Doha 2016, Elite Men's Road Race: I'm Still Here!

In all of the drama of the peloton splitting apart in the crosswinds out on the desert.  Along with trying to figure out who was in what group, plus trying to decide if an of those not in the first group would ever see the front of the race again, it seems everyone forgot about the original break away.  The foursome of Anas Ait El Abdia (Morocco), Ryan Roth (Canada), Natnael Berhane (Eritrea) and Nick Dougall (South Africa) from the original break managed to hang onto the wheels of the very elite group being driven by the Belgium team. Ait El Abdia looked over to his team car seemingly saying, "Can you believe I am still here!?"  Not to cast doubts on the entire Moroccan cycling community, but for him and the others to be able to hold the wheels of this group was a huge accomplishment.  Behind him, some very respected racers were continuing to lose more and more time as they did the five laps of The Pearl circuit.

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/2866436-62-227958/Painting#.WAUGT-ArLIU

E3 Harelbeke: Holding on to the Tail

The combination of a large peloton and very narrow roads made for a very long line indeed.  As the riders approached each of the 17 cobbled bergs of E3 Harelbeke, the pace would be lifted by the domestiques to get their men into the best possible position before the narrow ascents the define racing in Flanders.  For those at the back like Marc Sarreau and William Bonnet of FDJ, it can look like a long, long way to the business end of the race.  The wide open flat farm lands can also provide few places to hide from the winds of March.

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 for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2533362---195767/Painting.html#.VRZkavnF-xU