The Art of Cycling: Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes

Showing posts with label Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes. Show all posts

Monday, April 25, 2022

Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes '22: With Time in Hand

Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) built on her lead all of the way into the finishing straight in downtown Liege. She had forty three seconds advantage over the lagging chase, so there was plenty of time to celebrate her effort. Long before spreading her arms wide she first shook her head in disbelief and then pumped her fist in celebration. Clearly she was relieved to finally get her first victory of the 2022 season, though hardly her first race win in her long and illustrious career. The rainbow stripes on her sleeves show just how strong of a rider she is. If you don't know, it is the honor of any former World Champion to always have the rainbow stripes on their sleeves and collar of their jersey in their respective discipline. Chapeau, Annemiek!

This really does mark the last of the spring classics, and the last race I will paint until the Dauphine and the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes. Thank you for reading and for your support of my cycling art.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3881406-53-207546/Painting/with-time-in-hand-lbl22-13.html

Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes '22: In Full Flight

Never one to give up (not many cyclists do) Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) went off the front of the small peloton yet again. This time she timed her attack at a moment that left everyone looking at each other to do the chasing. This time she made sure she didn't have anyone on her wheel to slow her down. Given her time trial prowess, once she was gone even a five woman chase wasn't enough to pull the determined Dutch woman back. By the time she had just ten kilometers to race, she had built up an eighteen second lead on those behind. It certainly looked like no one was going to ruin her chances of winning today.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3881392-52-207546/Painting/in-full-flight-lbl22-12.html

Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes '22: Disappearing Up the Road

With the first attack neutralized, Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) saw her chance to go on her own solo raid. She used the final climb to open up about a twenty second lead on those chasing behind. She had just another sixteen kilometers left to go, so she was in with a sliver of a chance to claim victory in Liege. But remember, there is a pissed of Annemiek Van Vleutin on the road behind her, and this time she had some others who were willing to work with her.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3881387-51-207546/Painting/disappearing-up-the-road-lbl22-11.html

Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes '22: Annoyed with the Tactics

Once Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) went on the attack it was only Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) who could hang onto the Dutch woman's wheel. Much to Van Vleutin's frustration, Reusser was only there to make sure she didn't get too far up the road. Reusser was riding in defense of her team leader, Demi Vollering. As much as Van Vleutin flicked her arm for Reusser to take a turn on the front the Swiss Champion wasn't doing a damn thing to help her pull away from her teammates. While Van Vleutin may have been frustrated, it just a traditional team racing tactic. On the other hand, it doesn't strike me as a good idea to anger such a strong rider like Annemiek. More on that later...

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3881382-50-207546/Painting/annoyed-with-the-tactics-lbl22-10.html

Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes '22: On the Back Foot

As the break away and the peloton hit the penultimate climb, the Cote de la Redoute, the moves started. Just ahead of the remains of the early break away is the fast disappearing leader, and race favorite, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar). Her attack had put the defending LBL champion, Demi Vollering (SD Worx) on the back foot. Her teammate Ashleigh Molman Pasio went to the front and helped Vollering chase down the Movistar team leader. Never one to miss a good move, Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) jumped onto the wheel of Vollering knowing it was a good wheel to pull her up to the race leader.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3881377-49-207546/Painting/on-the-back-foot-lbl22-9.html

Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes '22: Working Well

It was a strong group that had just formed off the front of the peloton when the Liege Bastogne Liege Femmes coverage went on air. Sadly, this was the first I saw of the race with just 41 kilometers to go. By this time in the men's race many riders were on their way to hospital in ambulances, fortunately that didn't happen off camera for the women today. The group that contained Evita Muzic (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), Sara Martin (Movistar), Amanda Spratt (BikeExchange-Jayco), Leah Kirchman (DSM), Clara Honsinger (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB), and Soraya Paladin (Canyon/SRAM) had just over a minute as they hit the bottom of the Cote de la Redoute. There may be one or two more women in this group, but those are all that you can see relatively easily in this painting.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3881158-48-207546/Painting/working-well-lbl22-8.html

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

LBL Women: Her First!

