Bergen 2017, Elite Women's Road Race: A Tenacious Trio

With 54 kilometers left to race, it was time for some to start the agression.  This threesome would end up representing the three most aggressive teams out on course today.  Leading the trio was Hannah Barnes (Great Britain), Amy Pieters (Netherlands) who had started this move, and Rachel Neylan (Australia).  They were proving difficult to pull back into the peloton as they headed towards the re-named Salmon Hill.  Just in case there was any doubt who was organizing these World Championships, the UCI had banners all along the road way as a visual reminder.  Whoever wins the race will pull on a white jersey with the same rainbow stripes of blue, red, black, yellow and green.

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/3037320-41-239826/PaintingA-Tenacious-Trio--Bergen-41.html

Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 5 - Snow Day

First review of this book is now online, http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/features/pez-bookshelf-a-return-to-richmond-book-review-march-2016/#.VuYZgdBlxQE

It is something to read while you wait for racing to restart tomorrow.  Call it a little "Snow Day" entertainment...

My new book is now in hand! Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships

My newest book of the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships was just delivered from the printers (based in the USA).  I went out to the deep West End of Richmond to pick up my share of the shipment and I am very excited to hold this labor of love in my hands for the very first time.  I feel a little odd meeting a truck in the back of a parking lot to pick up 470 books, but my publisher was there getting his share too.

This is a hard bound 158 page book of my paintings and writings on all of the races of the 2015 Road World Championships.  This book captures all of the speed, color and beauty of the races along with images of the city I now call home.  You can order your copy by going to www.artofcycling.bike, international shipping is available.  The book retails for $29.95 USD plus shipping.  The book also has a brilliant foreword by Kathryn Bertine and notes from the CEO of Richmond 2015, Wilson Flohr and Mayor Dwight Jones.

You can see all of the paintings that are in the book by going to my artist website at www.greigleach.com and go to the Richmond 2015 Gallery, some of the originals are still available for purchase.  Here is the link to the thumb nails of all of the paintings in the gallery, http://www.greigleach.com/thumbnail_list.php?mgd_id=213398#.VruvlPkrLIU

My new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" pre-selling now!

It is almost ready!  My book of all of my paintings and writings on the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships is at the printers.  Pre-orders are being taken now at a $5 savings off of the cover price at www.artofcycling.blogspot.bike  The 160 page full color hard bound book contains all of the paintings I create live during the races as they were contested on the streets of my adoptive home town of Richmond, Virginia.  I worked from the race feed creating the works in real time as the races were happening.  The text for the book is based on my daily posts in this blog, but edited for accuracy, spelling and the difference between blog grammar and writing for the printed page.

You can still purchase prints of the artwork in the book at http://www.timesdispatchshop.com/category-s/39.htm and some originals are still available at
http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Richmond%202015%20UCI%20World%20Road%20Championship/2640041-1-213398/Richmond%202015%20UCI%20World%20Road%20Championship.html#.VoqwgqTSnIU

2014 UCI Worlds: Biding Their Time

Once the peloton had pulled back the Slovenian, Spela Kern, the women dropped into riding tempo.  The course of seven laps included to sharp climbs that weren't too hard on the first trip up, but as the day wore on, the hills seemed to get steeper and steeper.  The Dutch team in their distinctive bright orange jersey, had the two consecutive time defender of the Rainbow Jersey, Marianne Vos.  Because she has been so dominate, having won the silver medal at the preceding 6 consecutive Worlds, it was up to her team to do the work on the front of the peloton.  Team USA was ever attentive, their team leader, Shelly Olds, as been locking horns (or handlebars) with Vos all season long and the team felt she had the form to get around the Dutch star.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, take the time to check out my soon to be released, "Book de Tour".  The book is my collection of paintings and blog post of the 101st Tour de France, along with La Course by Le Tour. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championships/2442578---202544/Painting.html#.VCcO68_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Off the Front

