The Art of Cycling: October 2020

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, To the Line

The race today came down to the two favorites sprinting it out for the win. Both Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) waited as long as possible to start their sprint, each not wanting to give the other a chance to get around them. But with the chasing group just about two hundred meters behind, it was time to sprint it out between themselves. It was a little unclear who had taken the victory until we got a look at the photo finish. The photo confirmed that Van Der Poel had just beaten Van Aert by the length of his deep dish carbon wheel. The pair are evenly matched and they showed it by just how close the finish of Ronde Van Vlaanderen was. It may well have been the closest finish of the race since it first started 107 years ago. I tried to confirm that but the Pro Cycling Stats website only gives the time margins which shows the last five races have been close, but doesn't give the physical distance between finishers.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors 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/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722808-37-280747/Painting/to-the-line-rvv20-8.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, One of These Two

With Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) out, the race was down to Wout Van Aerts (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix). Both riders had spent too much effort watching each other in last week's Gent-Wevelgem and marked each other out of contention for the sprint finish. Clearly the pair had no intention of repeating their mistake. While they had dueling words through the cycling press all week, today they were willing to collaborate to stay away and let their legs decide who was the better rider on the day. On their last trip up the Oude Kwaremont and the final climb, they stuck to each other like glue, and continued to work together. They have almost a minute and a half on the remnants of the peloton and they had no intention of letting anyone back into the race.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722742-36-280747/Painting/one-of-these-two-rvv20-7.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, What Happened?

Both Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) looked back to try and see what had happened. A rider can hear a crash happening behind them and can usually tell how bad it was by the sound. These two had Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) on their wheel as the trio rode away from the chasing peloton. As they caught a bit of a draft off of one of the race offical motos and then flipped around to pass, Alaphilippe had a momentary lapse of atention. That split second of talking to his team car on the radio meant that he ran his shoulder into the motorcycle or his driver and flipped his bike head over heals. That is him lying on the road where he came to rest after somersaulting over himself and his bike. He wasn't going to be rejoining the race. Normally, I don't paint crashes, and I really am focusing on his competitors reactions rather than his obvious pain, but this one change the profile of the remaining 35 kilometers of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. And not to my preferences.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722738-35-280747/Painting/what-happened-rvv20-6.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Off the Front

Everyone had been waiting for the move and at 44 kilometers up the Oude Kwareberg it came. Anthony Turgis (Total Direct Energie) had set himself up as the perfect springboard for Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step). Alaphilippe is riding his debut Ronde Van Vlaanderen and was hoping his Rainbow Jersey would take him to victory at the end of the day. This duo had opened some clear daylight between themselves and the peloton, but there was still quite a few kilometers of racing to go and anything could happen...

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722730-34-280747/Painting/off-the-front-rvv20-5.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Not Likely

With the early break finally mopped up by the peloton, it was time for the counter attacks to start. One of the first to go was Adrien Petit (Total Direct Energie). With another 63 kilometers left to race, it wasn't very likely that Petit could stay away. His chances were even less without anyone joining him in the effort to get away.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722702-33-280747/Painting/not-likely-rvv20-4.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Up the Wolvenberg

Ronde Van Vlaanderen (and most of the Belgium Classics) are known for their short, very steep, cobbled climbs. Sebastian Mora Vedri (Movistar) is bringing up the rear of the peloton on the Wolvenberg climb. He sits behind riders from several different wild card teams including Cofidis, Circus-Wanty Gobert, and Bingoal-WB. Normally, these embankments on each side of this stretch of pave would be four or five team with screaming Belgium (and world wide) cycling fans, but generally the public follow the wishes of the organizers and the government of Belgium and stayed away. All of Belgium will go back into lock down on Monday due to a resurgence of Covid-19.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722699-32-280747/Painting/up-the-wolvenberg-rvv20-3.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Their Time on the Front

After nearly sixty kilometers of racing the early break finally formed. The group of six build up almost a seven minute lead on the peloton, but with 126 kilometers to race it was unlikely they would stay away to the end. Fabio Van Den Bossche (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) was on the back of the group following Samuele Battistella (NTT), Dimitri Peyskens (Bingoal-WB), Gregor Muhlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Gijs Van Hoecke (CCC). The organizers had asked fans to stay away from the race and watch it all on TV. While there was clearly less cycling fans on the side of the road, it wasn't completely empty along the narrow lanes of Flanders.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722693-31-280747/Painting/their-time-on-the-front-rvv20-2.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Kissing His Babies

