Doha 2016, Elite Women's TTT: In Formation

A team time trial can be a beautiful thing to watch, when it is all going right.  Cervelo Bigla Pro had it together today on the roads around Doha.  The sextet of women road a powerful and precise race on their way to a bronze medal in the opening race of the 2016 UCI Road World Championships.  The German team is rather international, being comprised of riders from Switzerland, Germany, Finland, South Africa and Canada.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Doha%202016%20UCI%20Road%20World%20Championships/2863208-2-227958/PaintingIn%20Formation%20Doha2-Greig-Leach.html#.V_qPS_ArLIU

Doha 2016, Women's TTT: Tucked In

While I had hoped to repeat the on site live painting of the 2015 UCI Road World Championships that I did here in Richmond, Virginia, many others that were on the roads of Richmond are now racing through the desert in Doha, Qatar.  Starting the racing off in the Elite Women's Team Time Trial for Twenty16-Ridebiker was the star of the Junior Women's \ITT and Road Race, Chloe Dygert (USA).  Her American team sat atop the leader board for a little while (the advantage of being an early starter), but finished the day in fifth place.  The weather was certainly a factor today with truly hot temperatures and strong winds full of blowing sand.  Fortunately, there was only one crash, but it put Raboliv out of medal contention.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Doha%202016%20UCI%20Road%20World%20Championships/2863207-1-227958/PaintingTucked%20In%20Doha1-Greig-Leach.html#.V_qKufArLIU

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Following the Rainbow

Linda Melanie Villumsen (New Zealand) whipped through the streets of Richmond, Virginia with some of the biggest names in the sport chasing behind her.  As she turned off of East Broad Street for the last couple of turns that would bring her back to just two blocks from her she could see by the final time check that the Rainbow Jersey was hers for the taking.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition this painting is available along with two different sizes of prints in the Richmond Convention Center just a block away from the finish line of every race of the UCI World Road Racing Championships.  Just come look for me directly across from the awards podium.  Plus you can find a live stream of my painting the works at www.richmond.com were the paintings will soon be available for purchase.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Racing in Richmond

I had the pleasure of meeting Evelyn (Evie's) Stevens's mother before the racing started today.  The poor woman was both a nervous wreck and a very proud mother.  Evie went out hard driving against the growing winds around the course.  She had the advantage of getting reports from her country woman's brilliant early ride but didn't quite have the legs to make the podium that she and her mother dreamed of.  She ended the day just six seconds behind Kristen Armstrong, but 6th overall 27 seconds off of the winner's time.  Her number 3 bib on her back implies that she was expected to fair better.  Actually, if the two surprises of the day had not happen, she would have been in 4th so either way, a medal was just not in the cards.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  What is unusual about this race for me is that I am painting it live at the Fanfest area, sitting directly across form the podium and the hot seats where the well placed finishers await the final verdict of the clock.  You can come watch me paint there, or watch it on a live stream at www.richmond.com.  The works are available as originals or two different size prints at Fanfest, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Out of the Gate

Anna Van Der Breggen (Netherlands) rolled down the start ramp already knowing that there was a surprise rider up the road posting some seriously fast split times.  The winner of the second running of La Course by the Tour de France was going to have to have a spectacular ride to hope for a new jersey at the end of her ride.  She is cheered on by a large contingent of Dutch fans who came to Richmond with orange costumes, funny hats, and lots and lots of flags to cheer on their country woman.  Ultimately, Van Der Breggen fell a mere 3 seconds shy of the Gold Medal and the Rainbow Jersey despite having Linda Villumsen's (New Zealand) time splits to aim for.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  What is unusual about this race for me is that I am painting it live at the Fanfest area, sitting directly across form the podium and the hot seats where the well placed finishers await the final verdict of the clock.  You can come watch me paint there, or watch it on a live stream at www.richmond.com.  The works are available as originals or two different size prints at Fanfest, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: The Final Kilometer

