Rio Olympics: Pure Speed, Spartacus

Spartacus showed how to win an Olympic Time Trial! Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) had left the Tour de France ahead of the final Alpine stages in order to prepare for these Olympic Games.  Apparently it was the right decision.  He smoked up the wet roads of Rio on his way to taking Gold in this his last Olympic appearance.  Chapeau, Fabulous Fabian!

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835915-70-226051/PaintingPure%20Speed,%20Spartacus%20Rio70-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yeXZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Posting Great Splits

Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands) was storming around the men's individual time trial course.  Every time check showed him with the new best time.  Apparently, he had carried the form that allowed him to win one of the two ITTs in this year's Tour de France.  Unfortunately for Dumoulin, Fabian Cancellara was a few riders back, and posted new best times all the way to the finish line.  So Dumoulin will have to consul himself with Olympic Silver instead of Gold.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835914-69-226051/PaintingPosting%20Great%20Splits%20Rio69-Greig-Leach.html#.V6ycgpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Quick Change Artist

Australian Rohan Dennis followed on the bad luck of his teammate Richie Porte from the Men's Road Race.  Dennis managed to break the aero bars of his time trial bike.  Naturally, he couldn't finish his race on that machine, so he had no choice but to stop for a new bike.  His team mechanic was already out of the team car and unlocking the spare bike before either Dennis or the car came to a stop.  The bike change only took ten seconds, but it was enough time to push the Australian off of the medal stand.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835912-68-226051/PaintingQuick%20Change%20Artist%20Rio68-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yal5grLIU

Rio Olympics: Say What?

Either Chris Froom (Great Britain) was having trouble hearing his Director Sportif on the radio, or he couldn't believe the information he was getting.  As he crossed the second intermediate time check, he learned he was slipping behind the times of those who had gone before.  Froome is the highest placed rider from the 2012 Olympics taking place in these games, so he had the honor of being the last man to leave the start house.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835761-67-226051/PaintingSay%20What?%20Rio67-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yW8JgrLIV

Rio Olympics: Shaving Seconds

The time trial is all about saving as many seconds as possible.  Riders wear "skin suits" to reduce drag.  Their bikes are designed to slice through the wind with specialized handlebars, solid rear wheels and aerodynamic helmets.  Then there is how you ride the course.  Rohan Dennis (Australia) was cutting the corners as tight as possible, almost brushing his shoulders up against the barrier fencing.  Dennis was setting all of the best time splits as he went around the roughly 55 kilometer course.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835759-66-226051/PaintingShaving%20Seconds%20Rio66-Greig-Leach.html#.V6vqcpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Off He Goes

Clearly this will be Fabian Cancellara's (Switzerland) last Olympic Time Trial.  He is retiring from the sport at the end of this season, so this may be his last race of truth for Spartacus.  I am sure he would have preferred better conditions, but you have to go with what you get in cycling. Cancellara is a four time World Champion in this discipline and a former Olympic Gold Medalists as well.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835757-65-226051/PaintingOff%20He%20Goes%20Rio65-Greig-Leach.html#.V6voLJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Rough Road - Rough Start

Team USA should have taken Brent Brookwalter's first 200 meters as a sign.  As the American turned into the first corner, cutting across the wet cobble stones, his front wheel slid out from under him.  He scooted across the slippery road before getting back on to his TT machine.  It had to rattle his cage, and I am sure it contributed to his being outside of the top 15 finishers.  It is so tough that an athlete only gets one shot at the Olympics.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835755-64-226051/PaintingRough%20Road%20-%20Rough%20Start%20Rio64-Greig-Leach.html#.V6vlopgrLIU