Bergen 2017, U23 Individual Time Trial, Passing on the Birkelundsbakken

The American Nielson Powless was tiding a brilliant time trial.  He was going stronger and stronger as he approached the line.  He seemed to be the only one who wasn't fighting the Birkelundsbakken climb.  He even got Paulo Buccio (Italy) on the lower slopes of the hill.  It seemed to be no question that he would medal, it was just a question of which one.  And then...  As he crested the climb shifting into the big gears for the descent, he slipped his chain.  In the effort to get it back onto the front chain ring he went head over heals onto the asphalt.  While his bike change was incredibly fast, it still cost him too much time.  Buccio never caught him, but he ended his day in seventh.  It just shows, that the race isn't over until it is over.  Crashing is one reason I quit racing, it just hurts too damn much.

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/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3034584-15-239826/PaintingPassing-on-the-Birkelundsbakken--Bergen-15.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Individual Time Trial: Going Left

The landscape around Bergen, and the city itself as been a real treasure to see during these races.  When I was painting the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, I knew every inch of road that the riders were traversing and had ridden them all as well.  Here in Bregen, I don't have that local knowledge, so I can't tell you why the road splits around this building, but I can enjoy painting it.  The Luxemberger, Tobias Wirtgen, was charging back down to the finish line hoping to post a medal worthy time at the line.  When he did arrive he slotted into the Bronze Medal position.  He stayed in the third hot seat until the finish of the third to last rider, thus ending his day just off of the podium.

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/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3034581-14-239826/PaintingGoing-Left--Bergen-14.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Individual Time Trial: As Fast as He Can

The Dane, Mikkel Bjerg, was setting the best time at nearly every time check along the course.  He seemed to have measured his effort perfectly as he crested the Birkelundsbakken climb.  He just had do drive as hard as he could down the other side, across the pave and through the turns to the harbor.  All he could do is ride as fast as he could.  He did set the new best time at the line, unseating his teammate.  But having ridden in the first group, he was going to have a very long wait to see if his time would stand up.  It did!  Others got close, but none within 20 seconds of the second Danish U23 champion in three years.

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/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3034570-13-239826/PaintingAs-Fast-as-He-Can-Bergen-13.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Individual Time Trial: Rough Ride

Fortunately for Brandon McNutly (USA) his rough ride had more to do with the cobblestones than with some problems that plaqued one of his teammates (more about that later).  As he swung through the penultimate time check he was changing his grip and bumping along quite swiftly.  He posted the second best time at this point.  And he was able to carry that second place time through the rest of the day earning himself a Silver Medal.  Chapeau!  I will look forward to watching his career develop over the coming years.

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/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3034569-12-239826/PaintingRough-Ride-Bergen-12.html

Doha 2016, U23 Men's ITT: Defensive Riding

Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Denmark) was the last to take the start on The Pearl in Doha.  Schmidt was having the rare opportunity to race in defensive of his Rainbow Jersey from Richmond, Virginia.  Usually, the winner from the previous year isn't eligible to race in the U23 category.  Schmidt had made the decision to race with only one chain ring on the front of his bike in an effort to reduce the wind drag from a derailleur he wouldn't need.  In his effort to do all he could to do to win, he may have ruin his chances to succeed.  He had to slow and reach down and manually re-position his chain losing precious seconds and putting the fear of a repeat into his riding style.  So it was that he was unable to succeed in defending, and ended the day in 21st place.

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/2863826-22-227958/PaintingDenfensive%20Riding%20Doha22-Greig-Leach.html#.V_yAzeArLIU

Doha 2016, Men's U23 ITT: Not Good

It is never good to have a problem in an Individual Time Trial, and it is really bad when you have a rear wheel flat.  Sadly for Hayden McCormick (New Zealand) that is exactly what happen to him.  Oddly when he stopped, he began removing his front wheel.  This team organization took over and apparently traded out both wheels.  While it was a pretty quick change, any time lost is too much time in a race.  It is hard enough to do well, it is almost impossible when things go wrong.

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/2863818-21-227958/PaintingNot%20Good%20Doha21-Greig-Leach.html#.V_x-EuArLIU

Doha 2016, U23 Men's ITT: Rolling Away

The races in Doha were not exactly lined with thousands of fans along the sides of the road today.  To be fair, time trials are not the most exciting things to watch from the side of the road, particularly when it is around a 100 degrees F.  That didn't stop the riders from putting their all into the race of truth today.  Eriks Tom Gavars (Latvia) was another of the early riders to take to the course.  The race order was determined by the rider's ranking with lower ranked riders going first, and the defending World Champion going last.  Some riders did choose to go earlier in the day hoping for better race conditions mainly in regards to the heat out on 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Doha%202016%20UCI%20Road%20World%20Championships/2863811-18-227958/PaintingRolling%20Away%20Doha18-Greig-Leach.html#.V_x3P-ArLIU

Doha 2016, Men U23 ITT: Around the Bend

With the Junior Women finished with their race, it was the time for the U23 (Under 23) Men to take to the roads of The Pearl.  The men would be covering the same course of the young women and then another 15 1/2 kilometers more, covering a second lap with some variations.  Going in the early heat was the Dane, Mads Pedersen.  The course seemed to never have a piece of straight road.  The riders faced round-a-bouts, sweepers and sharp corners on their way to the chance of a new Rainbow Jersey.

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/2863805-17-227958/PaintingAround%20the%20Bend%20Doha17-Greig-Leach.html#.V_x0YOArLIU