Bergen 2017, Elite Men's Road Race: Heia!

Heia (Norwegian for Go) is what the fans were yelling as the peloton and every other racer road by.  While I doubt that Gianni Moscon (Italy) was saying, "heia!" he definitely wanted Julian Alaphilippe (France) to go as hard as he could.  The pair had opened up about eight or nine seconds on the peloton as the crested the Salmon Hill climb for the final time.  Now it was a ten kilometer basically down hill dash for the line.  A large group of all of the race favorites were chasing hard pulling away from the rest of the peloton that wouldn't see them again until the post race festivities.

We were all in dismay around the world as the video feeds dropped first from the motorcycles and then the helicopters as the chase was truly on for the Rainbow Jersey.  All we could do was watch lead vehicles ride by waving to the crowds as we waited for the peloton to appear near the finish and into the lenses of the stationary cameras.  Would these two stay away, or would it be a bunch sprint?

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/3038112-55-239826/PaintingHeia!--Bergen-55.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's Road Race, Enthusiastic

With the peloton "gruppo compacto" it was now the time when riders were attacking one after the other.  Marco Haller (Austria) chose his spot well.  On the fan packed climb of Salmon Hill, amongst hundreds of Norwegian flags and thunderous cheers of "Heia, heia!" he opened up a gap on an inattentive peloton.  All Worlds long I have been hearing the heia cheer, and it sounds like a good Southern greeting as in "Hi, ya' (short for Hi, y'all)."  Many riders have tweeted about just how exciting it was to ride up this hill with all of the support along the roadside.  It must have been truly inspiring for any of the Norwegian riders.

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/3038037-51-239826/PaintingEnthusiastic--Bergen-51.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's Road Race: Warming Up

As the peloton came onto the 11 lap circuit, after having already gotten 39 kilometers into their legs, they were definitely warming up.  With the feed zone and scores of soigneurs just up the road, many like Nikias Arndt (Germany) decided to pull off a layer or two.  Just ahead of the disrobing Germany was Luke Durbridge (Australia).  I always feel a bit sheepish about one of my paintings of Durbridge from 2014.  He was accidentally knocked over by a soigneur on an opposing team in the Tour de France.  He jumped back up and pushed the offender over, got back on his bike and rode on.  I capture that moment in my book, "Book du Tour".  I have been trying to show his better side ever since.  This duo was letting a bit of a gap open, but with Durbridge's power, it will be closed in a heartbeat.

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/3038016-48-239826/PaintingWarming-Up--Bergen-48.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Men's Road Race: Tough to Catch

With the Italian Edoardo Affini pulled back into the peloton it was Lennard Kamna (Germany) who was the next to put in an attack.  He waited until the final ascent of the Salmon Hill climb to get off of the front.  Kamna had just finished the Veulta a Espana riding for Team Sunweb, so he may have the stronger legs than those chasing behind.  Trying to bridge up to the fleeing German are Valentin Madouas (France), Mauricio Moreira (Uruguay) and Daniel Martinez (Colombia).  Moreira is the only rider in this peloton riding for Uruguay, so he has done very well to be at the business end of the race with just 12 kilometers to the line.

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/3037150-36-239826/PaintingTough-to-Carch--Bergen-36.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Men's Road Race: Time to Pull Them Back

With just four laps left to race, the Spanish team decided it was time to chase down the remnants of the early break.  They wanted to set it up for a bunch sprint for the finale in hopes that their sprinter, Ivan Garcia, would be able to take out the win for Espana.  Garcia had just missed on the stage of this year's Vuelta in to his hope town of Gijon, I am sure he would love to redeem that effort with a win today.

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/3037105-34-239826/PaintingTime-to-Pull-Them-Back--Bergen-34.html