Wollongong 2022, Elite Men's Road Race: 100 K and Still Away

All of these guys had been trying to get away from kilometer zero.  But once the break away got established they built themselves an eight minute lead on the peloton.  Some of those in the group included the other Sagan, Juraj Sagan (Slovakia), Scott McGill (USA), Michael Kukrle (Czech Republic), Guy Sagiv (Israel) and Jaka Primozic (Slovenia).  There are a few more in the group but they are already going down the other side of this small rise.  None in the group were seen as a threat by the favorites, so they were free to ride, for now.  The race still had another 162 kilometers to race, so there is plenty of time for these guys to come back into the embrace of the peloton.  I know that Juraj Sagan was one of those who climbed off his bike long before the end of the race.  Others were still off the front in the final laps of the Wollongong City circuit.

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 and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3907911-28-295031/Painting/100-k-and-still-away-uci22-28.html 

Yorkshire 2019 - Elite Men's Road Race: Late Attack

Peter Sagan (Slovakia) - the three time former World Champion - had been hiding in the peloton all day.  In fact, I wasn't even sure he was in Harrogate for the Worlds at all.  But here he is attacking the peloton with about three kilometers left to race.  Sagan has left it a little too late, but did hold off the rest of the very reduced peloton to take fifth on the line.  I admit it, I am a big fan of Sagan.  I even have a picture of him holding one of my early paintings of him that was awarded him for being a "Rider of the Year" in the early days of his career.  Naturally, I had to paint him since he finally showed his face (sort of).

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%202019/3400887-52-266225/Late%20Attack%20%20UCI19-52.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's Road Race: Throwing for His Third

When the Elite Men finally reappeared into the stationary camera lens, it was clear that Julian Alaphilippe (France) and Gianni Moscon (Italy) had been caught by the cream of the men's peloton.  And that we were going to be treated to an intense mass sprint for the line, and for the World Road Championship.  It was looking like Alexander Kristoff (Norway) was going to pay back all of his countrymen and women along the sides of the road in Bergen.  Seemingly he had the better of the two time defending world champion, Peter Sagan (Slovakia).  But it was Sagan's perfectly timed bike throw (a move similar to a runner throwing their chest out to break the tape at the line) that won him an unprecidented third Men's Road World Championship.  It was Michael Matthews (Australia) pounding his handle bars in frustration taking the bronze medal and Matteo Trentin (Italy) finishing just off the podium in fourth.  For Kristoff, while disappointing not to win his home country Worlds, he can consol himself knowing he provided Norway with their only medal in the 2017 UCI Road World Championships.

He will have a tough time equally Jeannie Longo (France) who has taken the title four times in a row from 1995-89 (there was no race in 1988 due to disputes between Russian and the United States over boycotting the Olympics).  She came back in 1995 to get her fifth title.

But for now he can claim the honor of the most consistent Men's UCI Road World Champion!  Chapeau, Peto!

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.

This is most likely the last race I will paint for the 2017 season.  Thank you for reading!  See you when it all starts again in January of 2018

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3038157-56-239826/PaintingThrowing-for-His-Third--Bergen-56.html

Doha 2016, Elite Men's Road Race: Not in Richmond, Anymore

Peter Sagan (Slovakia) must have been thinking how cool, verdant and urban Richmond, Virginia had been as he worked his way through the caravan under the glare of the desert sun.  At this point the peloton was crawling along at less than 20 kph.  I was feeling like this was going to be a very long slow promenade all of the way out onto The Pearl before any racing got started.  In fact, after I painted this image, I started jumping the video forward in small chunks looking for the next part of the story.  I had thought Sagan wasn't going to defend his Rainbow Jersey, the course just didn't seem suited to his expertise.

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/2866409-58-227958/PaintingNot%20in%20Richmond,%20Anymore%20Doha58-Greig-Leach.html#.WAT1qOArLIU

Rio Olympics: The Slower Route

Peter Sagan (Slovakia) may have been regretting his decision to skip the road race and to take on the mountain bike trail above Rio.  Sagan had a great two laps until he had a flat tire.  Unlike the road race with neutral service vehicles and team cars behind the racers, Sagan had to ride the flat all of the way to the service area.  With that, his race was basically over.  He got back on two minutes back and just kept losing time to the leaders there after.  He was caught by the camera man dismounting to descend a difficult rock strewn obstacle, not the fastest way to get down, but better than crashing.

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.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2840797-211-226051/PaintingThe%20Slower%20Route%20Rio210-Greig-Leach.html#.V7qEXZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: S Curves

The UCI World Road Champion, Peter Sagan (Slovakia) had given the Olympic Road Race a pass so he could race the Men's Mountain Bike race on the last day of the Olympic Games.  Since Sagan has been busy on the roads of Europe (and the rest of the world) he was ranked nearly dead last in the UCI Mountain Bike Association.  Given that he started in the very last position as the event got underway.  No matter, Sagan was quickly amongst the leaders, in fact he was third wheel on the first lap.  Sagan is known for his bike handling skills on the road, but he is a former Junior Mountain Bike World Champion.  The Slovak was chasing down through a twisting descent with Victor Koretzky (France).

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.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2840774-208-226051/PaintingS%20Curves%20Rio208-Greig-Leach.html#.V7pxAZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Walking Home

The Slovakian Matej Toth made a late surge.  Perhaps he was motivated by his countrymen running alongside the course waving his national flag, cheering him on.  He quickly put distance between himself and the Aussie, Jared Tallent.  Toth was able to extend his lead and hold it all of the way to the line.  He will be bringing the Gold Medal back home.

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.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2839926-175-226051/PaintingWalking%20Home%20Rio175-Greig-Leach.html#.V7ftepgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Untitled

Occasionally I get so wrapped up in the excitement of the sporing event that I forget to title or some times even sign the painting.  Ironically, it was Ladislav Skantar (Slovakia) and his brother's, Peter Skantar countryman, Peter Sagan, who painting I last forgot to sign and title.  The Skantar brothers are in the process of winning Gold in the Men's Canoe Double with a flawless run through the white water course in Brazil.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836450-78-226051/PaintingUntitled%20Rio78-Greig-Leach.html#.V63fyZgrLIU