Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: Almost

Almost to the top.  Almost finished the day.  Almost finished with today's racing.  Almost finished with the season.  Almost missing the podium.  Chris Froome (Great Britain) was chasing the rainbow jersey all aroung Bergen today.  He was not posting the best times at any of the check points (and with Tom Dumoulin behind him, they would have stood for long anyway), and he didn't at the summit of Mount Floyen either.  Froome just edged out his trade teammate, Vasil Kiryienka (Belarus) to take the Bronze Medal.  Not what the was hoping for, but I think that having won both the Tour de France (for the 4th time) and the Vuelta a Espana (for the 1st) already this season, I think he can call it a successful season.  He does have one more race on Sunday, the Elite Men's Road Race.  That should be quite the show.

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/3036234-30-239826/PaintingAlmost--Bergen-30.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: With Some Time in Hand

The Slovenian, Primoz Roglic, had done a flawless bike change and hit the climb of Mount Floyen with some speed.  As he neared the summit through the tunnel of noise provided by the Norwegian fans, he had time to spare in his quest for the gold medal (and the rainbow jersey).  He set a definitive new best time, that in the end was enough for the silver medal.  Not a bad result for someone who had not enter the converstation prior to this day of racing.  But it is in the legs on the day where the race is one, or lost.

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/3036226-29-239826/PaintingWith-Some-Time-in-Hand--Bergen-29.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: 300 Meters

Vasil Kiryienka (Belarus) was looking like he was going to repeat his rainbow jersey from Richmond 2015 as he neared the top of the climb.  The normally stoic face of the strong man from Team Sky was twisted in pain as he crossed the line, just a fraction of a second off of the gold medal.  I am sure his ride gave his trade teammate, Chris Froome, a little more information on how to ride this very particular time trial (assuming he had access to the details of the ride).

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/3036213-27-239826/Painting300-Meters--Bergen-27.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: Gaining an Advantage

Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands) was another of riders who opted to swap bikes at the base of the climb.  Initially, it put him further behind the current best time at the summit, but as he climbed, he gained time on the race leader.  By the time he reached the line in front of the hill top cafe, he was the new man in the hot seat.  The question remains, will it be enough for Kelderman with some of the biggest names in the sport yet to face Mount Floyen?

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/3036195-26-239826/PaintingGaining-an-Advantage-Bergen-26.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: On to Mount Floyen

Not all of my paintings are winners, then neither or all of the men that started the time trial either.  Andrey Grivko (Ukraine) was another who decided against changing bikes.  He is just hiting the first of the cobbled switchbacks at the base of Mount Floyen on what is proving to be a very difficult ascent to the top.  Many used the funicular to get to the top, and then tumble back down the road way, in hopes of seeing their favorite riders on the way up.  Grivko was another who posted great times on the "flat" section, stayed on his TT bike, and who faded on the climb.

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/3036180-25-239826/PaintingOn-to-Mount-Floyen-Bergen-25.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: Cheering Their Man

It looked like the entire country of Norway had spilled onto the slopes of Mount Floyen to give their full throttle support to the elite men of the pro peloton.  To be fair, they were very enthusiatic to every single person struggling up the hill, but they really let lose when Andreas Vangstad (Norway) one of their own rode past.  Vangstad was not one of those to figure in the medals (although he did post some great times on the flatter sections of the course), but that did nothing to dampen the patriotic ferver on the roadside.

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/3036163-24-239826/PaintingCheering-Their-Man-Bergen-24.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: No Change

So one of the big debates of the men's time trial was whether or not to change bikes before hitting the Mount Floyen climb.  On one hand, it is easier and arguably quicker to ride up the sharp switchbacks and steep roads on a convention road bike, or the other hand, it seems to cost the riders about ten seconds to make the switch.  And a bit longer to get back up to speed.  Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark) was one of those who opted not to change.  The first rider to stay on his TT bike was one of the early leaders on the day.  Hansen was not that rider.

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/3036141-23-239826/PaintingNo-Change-Bergen-23.html