The Art of Cycling: February 2021

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Omloop 2021 - Showing the Team Colors

It was Davide Ballerini (Deceuninck-Quick Step) who took the victory at the line in Ninove. As he crossed the line he saluted his team in his victory celebration. The team has taken the name of "The Wolf Pack" for themselves and they truly hunt for victories together. It was his teammate Julian Alaphilippe who had tried for a solo victory, and then he was the one to pull the race back together to set it all up for Ballerini. Behind the celebrating Italian, it is Sep Vanmarcke (Israel Start Up Nation) who took third and Henrich Haussler (Bahrain-Victorious) who claimed fourth. I apologize to Jake Steward (Groupama-FDJ) who took second, but did so off camera from this angle.

That is it for today's racing, but I plan to be back tomorrow for Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne that will feature many of the same competitors and types of roads.

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/Spring-Classics-2021/3796487-6-290150/Painting/showing-the-team-colors-ohn21-6.html

Omloop 2021 - Hanging Off the Front

Once the group that had gotten away on the Leberg had been caught, it was Gianni Moscon (Ineo-Grenadiers) who was next to try a move off the front. The Italian opened up about 15 seconds on those behind on the way up the final climb of the day, the Bosberg. While I doubt you can make him out in this painting, it is Alaphilippe who is chasing. With just 14 kilometers left to race it is beginning to look like this Omlooop Het Nieuwsbald will be one of the rare bunch sprints to determine the winner on the day.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3796486-5-290150/Painting/hanging-off-the-front-ohn21-5.html

Omloop 2021 - Avec Panache

One thing is certain, if Julain Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) is racing it will be entertaining. The commentator on the feed that I was using said that Alaphilippe wins with panache. Even if he doesn't win, he will always provide the audience with a show. He reminds me of his countryman, Thomas Voeckler, although he has a much better palmares then the guy who held off Lance Armstrong in the Tour for three days through the Alps while wearing the Yellow Jersey.

Alas, behind the World Champion is the neutral service vehicle that is no longer the bright yellow of Mavic. The Mavic company has pulled out of supply neutral service this year and yielded that duty to Shimano. Perhaps a more appropiate company now that most every pro team uses Shimano componets on their bikes (Campanolo and SRAM being the other choices).

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3796485-4-290150/Painting/avec-panache-ohn21-4.html

Omloop 2021 - Time to Go!

On the final climb up the Leberg Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) decided it was time to attack. He quickly pulled a small group off the front of the peloton. The move was actually started at the base of the climb by Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates). Alaphilippe has two other teammates who made the move, but everyone else was without teammates. Arjen Livyns (Bingoal-Wallonie Bruxelles) had to be thrilled to find himself in a move with the World Champion and the former European Champion along with some other marquee riders. If the race places out as usual, this is the move that will decide who takes out the victory in Ninove in another 43 kilometers.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3796484-3-290150/Painting/time-to-go-ohn21-3.html

Omloop 2021 - Was It Worth It?

That is the question that Jonas Rutsch (EF Education-Nippo) had to be asking himself as the peloton chased him down on the pave of Haleweg. The young German had gone off in an attempt to bridge up to the five man break, but just couldn't get onto the wheels of the escapees. He spent a lot of energy in what proved to be a failed attempt to establish an ally up the road for his team leader. With 52 kilometers left to the finish, he now may be wondering if he will be able to stay with the group on the bergs and paves yet to come.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3796483-2-290150/Painting/was-it-worth-it-ohn21-2.html

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Omloop 2021, From the Beginning

Having missed the opportunity to paint the Tour Down Under this year due to Covid (restrictions on crowds and sporting events - not on my contracting the virus), I decided to start painting the 2021 season with the start of the Belgium cobble races. So here goes for 2021 and the Omloop Het Neiuwsbald. And here it goes for the break away that went off the front a kilometer zero. So the title is from the beginning of my season of painting, and from the beginning of today's racing. Five got away and build up almost four minutes on the peloton behind including, Yeveniy Fedorov (Astana), Kenny Deketele (sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Matis Bouvel (Arkea Samsic), Ryan Gibbons (UAE-Team Emirates) and Bert De Backer (B&B Hotels). It was De Backer who is leading them through the narrow twisting roads that seems to define racing in Belgium. Well that and the cobbles and short steep climbs.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3796482-1-290150/Painting/from-the-beginning-ohn21-1.html