Demi Vollering (SD Worx) paid back the efforts of her teammate Anna Van Der Breggan. You can see her at the back of the group beginning to celebrate Vollering's first WWT win of her career. Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) turned herself nearly inside out (or at least sideways) trying to out sprint the younger Vollering but had to content herself with second place. Rounding out the podium was the Italian Champion, Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo). The former Polish champion, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) took fourth which was still better than some of the pre-race favorites.

This ends the Spring Classics and means I will not be back painting racing until the Dauphine. I will follow that with my yearly pilgrimage to the depths of the Tour de France, although I will be there in spirit and paint brush only. Let's all hope that the race goes off in late June and July as planned. It will mean we are all returning to a degree of normalacy if it does.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct 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-2021/3808356-47-290150/Painting/her-first-lbl21-12.html

Monday, April 26, 2021

LBL Women: When Will the Attack Come?

As in the men's Liege-Bastogne-Liege it was five racers who would be contending for the race honors. Also like the men, the group contained the Rainbow Jersey of World Champion. It was a little odd to see the team leader and champion leading the quintet for the final kilometers, Anna Van Der Breggan (SD Worx). I had not even considered that she would be riding for her teammate, Demi Vollering. Nor could I understand that Vollering was the better sprinter of the two. Van Der Breggan's efforts were making the inevitable attack out of the group just that much more difficult to pull off. Behind the World Champion was the former Polish champion, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), followed by the current European champion, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar). On the tail of the group (the best place to attack from) was the Italian Champion, Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo). At this point there was only two and a half kilometers to race, so everyone was a bit twitchy trying to decide when they should go for victory.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3808293-46-290150/Painting/when-will-the-attack-come-lbl21-11.html

LBL Women: This Is the Selection

While I couldn't see everyone in this move, it was clear that this was the group that would be fighting it out for victory once they got back down to Liege. Using the last climb of the day, the Cote de La Roche aux Faucons, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon SRAM) opened up the effort. She was quickly covered by Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) and Anna Van Der Breggan (SD Worx). Hiding behind that threesome is Van Der Breggan's teammate, Demi Vollering. Surprisingly, that is Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) being dropped from the group in her magenta WWT points leader jersey.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3808290-45-290150/Painting/this-is-the-selection-lbl21-10.html

LBL Women: The Next to Try

This trio was the next to try and escape the clutches of the peloton of favorites. Yet again, one of those in the break was a SD Worx rider, Ashleigh Moolman. She was joined by Cecilie Uttrup Ludwid (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope), who is driving the pace at this point. Rounding out the threesome is Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo). This group really has the power and the palmares to be a serious threat to run away with the race. Staying away for another 34 kilometers might be a bit tough, but others have done as much just last year. Unfortunatley for these ladies, that rider is chasing them from behind.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3808285-44-290150/Painting/the-next-to-try-lbl21-9.html

LBL Women: Off on Her Own

SD Worx seemed to have a plan to set the race alight from the start of Liege-Bastogne-Liege Femmes. Niamh Fisher-Black was the second team member to go off the front of the peloton in hopes of drawing out the sting of the favorites. With 41 kilometers left to the line in Liege she had built up a 20 second lead on those behind. Those chasing behind had managed to split the peloton apart in their efforts to catch her. The reduced peloton still included at least two of her teammates including the Women's UCI Road World Champion.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3808270-43-290150/Painting/off-on-her-own-lbl21-8.html

LBL Women: Needing Some Help

The Dutch woman on the Australian team, Janneke Ensing (BikeExchange) lifted her arm to signal her need for her team car. While I am sure she had gotten on the radio to her sports director, the gesture lets the race referee following the peloton know that her car needs to come up to the back of the race. Normally, this would be a sign that she was having a problem with her bike or perhaps a flat tire. This time she just wanted to get some gels, bars, and bidons for herself and her teammates.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3808267-42-290150/Painting/needing-some-help-lbl21-7.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.

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/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.

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/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.

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/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.

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/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.

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/3714877-18-280747/Painting/some-help-at-the-top.html