Aude Biannic (France) pushes as hard as she can up the false flat towards the end of her effort.  As she swung off of the short brutal climb within the last kilometer she had to be thinking that was the end of the climbing, but the course rises all the way to the line.  That fact has dashed the hopes of a number of riders that felt like that were in with a chance when that turned onto the final approach.  I was proud to see how many of my fellow Richmonders were out lining nearly every kilometer of the course cheering riders from around the world.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  What is unusual about this race for me is that I am painting it live at the Fanfest area, sitting directly across form the podium and the hot seats where the well placed finishers await the final verdict of the clock.  You can come watch me paint there, or watch it on a live stream at www.richmond.com.  The works are available as originals or two different size prints at Fanfest, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Going to Southside

All but the Men's Elite TT include a quick jaunt over the Robert E Lee Bridge into the southside of the city (my neck of the woods).  Just at the beginning of the Bridge is the first (and third) time checks out on the course.  Trixi Worrack (Germany) was the first of quite a few riders to get any where near the early mark set by Kristen Armstrong although not close enough to move her from the top of the leader board.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  What is unusual about this race for me is that I am painting it live at the Fanfest area, sitting directly across form the podium and the hot seats where the well placed finishers await the final verdict of the clock.  You can come watch me paint there, or watch it on a live stream at www.richmond.com.  The works are available as originals or two different size prints at Fanfest, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Topping the Hill

It was a treat to watch Kathryn Bertine (St. Kitts and Nevis) top the Governor's Street hill and turn onto the finishing straight on E. Broad Street.  I have been a big fan of hers since seeing her documentary, "Half the Road" and reading her book.  She is a forceful advocate for equity in cycling.  The average professional woman earns considerably less than half the salaries of the average professional man.  To be honest the few women's races that I have been able to watch (there is even a wider inequality in TV coverage), I find their races to be more exciting and unpredictable.  Will know today if that holds true for the Elite Men's Time Trial versus the Elite Women.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  What is unusual about this race for me is that I am painting it live at the Fanfest area, sitting directly across form the podium and the hot seats where the well placed finishers await the final verdict of the clock.  You can come watch me paint there, or watch it on a live stream at www.richmond.com.  The works are available as originals or two different size prints at Fanfest, or later at www.richmond.com.

2014 UCI Worlds: Willing Her Home

To quote Phil Liggett as Lisa Brennauer of Germany headed up the final 100 meters of the course, "The crowd is willing her home."  The German's ride was just fast enough to nip in ahead of the Ukrainian, Anna Solovey, and claim gold for the Elite Women's Individual Time Trial.  She now will have the honor of wearing the Rainbow Jersey of World Champion every time she lines up to race an individual time trial.  She will have that honor until the Championships come to Richmond, Virginia in the United States in 2015.  Today is her second Gold Medal of these races, she was part of the Shimano - Lulu Lemon squad that won the Women's Team Time Trial early in the week.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there you can pre-order my 2014 Tour de France book, Book de Tour, which includes Brennauer's 4th place finishes in La Course, raced on the finally day of the Tour in Paris.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441268---202544/Painting.html#.VCM_0c_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Out on Course

The American, Evelyn Stevens, hit the 29.5 kilometer time trial course fast and hard.  She went through each of the time checks including the one at the finishing line just behind the Ukrainian, Anna Solovey.  Her ride was good enough for silver when she crossed the line, but with a couple more women still out on course, it was uncertain if she would be on the podium at the end of the day.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But you really should take the time to browse all of the cycling art on the site.  Plus you can pre-order my book of the 2014 Tour de France, Book de Tour, from the site as well.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441250---202544/Painting.html#.VCM8IM_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Rolling Out

The Elite Women rolled down the time trial start ramp today in Ponferrada, Spain, searching for a Rainbow Jersey at the end of their solo effort against the clock.  Anna Solovey of Ukraine was out on a fast ride around the outskirts of the city before swinging back towards town.  She was first at each of the time checks along the route and logged the fastest time across the line when she finished.  However, with a time trial, no rider knows their ultimate placing until the final rider has finished her effort.  All Solovey could do was sit in the throne in the club house waiting to see if she would be forced to give up her seat and her dream of the coveted Rainbow Jersey of Women's World Time Trial Champion.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  The painting is also available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular work, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But while you are there, why not take the time to browse all of the cycling art on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441240-5-0-202544/Painting/Sports.html#.VCM34M_D_IU