While cycling is full of drama, extreme physical efforts, crashes and an unending amout of pain, it does have its moments of charm and humanity. This moment was one of those. Tom Van Asbroeck (Israel Start Up Nation) took the time to stop and visit his young family on the side of the road as he raced through his home town. He started with his eldest daughter, now hugging his middle child, finishing with the babe in his wife's arms and then a big kiss for her. The race had another 100 kilometers to race, so he had no worries about not being to catch back onto the peloton after these few moments of love and happiness.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3722687-30-280747/Painting/kissing-his-babies-rvv20-1.html

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Gent-Wevelgem, The Best Sprint

It turned out that Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) had the best sprint of the five that came to the line together. They had managed to drop the group that contained the two favorites and John Degenkolb (Lotto Soudal) who, on paper, was the best sprinter of the two groups coming into the last 500 meters. On Pedersen's wheel was Florian Senechal (Deceuninck-Quick Step) who was the best of his three teammates out of the group, claiming the second step on the podium. The two aggressors in the final kilometers, Matteo Trentin (CCC) and Alberto Bettiol (EF) took third and fourth respectively. This was Pedersen's first victory after surrendering his Rainbow Jersey three weeks ago. It was great to see that he was congratulated by all of those who just finished unable to get around the young Dane.

With the way the virus is resurging throughout Europe, and the USA, it may be unlikely that I will be painting any more racing this strange season. Hopefully, I wll be back with the Tour of Flanders next week, but I'm not holding my breath for the start of La Veulta. But then, I usually only paint one Grand Tour a year anyhow. The Giro is looking like a great race this year, but I just don't have the energy, nor strenght to try and paint it right now. I am still not anywhere near whole after my kidney donation surgery or the pneumonia complications that followed. Better, but not all better.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718368-29-280747/Painting/the-best-sprint-gw20-7.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Who Is It Going to Be?

With just six kilometers to go John Degenkolb (Lotto Soudal) had his head on a swivel trying to guess who was going to launch the attack. He looked back into the eyes of Yves Lampaert (Deceuninck-Quick Step) as Matthieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and a small group looked on. A little further back it was Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) shadowed by Alberto Bettiol (EF) and Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ). Naturally the attack came from the very back with Bettiol being the one to launch the first attack out of this leading group. It came to not, but those without teammates with them are the ones who have to go on the offensive.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718350-28-280747/Painting/who-is-it-going-to-be-gw20-6.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Remembering Their Sacrafice

Much of the race has gone past memorials and graveyards of those who died in the Great War. This gate commemorates all of the military units that fought and died amongst the allies on Flanders fields. While this race was first contested after the war, others had to pause during both World War I & II. This year numerous races changed their calender or canceled altogether. This is the first time that it wasn't a war that stopped cycling, but then more have died due to Covid-19 than have died in either of the two wars fought across Europe.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718309-27-280747/Painting/remembering-their-scarafice-gw20-5.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Over the Final Climb

As the pair of Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) and Matteo Trentin (CCC) went over the top of the Kimmelberg for the final time they found themselves opening up a bit of a gap on the front group. As the others reached for bottles, gels and whatever else from their soigneurs at the summit, Kung and Trentin saw their chance to push on with their advantage. The back side of the Kimmelberg was extremely narrow with some tight turns so it was more advantageous to be in a small group then back in the peloton. As you can see from the pair's legs and jersey, this was definitely a mud-fest race that was presenting its own challenges for the riders and their mechanics. And again, the further back you are in the peloton, the muddier you get from the spray off the wheels of the other bikes. Thirty four kilometers to the end might be a bit much for the duo, but this is a race for the daring.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718303-26-280747/Painting/over-the-final-climb-gw20-4.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Last Time Up the Baneberg

The course of Gent-Wevelgem took the riders over some climbs multiple times including two climbs of the Baneberg. All of the climbs were short, steep and paved with cobblestones. I had been planning on painting the famous cobble stone race of Paris-Roubaix, yet it has been canceled due to the resurgence of Covid-19 throughout France. So I found coverage of this other cobbled semi-classic. The major difference in the two races is that Paris-Roubaix's cobbled sections are much longer and they are all flat. These roads seem somewhat smoother as well. This is the back end of the leading group on the road that includes Sep Vanmarcke (EF), Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Fenix), Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale) and Luke Rowe (Ineos-Grenadiers). Gougeard was the only rider that managed to stay with the lead group from the original break away of the day. With 40 kilometers to go, most of those behind had little chance of figuring in the finale in just over an hour from now.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718294-25-280747/Painting/last-time-up-the-baneberg-gw20-3.html

