Wollongong 2022, Women's Road Race: Holding Them Off

Yes, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Netherlands) had the jump on all of the others (inluding some marquee sprinters) but she also had the legs to hold them off as they all sprint to the line in the final kilometer of the Elite Women's Road Race.  I am sure at this moment she had no idea her elbow was broken.  This was a race of grit, resiliance, and power.  And it was a race that will have her wearing the Rainbow Jersey for the next twelve months, and the rainbow bands on her sleeves for the rest of her career.  Behind her you can make out the light blue Belgium jersey of a very frustrated Lotte Kopecky who sprinted to the silver medal.  The others trying to get up to the Dutch veteran included Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Denmark) - 5th, Liane Lippert (Germany) - 4th, and Arlenis Sierra (Cuba) - 6th.  It may have taken a long time for the race to switch from a race of attrition to one of attacking moves, but it got exciting in the final twenty kilometers.  Chapeau, Annemiek!  It is a win well deserved!

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, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g 

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Wollongong 2022, Women's Road Race: Getting the Jump

Annemiek Van Vleutin (Netherlands) had been off the back, just out of contention for most of the final two laps of the Wollongong city circuit.  She had started the day with a broken elbow that she suffered in the first 50 feet of the Mixed Team Relay.  But as those in the front group began to look at each other whilst going under the red kite, she came from the back at full speed.  As she flew past them at full speed they didn't jump on their pedals immediately.  A huge mistake! Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa) looked first to see if any of those behind her were going to take up the chase.  On her wheel was Liane Lippert (Germany), Arlenis Sierra (Cuba), Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Denmark).  They had all been racing flat out on the front and may have thought it was going to come down to a sprint betwixt themselves and just weren't ready for an attack from behind.  Nevertheless, Van Vleutin was not one they should have let get even a pedal stroke.  She may not be a great sprinter, but she is a strong time trialist, and will not be easy to pull back at any distance, but with less than a kilometer to race, it will be near impossible to catch her.

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, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g  

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Tour Femmes '22, Stage 8: Swapping Bikes

Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) was having the best of starts to her final stage of the Tour de France Femmes.  Yes, she did start the day in the Maillot Jaune with a three plus minute buffer, but things weren't going to her way mechanically.  She had started the stage in an all yellow bike, but when she had to trade bikes with her teammate Arlenis Sierra, she was getting off of a black bike with just yellow bar tape.  As she rode off on the blue bike that wasn't an exact fit Sierra waited for their team car to get her spare.  Later Van Vleutin was seen back on the yellow one.  And still later, she finished the stage back on the black bike with a different rear wheel.  I make that five bike changes in a single stage.  That makes for a lot of chasing back on, what will she have left on the final climb?

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, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France--Tour-de-France-Femmes-2022/3896675-188-294403/Painting/swapping-bikes-tdff22-47.html