While on the second lap of the 127.4 kilometer course there was a huge pile up started by a single touch of wheels.  It ended with easily thirty women going to the asphalt, the ditches and into tangled piles of limps, wheels and frames.  As they got back underway, it was a slow moving peloton that was trying to figure who was there and who had climbed off their bikes and into a waiting ambulance. The Slovenian rider, Spela Kern, decided that the pace was way too slow and it was time to attack the group.  With nearly 60 kilometers left to race, it was a very long shot that she would be able to stay away to the line.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The painting is 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-view/2014%20World%20Championships/2442572---202544/Painting.html#.VCcLnM_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: It's About the Position

The Time Trial, or the Race of Truth, is all about the individual's ability to slip through the wind with the least amount of  drag possible.  To that end, Tejay van Garderen, drops into his aerodynamic tuck, with his arms as close together as possible, the head down and the back arched all to present as little of his body to the wind.  The bikes are designed with the same basic purpose.  However, neither the bike nor the position of the rider astride the machine, are about control or agility, they are only about speed.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is 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.  Be sure to check out my soon to be released book of annotated art of the 101st Tour de France, "Book de Tour".  It is available for pre-order and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441850---202544/Painting.html#.VCTq2s_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Slipping Through the Wind

Sylvain Chavanel is the three time Time Trial Champion of France, but has yet to win in the Worlds.  While we have grown use to seeing him in his tricolore national kit, at the worlds no one wears a championship jersey while racing.  Instead they will where their national colors, but in a team uniform that every racer will don on race day.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is 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.  While you are at the website, you can pre-order my book of paintings of the 2014 Tour de France, "Book de Tour".  International shipping is available for both the paintings and the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441848---202544/Painting.html#.VCTnnM_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Hitting the Start

The United States brought a really strong team to Ponferrada, Spain in hopes of going home with a Rainbow Jersey.  Perhaps with Fabian Cancellara choosing not to ride in the Men's Elite Time Trial there was a chance, but they would have to get past the three time World Champion, Tony Martin.  And Martin would be the last to roll down the start ramp today.  Andrew Talansky rolled down the start ramp roughly mid way through the start order, looking for the form that enable him to win the Criterium du Daphine earlier in the season.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The painting is 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.  But while you are there, why not take the time to look at all of the cycling art on offer? 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441844-8-6-202544/Painting/Sports.html#.VCTlFs_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Willing Her Home

To quote Phil Liggett as Lisa Brennauer of Germany headed up the final 100 meters of the course, "The crowd is willing her home."  The German's ride was just fast enough to nip in ahead of the Ukrainian, Anna Solovey, and claim gold for the Elite Women's Individual Time Trial.  She now will have the honor of wearing the Rainbow Jersey of World Champion every time she lines up to race an individual time trial.  She will have that honor until the Championships come to Richmond, Virginia in the United States in 2015.  Today is her second Gold Medal of these races, she was part of the Shimano - Lulu Lemon squad that won the Women's Team Time Trial early in the week.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is 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.  While you are there you can pre-order my 2014 Tour de France book, Book de Tour, which includes Brennauer's 4th place finishes in La Course, raced on the finally day of the Tour in Paris.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441268---202544/Painting.html#.VCM_0c_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Out on Course

The American, Evelyn Stevens, hit the 29.5 kilometer time trial course fast and hard.  She went through each of the time checks including the one at the finishing line just behind the Ukrainian, Anna Solovey.  Her ride was good enough for silver when she crossed the line, but with a couple more women still out on course, it was uncertain if she would be on the podium at the end of the day.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is 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.  But you really should take the time to browse all of the cycling art on the site.  Plus you can pre-order my book of the 2014 Tour de France, Book de Tour, from the site as well.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441250---202544/Painting.html#.VCM8IM_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Rolling Out

The Elite Women rolled down the time trial start ramp today in Ponferrada, Spain, searching for a Rainbow Jersey at the end of their solo effort against the clock.  Anna Solovey of Ukraine was out on a fast ride around the outskirts of the city before swinging back towards town.  She was first at each of the time checks along the route and logged the fastest time across the line when she finished.  However, with a time trial, no rider knows their ultimate placing until the final rider has finished her effort.  All Solovey could do was sit in the throne in the club house waiting to see if she would be forced to give up her seat and her dream of the coveted Rainbow Jersey of Women's World Time Trial Champion.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  The painting is also available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular work, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But while you are there, why not take the time to browse all of the cycling art on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2441240-5-0-202544/Painting/Sports.html#.VCM34M_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Sprinting Home

