers and all of the screaming fans.  With the wreck behind, they were able to stretch out their advantage on those chasing behind.

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-/3944957-525-195767/Painting/tete-de-la-course-prf23-5.html

This painting is sold!

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