Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Almost There

Kristen Faulkner (USA) has been chasing hard with little help from the race favorite Lotte Kopecky (Belgium).  Kopecky may be excused she worked very hard to bridge up to the chasers after getting caught behind the crash on the first circuit through the streets of Paris.  As the two chasers rode through the grounds of the Louvre they could see the two leaders riding out through the gates on the other side.  It was looking like it would be a four woman race for the three medals available at the Eiffel Tower.  Not at all what both Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Blanka Vas (Hungary) were hoping to see.  Since this is the last painting of the four women, I'll tell you that one slipped off the front.  The other three sprinted for the two remaining medals, with Vos just getting the better of Kopecky for Silver and Bronze respectfully.

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 There PO24-66" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Chasing the Chasers

It was the crash of Chloe Dygart (USA) that broke the peloton apart as they started up the Montmartre climb.  Once she got back up and underway, she spent a great deal of time chasing down those ahead of her on the road.  By this point she had dropped the third group on the road, enough so that her team car has been able to slide in behind her.  She chased for the rest of the day, almost catching the chase group as they finished the race in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.  She finished the day in 15th just over three and a half minutes behind the new Olympic Gold Medalist.

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.

"Chasing the Chasers PO24-65" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Vos and Vas

I admit that part of the reason I painted this was just to get to use the title.  That and the fact that Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Blanka Vas (Hungary) were off the front of the race with a twenty-five second gap and a mere eighteen kilometers to go.  Vas was the one who launched on the Montmartre climb with only Vos able to hold the Hungarian's wheel.  As they went back down the other side from Sacre Coeur, the two built on their lead over their erstwhile companions.

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.

"Vos and Vas PO24-64" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Time to Chase!

Caught behind the earlier crash and the medals going up the road, it was time to chase.  Behind by 49 seconds with only twenty-eight kilometers left to ride, it was Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland) who used the Montmartre climb to try to set her race to rights.  She was followed by Carolin Andersson (Sweden) and Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands).  Wiebes was in a bit of a tough spot, it was her teammate up the road so she wasn't going to help in the chase, but then again, she needed to be there if the leaders were caught.  Conversely, it was a very strong group that she was trying to chase down.

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.

"Time to Chase! PO24-63" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: The Narrow Climb to Montemartre

J'adore Paris!  And have been many times including walking this very street.  At the top of the hill is a lovely square populated by artists selling their tourist focused artwork.  I doubt they were out there today.  Bridget and I had the chance to talk with a few and she let them know I was an artist.  We were invited back to the studio of one guy to space that many of the "tourist artists" kept their studios where they made their "real" work.  If I am not mistaken, the door to that space is just to the left as we look that this painting.  It almost looks like Kristen Faulkner (USA) is looking to see what paintings she can spy through the door.  In reality, she is looking at Mavi Garcia (Espana).  The pair were leading this small group that got established after a crash at the base of this climb.  Along for the ride are Blanka Vas (Hungary) and Marianne Vos (Netherlands).  This feels like it must be the move that will stick 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.

"The Narrow Climb to Martmontre PO24-62" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: Starting a Move

As the women returned to Paris, it looks like Mavi Garcia (Espana) is starting a move out of the peloton with 67 kilometers to go.  The Spaniard was joined in the effort by Marianne Vos (Netherlands), Noemi Ruegg (Suisse) and Ashleigh Mooman (South Africa).  They opened a bit of a gap, but no one was going to let this strong of a group get away.  With this move, attacking became the pattern for the rest of the race.  Most every time someone went, they were chased down by the rest of the peloton.  What would it take to break things open?

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.

"Starting a Move PO24-61" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Road Race: In This Together

The early breakaway of six were committed to working together to stay off the front of the peloton.  The move was started by Nora Jencusova (Slovakia) who seems to be having some sort of trouble.  She was being helped by Fariba Hashimi (Afghanistan) and Hanna Tserakh (Individual Neutral Athletes).  Later others made sure the Slovak could get her derailleur functioning again.  They needed her strength to stay off the front.  Along with that threesome were Fariba's sister Yulduz Hashimi (Afghanistan), Thi That Nguyen (Vietnam), and Rotem Gafinovitz (Israel).  It always seems to be the case that the women will help each other until it is time to vie for the race victory towards the end of the race.  It is something I rarely see in the men's peloton.  This group had five minutes on the peloton as they headed back to Paris with another 85 kilometers to 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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"In This Together PO24-60" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Road Race: Sprinting in Paris

This might be THE image of these Olympic Games for me.  Either unable to catch his teammate, or unwilling to drag the others up to Valentin Madouas (France), Christophe Laporte (France) was able to sprint away from the chase group under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower to take the Bronze Medal.  His third place meant that the French took the two remaining medals behind the Belgium Remco Evenepoel.  Not a bad finish for the home team in front of one of their most famous landmarks.  And kudos to the cameraman that found this angle for the finale, too bad he couldn't have got there for Evenepoel's finale.

As Evenepoel posed with his bike just across the finish, you could see the TV camera men running down the course to get this shot.  Somebody is in trouble...

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.

"Sprinting in Paris PO24-59" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Road Race: The One Thing...

As the leader on the road approached the gate to the grounds of the Louvre he held out his arm, apparently celebrating is impending Gold Medal.  But no, the only thing that could risk Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) from taking his second Gold Medal of these Games would be a mechanical, and that is exactly what he was letting his team car know about.  As he somewhat calmly laid down his bike at the barrier, is mechanic took his spare bike off of the roof of the car.  Normally calm, the Belgium was freaking out about getting his bike as quickly as humanly possible.  It was a very quick bike change, but I am sure it was an eternity for Evenepoel.  As he got back underway - without his bike computer - he kept gesturing to the TV Moto to tell him what the time gap was.  Finally, his team car came up alongside him and let him know he still had almost a minute on the chasers.  It was enough for Evenepoel to take the Gold and in so doing became the first cyclists to win both the Olympic Time Trial and the Road Race at the same games.  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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The One Thing PO24-58" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Road Race: With a Minute in Hand

Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) had been dropping everyone, one by one, or in whole groups on the final circuit in downtown Paris.  Has he went up the climb of Montmartre for the final time, he put in a big surge and drop the last guy, Valentin Madouas (France).  As he came back down the other side on his way to the Eiffel Tower, he had a minute advantage over the Frenchman and another twenty seconds on the group of five still chasing.  The Gold Medal would certainly be his barring any mechanicals or other mishap.  Behind the barriers the Belgium fans were thrilled cheering on their man who had just won the Maillot Blanc and came in second in the Tour de France.  I am quite sure it wasn't only Belgium fans that were thrilled to see this commanding performance from the man who has already won gold in the men's time trial last week.

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. 

"With a Minute in Hand PO24-57" (Original art by Greig Leach)