Like all of the competitors in a time trial, Aafke Suet of the Netherlands, could see her time as compared against those on the leader board as she approached the line.  She stood on the pedals sprinting as hard as she could in hopes of toppling those who currently occupied the podium slots.  While she did all she could, she was only able to cross the line, mouth agape, with the fifth best time on the day.  With her finish, the Australians finished with two riders in the top three for the third year in a row in the Under 23 Women's Time Trial, however this year, the top of the podium was theirs!  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is 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-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2440520---202544/Painting.html#.VCDpec_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: The Last to Go

With the Women's Under 23 Time Trial race coming to a close, it was the Australian, Alexandra Manly, who had the honor of being the last to roll down the start ramp in Ponferrada, Spain.  As she stomped on her pedals, she knew that two of her teammates were currently holding first and third at the finishing line.  Manly had reason to dream of donning the Rainbow Jersey at the end of the day.  She managed to finish third overall last year in Italy and the two who had finished ahead of her had aged out of the Under 23 category.  Unfortunately, it was not to be her day, perhaps it was the rain that had continued to worsen as the day's racing progressed.  So while it was an honor to start last, it was a distinct disadvantage.  She could comfort herself in the knowledge that her country women held their placings.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is 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-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2440518---202544/Painting.html#.VCDm4M_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: New Best Time

All of my cycling paintings are done in as close to real time as possible, without knowledge of the final results.  That being said I was excited when Emma White, riding for the United States, was able to post the new best time with only roughly a quarter of the field of women yet to cross the line.  In any time trial, the rider holding the fastest time over the course will sit in the 'throne' of race leader until either their winning time is confirmed or they have to surrender the chair to the rider who has cover the course in less time.  White was able to hold the chair for some time before the Australian who claimed the overall booted her out of her chair.  Actually the Aussie, Macey Stewart, was quite polite in her victory.  This is an original watercolor and ink painting that is 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-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2440516---202544/Painting.html#.VCDkKc_D_IU

2014 UCI Worlds: Starting at Home

With the Elite men's and women's team time trials over and done, it was the time for the individual time trialist to take the stage in Ponferrada, Spain.  The morning roads were given over to the Junior Women's Time Trial for those under the age of 23.  One of the early riders to start down the ramp for just over twenty minutes of all out effort was one for the home team, Maria Calderon of Spain.  Without a general classification to set the order of starters, the UCI started those they expect to post slower times first ending with the rider highest place in 2013 still eligible to race in the category.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  In addition the painting is 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-view/2014%20World%20Championsips/2440514-1-0-202544/Painting/Sports.html#.VCDhFs_D_IU

UCI World Championships Men's Elite Road Race: Sprinting to the Rainbow

After seven hours in the saddle, nerve wracking descents on wet roads, and the cold spray of the wheels of the crowded peloton, Rodriquez jumped first for the final sprint but Costa had the stronger sprint.  It remains to be debated whether Rodriquez mistook the first advertising stripe as the finishing line and sat up too soon, or did he just not have enough to best Costa.  Whatever the reason, Costa will now be wearing the Rainbow Jersey of the World Champion for the coming season, it is the first ever to be worn by a Portuguese cyclist.  After the weather for the day's racing it is fitting to be racing for a rainbow even if it is only on the jersey and not from the breaking sunshine.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase by leaving a comment here with this post.  I will answer to arrange payment and shipping.

UCI World Championships Elite Men's Road Race: What Do You Have Left?

Joaquim Rodriquez put in a hard attack on the final climb of the circuit in Florence escaping from everyone in the break and what was left of the peloton, he was a little surprised to find that Rui Costa had managed to bridge the gap.  Rodriquez looked over his shoulder to discover how much Costa had left after he managed to catch the Spaniard inside of the final kilometer and over seven hours of racing in the rain.  The two were far enough ahead of the remainder of the riders that had started the day that they had time to slow enough to practically use track stands and tricks of sprinting on the boards of the velodrome.  Rodriquez learned all too soon what the Portuguese had left in his tank.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by leaving me a comment here.  We can then arrange payment and shipping.