Strade Bianche Donne 24: Making Sure

Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) had spent a good part of the final twenty-five kilometers pushing the pace in order to keep any of the chasers from catching back up.  Conversely, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) had spent that same time surfing the wheels of others thus saving her energy for the final ascend up to the central piazza of Sienna.  When they were about 500 meters from the finish, Kopecky jumped the Italian Champion.  Longo Borghini just didn’t have enough left in her legs to go with the Rainbow Jersey on Kopecky’s gritty shoulders.  As they swung around the final corner, Kopecky glanced back on more time just to make sure that neither the Lidl-Trek rider nor anyone else were going to surprise her at the line.  This will have to do with her victory image since her victory salute at the line was hidden from the TV camera by a spectator’s cellphone.  He got a great shot of Kopecky winning her second Strade Bianche Donne, but we did not.

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 $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/4002671-77-207546/Painting/making-sure-sb24-6.html

Il Lombardia: Look at Him Go!

With over 180 kilometers of the total 240 covered, Damiano Caruso (BMC) was off the front all on his own.  Behind was a vastly reduced peloton of roughly seventeen contenders trying to chase down the Italian racing on home soil.  I used  the bright blue arrow sign to create the title and to help drive the eye towards the fast descending Caruso.

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/Other%20Cycling%20Art/2860430-25-206768/PaintingLook%20at%20Him%20Go!%20IL1-Greig-Leach.html#.V_GosPArLIU

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Looking Them Over

Almost from the second that the Junior Men's race got underway, three guys went on the early break.  The American, Gregory Daniel, looks over his should at the German rider trying to decide if he and the Italian had the legs to pres the advantage.  The break is riding pass the first place I lived when I first came to school in Richmond, VA on the campus of the Virginia Commonwealth University.  The University wisely canceled classes for the entire week of racing, partly because the race courses all went through the middle of the city streets that comprise the campus.  More likely they felt that the students wouldn't go to class, opting instead to watch the racing (I certainly would have skipped every class.)

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.  The works are being created live at the main Fanfest area near the finish line in full view of fans and cyclists alike (although not those out on course).  The originals and two sizes of prints are available for purchase at Fanfest and later will be on offer at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds:

Adriano Malori (Italy) found the final climb and the false flat a bit much but still managed to sprint across the line in first place with just four riders left on the road behind him.  The odds said he had a chance for the podium.  It would only take roughly another six minutes to discover which step would be his.  Behind him on the road were some pretty big names including a former hour record holder, Rohan Denni, Tony Martin and Tom Dumolin.  Then there was the very strong riding of Vasil Kiryienka.  As it turned out, only Kiryienka was able to best his time, and then by only 9 seconds after over an hour of effort.  The average time for the winner, Kiryienka was over 52 kilometers per hour.  Of course that means the Italian Malori claimed the silver medal for the Richmond 2015 UCI World Road Racing Champions.

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: Turning It Around

For the next couple of days of racing, actually for every race except the Men's Elite Time Trial, racers will be making this wide U-turn in the shadow of the Jefferson Davis Monument.  The monument honors the only President of the Confederacy that had its short lived Capital in Richmond, Virginia.  Davide Martinelli of Team Italia slowed just enough to wrestle his time trial bike around the cobbled corner.  After making this turn the riders enjoyed a long slightly downhill run all of the way to the south side of the river.

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.  The paintings are for sale each day at the Downtown Fanfest in the Greater Richmond Convention Center at 5th and Marshall Streets in Richmond, VA.  There are originals and two different sizes of prints being offered for sale starting at $20.00 USD. Eventually, they will be available through www.richmond.com.

Il Lombardia: Down to Two

Ben Hermans (BMC) and Peter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge) had set off after the breakaway on the previous climb.  By the time they had neared the final big climb of the day, they had ridden everyone off of their wheels.  While they still had over 40 kilometers to the finish, they were looking like they had the legs to make it all the way to the finish in Bergamo Alta.  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.  Also, be sure to check out my soon to be released, "Book de Tour" at http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.  The book is a complete collection (and then some) of my annotated paintings of the 101st Tour de France and the inaugural La Course.  International shipping is available for this painting and for the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2449702---195767/Painting.html#.VDhIS8_D_IU