Gent-Wevelgem, Yeah, They're Here

It was a treat to see Mark Cavendish (Bahrain-McLaren) back in the pro peloton. Today, he changed up his normal tactics and got into the early break in hopes of still being on the front when it came to the final sprint. He looked over his shoulder to confirm that the leading peloton had in fact caught him and his erstwhile break away companions. Ahead of Cavendish was Julien Morice (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) who didn't seem to pay any attention to those joining up with the group. Behind the Manx Missile were Alexander Konychev (Mitchelton-Scott), Leonardo Basso (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale). With 66 kilometers left to race, it was possible to think this was going to be the group that contested for the victory in Wevelgem.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718281-24-280747/Painting/yeah-theyre-here-gw20-2.html

Gent-Wevelgem, And?

At the summit of the first trip up the Kemmelberg, it was a rider from Alpecin-Fenix on the front of the chasing peloton. He looked back to the rider from Groupama-FDJ seeming to ask what he had to give. The duo had opened a bit of a gap on those behind that included Luke Rowe (Ineos-Grenadiers) amongst others. With 81 kilometers to race and a group of seven up the road, it remains to be seen if this will become a move that sticks. I am sorry that I wasn't able to get the names of these riders off the front, neither I nor the commentators on FloBikes were able to see their bib, nor bike numbers. If you know their names, please let me know.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3718259-23-280747/Painting/and-gw20-1.html

Sunday, October 4, 2020

LBL Femmes, She Left It All on the Road

Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) had ridden of the front of a very talented peloton for roughly 25 kilometers, so it is natural that she was completely spent after taking the victory salute at the line in Liege. With her head down and her soigneur there to congratulate and assist her, it was a joyful and spent woman draped across her handlebars. Shortly after this, she was congratulated by her teammate who took third. And then it was time to pull on a face mask and speak to the press as the winner of the fourth Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714944-22-280747/Painting/she-left-it-all-on-the-road-lbl20-5.html

LBL Femmes, Trying to Cross Alone

Realizing that the seven chasers were never going to get organized and chase down the lone leader, Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott) attacked her erstwhile companions. Brown hope to be able to cross the gap to Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) on her own. She had enough of a gap on the others that she didn't need to worry about taking someone forward who would only out sprint her in the end. Alas, Brown never caught Diegnan, but was just a mere 10 seconds behind the winning Brit by the time they reached the line in Liege. The rest of the chasers sprinted it out over a minute later with one of Diegnan's teammates taking third. I am always concerned watching the peloton race on these Belgium cement slap roads, the center gap looks to be a tire eater and sure to cause an awful crash. Thankfully, I have yet to see it happen. I, however, have had a rather spectacular crash in a tram track while riding in Berlin. I was fortunate enough to have taken my helmet with me, but I did put quite the gash in my right ear.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714922-21-280747/Painting/trying-to-cross-alone-lbl20-4.html

LBL Femmes, Schooling the Peloton

Sometimes there is an image that I just can't resist painting. This was just such a moment, and it fit the story of what was happening in the final kilometers of today's race. Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) was schooling all of those behind on how to race the final kilometers of the Liege Bastogn Liege Femmes. As she hit the foot of the final climb, the Cote de la Roche aux Faucons, she had a minute on those that seemed unwilling to commit to chasing and just fifteen kilometers to race. I'm often ask how I choose what to paint from each race, here is an example of part of that selection process.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714911-20-280747/Painting/schooling-the-peloton-lbl20-3.html

LBL Femmes, The Chasers

This group was desperate to chase back the lone Brit, Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) who was a mere 50 seconds up the road. All of us watching ponder why would they let them go, but all of us who have raced know there is that point when you just don't have the legs to go with the move. It is a sinking feeling to watch the race go up the road and know you just can't do anything about it. With the strength of former World Champion, Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv), along with Julietter Labous (Sunweb), Grace Brown (Mitchelton-Scott), Kathrine Aalerud (Movistar) amongst others, should have been able to collaborate in the chase, but each desired the win, thus not wanting to pull the others up to the leader. As it is said, sometimes you have to be willing to loss to win a race. However, I think these ladies got the wrong end of that stick.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714905-19-280747/Painting/the-chasers-lbl20-2.html

LBL Femmes, Some Help at the Top

As Lizzie Diegnan (Trek-Segafredo) neared the top of the Cote de la Redoute (the penultimate climb of the race), she was begining to open up a gap on the group of nine she had been with. At the top she was passed a bottle by one of the team soigneurs. With just 30 kilometers to the finish, this seemed a bit to dangerous of a rider to let get a few seconds on those behind.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3714877-18-280747/Painting/some-help-at-the-top.html