UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Race: A Tip of the Crown

Perhaps this title needs a little explaining.  In the world of professional cycling, the Triple Crown is winning the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Championship in the same season.  Until today, only two men have managed the feat.  The first was Eddy Merckx of Belgium who did it 50 years ago this week, and the second was Stephen Roche of Ireland who equaled Merckx thirteen years later.  But now, a third name can be added to that list, Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia.  In so doing he also broke his own record for longest breakaway win in a race.  This year he went from eighty kilometers out to win Strade-Bianche.  Today, he jumped free of the peloton with 100.7 kilometers to race.  I don't think he was on his own until about 50 kilometers to go, but the records will say 100 K.  He had plenty of time to think up a victory salute, but I think he might have been a bit emotional as he came to the finishing line alone, savoring the applause of the fans crowding the barriers and the roadway prior to the flame rouge.  Behind him Ben O'Connor (Ireland) came alone for the silver medal, and the defending champion, Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands) outsprinted the chasing six or seven to take the bronze.

This is truly the end of my cycling season.  So I won't be back sharing my cycling art until the Tour Down Under in late January 2025.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"A Tip of the Crown Z24-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Flanders 2021: With Plenty of Time to Celebrate

With the four guys chasing him over a half of a minute behind, Julian Alaphilippe (France) had plenty of time to celebrate winning his second consecutive UCI Road World Championship.  The last to win two in a row was Peter Sagan (Slovakia) who managed three in a row from 2015-2017. Alaphilippe becomes only the fourth man to win two Rainbow Jerseys in a row in the 100 year history of the race.  Others have won two jerseys, but not consecutively.  I am hoping we will get to see Alaphilippe in the jersey next weekend in the fabled Paris-Roubaix.  And yes, I will be painting both the women’s race and the men’s starting this Saturday.  I suspect we will see newly minted rainbow stripes in both races.

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 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/Flanders-2021/3839020-34-292177/Painting/with-plenty-of-time-to-celebrate-uci21-34.html

Flanders 2021: The Sprint to the Rainbow

Having been led out in her sprint by none other than her country woman, Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) Elisa Balsamo had nothing for it but to go hard to the line, braid flying out behind her.  Also behind her and unable to come around was the three time World Champion, Marianne Vos (Netherlands).  Bringing up the best of the rest is Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland) claiming her first medal in the UCI Road World Championships.  But it is Balsamo who will be wearing the Rainbow Jersey every time she takes to the start in a road race for the next year.  What a nice new jersey to bring to her new team, Trek-Segafredo, starting next season.  As Balsamo raised her arms in victory, we could just see Longo Borghini mirroring her celebration in their distance.

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 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/Flanders-2021/3838702-27-292177/Painting/sprinting-to-the-rainbow-uci21-27.html

Flanders 2021: Celebrating Another One

Flippo Ganna (Italy) had the rare opportunity to celebrate his victory in a time trial as he crossed the line in Bruges.  As the defending World Champion in the time trial discipline he had the luxury of being the last guy to ride down the start lamp, so as he crossed the line, he knew his best time would be THE best time.  The Belgium cycling fans pressing against the barriers would have to content themselves with the knowledge that their men, Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel had taken silver and bronze respectfully.  I believe the last man to win back to back TT titles was the man who will retire after these Worlds, Tony Martin.  Chapeau, Ganna!

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 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/Flanders-2021/3837391-7-292177/Painting/celebrating-another-one-uci21-7.html

Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Men's Road Race: First for His Country

As Mads Pedersen (Denmark) out sprinted the erstwhile favorite, Matteo Trentin (Italy) he became the first Dane to ever when the Rainbow Jersey of UCI Road World Champion!  Trentin seemed gutted to not have the legs to finish the sprint he had opened up.  While I am sure he accepted it, he looked most distraught in winning Silver.  It was Stefan Kung (Switzerland) who had followed the wheel of the American, Lawson Craddock that set up this three way sprint for medals.  Kung didn't have much of a sprint but seem quite contented with his Bronze Medal.

It has been a great World Championships and a wonderful season of bike racing (yes, I know that there are still a few more races this season), but this is the last of my cycling art paintings for 2019.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

Please be sure to visit my YouTube Channel and subscribe if you like what you see.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Yorkshire%202019/3400892-53-266225/First%20for%20His%20Country%20%20UCI19-53.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Women's Road Race: Celebration

Normally, I go for the victory salute as the winner cross the line, but for Chantal Blaak (Netherlands) I thought I might try something different.  That, and the camera angle didn't make for a very interesting image as she road alone across the line to claim the title of UCI Road World Champion!  As she celebrated first with her coach and then her teammates that helped make it happen, there were photographers there to catch every moment.  The race official (in the orange vest) is keeping an eye out for the sprinting peloton as they vie for the rest of the podium places.  It was a great ending for Blaak who had gone down in the crash that ended Megan Garnier's day and ruined the hopes for many others.

Chapeau!

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/3037362-46-239826/PaintingCelebration--Bergen-46.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Women's ITT: A Very Fast Ride

Another of the Dutch riders, Annemiek Van Vleuten, was putting in very fast times around the course, she wasn't besting her teammate Anna Van Der Breggan, but she was very close.  Van Vleuten was the rider who had the horrific crash 13 months ago in the Rio Summer Olympics.  That she ever road again is amazing, but to day I can use the word awesome correctly to describe her efforts today.  Not only was she able to ride at a professional level again, she was able to win the Elite Women's Individual Time Trial today.  So for the next year she will be wearing the Rainbow Jersey everytime she lines up to race an ITT.  Yes, it was a very fast ride, indeed!

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/3034993-19-239826/PaintingA-Very-Fast-Ride--Bergen-19.html

Doha 2016, Elite Men's Road Race: Two in a Row!

Not since 2007 has someone done what Peter Sagan (Slovakia) did today, win back to back World Championship titles.  I feel sure that never before has the complete podium been populated by three riders who have all worn the Rainbow Jersey.  While it was Sagan (Champion in 2015), it was a clearly disappointed Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) who took Silver (Champion in 2011) and Tom Boonen took silver (Champion in 2004).  It was an amazing cadre of sprinters who came to the line in Doha, and an equally surprising number who had missed the splits and the chance to compete for the 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/2866682-66-227958/PaintingTwo%20in%20a%20Row%20Doha66-Greig-Leach.html#.WAWaSOArLIU