Spring Classics: Classico, Milan-San Remo

Some of the big name sprinters got over the final climb on the run in to San Remo, but only Team Katusha brought enough riders to form a lead out train for their man, Alexander Kristoff.  He is now the first Norwegian to throw his arms in the air for the win at Milan-San Remo.  He had enough to hold off the fabled classics rider, Fabian Cancellera (Trek Factory Racing), and the sprinters, Ben Swift (Team Sky) and Mark Cavendish (OPQS).  It was a convincing win after riding for over six hours in rain, cold and even hail for the jubilant Kristoff.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or for this particular painting you can just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Starting tomorrow I will be painting the Volta Ciclista Catalunya, so come back to see the race through the eyes of this artist.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2332917---195767/Painting.html#.Uy8x0MvD_IU

Spring Classics: Catching Back On, Milan-San Remo

As I have said in the previous post, if you aren't a sprinter, it is best to attack the peloton on the Poggio with the hopes of getting rid of the marque sprinters like Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol).  Here you can see him just tagging back on to the rear of the fast moving peloton with about 3K left to race.  The effort to stay with the pack on the way up, and the energy spent chasing back proved to leave Greipel without the legs to contest for the win of Milan-San Remo.  Oddly Peter Sagan, one of the best climbing sprinters, wasn't at the front end of the peloton either.  I never did see what happened to him, although some green clad riders went down on the final corner of the race.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by  visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting you can follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2332887---195767/Painting.html#.Uy8tu8vD_IU

Spring Classics: Going on the Final Climb, Milan-San Remo

In Milan-San Remo if you are not a sprinter, you have to get rid of the fast men on the final climb of the day, the Poggio.  The other option, go out in front and let your team leader bridge up to you for the win.  I do think it was the former for Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Lars Petter Nordhaug (Belkin Pro Cycling).  With roughly 7K to go and maybe 2K to the summit of the Poggio the pair were able to get away and can about ten seconds over the top, most likely not enough to hold off the sprinter's trains.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2332867---195767/Painting.html#.Uy8rf8vD_IU

Spring Classics: Jumping Out of the Pack, Milan-San Remo

It was a cold wet hard day, typical for the Spring Classics, that welcomed the peloton for
Milan-San Remo, at one point the racers were pelted with hail.  None of that dampen the attacking fever of the winner of last year's Giro d'Italia (a race that included snow storms in May), Vincezo Nibali (Astana), as he jumped out of the Cannondale led peloton on the climb of Cipressa.  He may of been expecting some one to join him in the effort, but instead pressed on alone in a long solo effort that came to naught.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard painted using Yarka St. Petersburg paints and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company (www.richesonart.com).  In addition this work is available for purchase, along with most of my cycling art postcards, at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this painting you can just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2332827-42-36-195767/Painting/Sports.html#.Uy8oAsvD_IU