The Art of Cycling: Women's Ronde Van Vlaanderen

Showing posts with label Women's Ronde Van Vlaanderen. Show all posts

Monday, April 4, 2022

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: Closing the Deal

This painting actually has a lot going on. Obviously, it is Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) raising her arms in victory just edging out the defending champion Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar). But it was down to the hard pace set by her teammate Chantal Van Der Broek-Blaak that set the Belgium champion up for a perfect (and fresh leg) sprint. As the race coverage swung over to the Belgium fans watching the finish, they were all spraying each other with some very tasty Belgium beers as their champion became the new champion of Ronde Van Vlaanderen. They had been deprived of seeing the male Belgium champion, Wout Van Aert, race today due to his having Covid. Van Vleutin seem to accept that she had very little chance of getting the win going up against two very strong teammates, but was still quite happy to take second, just the same.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877206-47-207546/Painting/closing-the-deal-rvv22-14.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: Coming Home Together

Defending Ronde Van Vlaanderen champion, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) was in a tough position coming to the five kilometer banner with two women from Team SD Worx. On the back of the threesome was the leader of the team (the one with the one at the end of her bib number), Lotte Kopecky. The Belgium champion had the advantage of having her teammate, a former winner of this race herself, Chantal Van Der Broek-Blaak, on the front driving the pace all of the way to the finale. Less anyone forget, here is a perfect example of cycling being a team sport, not just the racing of an individual.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877202-46-207546/Painting/coming-home-together-rvv22-13.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: First to Reach the Final Climb

Both Christine Majerus (SD Worx) and Brodie Chapman (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) had team leaders in the group behind, but that wasn't stopping them from riding on their own behalf off the front. At the base of the final climb, the Paterburg, they had a bit of a lead on those chasing behind. The question is; should they be caught will they have the legs to help out their teammates to win the race. If they aren't caught, who will have the legs to win the day?

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877200-45-207546/Painting/first-to-the-final-climb-rvv22-12.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: Lighting the Touch Paper

Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) who had won this race last year, knew that the Kruisberg was going to be a good place to put in her attack for victory. Last year no one was able to hold her wheel and she rode the remaining 28 kilometers alone to victory. This year however, she may have dropped Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) but Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) was stuck to the Dutch woman's wheel. There were still a few women up the road, but looking at this duo, the others weren't going to be leading the race for much longer.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877197-44-207546/Painting/lighting-the-touch-paper-rvv22-11.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: Sneaking a Peek

Maike Van Der Duin (Le Col-Wahoo) kept riding away from her break away companions. As she left them yet again, she looked across the newly plowed field to see if she could see the peloton behind. She had to know that the various national champions, along with the European and World Champions weren't going to let her stay away if they could catch her. Clearly she wasn't riding in fear of their combined reputations.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877196-43-207546/Painting/sneaking-a-peek-rvv22-10.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: Two North Americans in Europe

The idea was to imitate the classic film title, "An American in Paris." I'm not too sure I succeed with the title, but so it goes. Olivia Baril (Valcar-Travel & Service) and Clara Honsinger (EF Education-TIBCO -SVB) are both from North American, Baril a Canadian, and Hosinger calls the United States home. The pair had dropped their break away companions on the previous climb as they continued to hold nearly a minute and a half on the closing peloton. With 65 kilometers left to race it was looking good for the duo, but I believe they still have a least five climbs yet to tackle.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877191-42-207546/Painting/two-north-americans-in-europe-rvv22-9.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen Women '22: From the Beginning

This quartet had gotten off the front of the peloton from nearly kilometer zero. With 160 K to race, staying off the front was going to be a challenge. However, with the race almost half way done, Maria Martins (Le Col-Wahoo), Sofie Van Rooijen (Parkhotel-Valkenburg), Olivia Baril (Valcar-Travel & Service), and Clara Honsinger (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) they still had over two minutes behind. At this point they were climbing the Wolvenberg which may mean the peloton will close on them quickly.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3877188-41-207546/Painting/from-the-beginning-rvv22-8.html

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Ronde Van Vlaanderen: Plenty of Time to Celebrate

This was Bridget's favorite from these paintings of the Women's Ronde Van Vlaanderen. When she first looked at it she exclaimed, "Movie Star." You must know that she is an actor. You can find her on imdb.com by searching Bridget Gethins. Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) was able to build on her advantage that she opened up on the final climb of the day holding off some of the great women racing this season. She had enough time to celebrate in style as she crossed the line to win Ronde Van Vlaanderen for the second time in her career. It was ten years ago when she last won in Flanders. She is now the only woman currently racing to claim a victory in this Flanders Classic. And she did it while wearing the European Champion's jersey and on her new team.

I had hoped to be painting both the women's and men's Paris-Roubaix, but it has been postponed until early October due to a resurgence of Covid-19 in France. It does worry me that the Tour de France may meet the same fate as the Hell of the North.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3804623-31-290150/Painting/plenty-of-time-to-celebrate-rvv21-6.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen: Getting More Daylight

Starting her attack and the base of the Paterberg, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) opened up even more of a gap as she crested the steep final cobbled climb of the day. In the European Champion's jersey she was able to drop some great women off of her wheel in hopes of a solo run to victory. She was leaving the World Champion, the Women's World Tour leader, as well as the national champions of both Italy and Germany in her dust.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3804606-29-290150/Painting/getting-more-daylight-rvv21-4.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen: Pushing Her Advantage

Audrey Cordon Ragot (Trek-Segafredo) used the Taaienberg to get away from the elite peloton. However, rather than getting away on the climb, she went on the attack at the summit. Ususally, riders will slow and catch their breath as they crest a climb, so she caught them napping with her attack. She was able to build up an advantage of about 20 seconds with another 38 kilometers yet to race. I'm not sure whether she was going for the win, or helping her teammate, Elisa Boghini Longo, get a free ride in the chasing group. It was probably a combination of the two.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3804605-28-290150/Painting/pushing-her-advantage-rvv21-3.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen: Forcing a Selection

Most of the 110 kilometers covered thus far in the race had been gruppo compacto (one large peloton). As they hit the Kanarieberg, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) went to the front and drove the pace. She was covered by some of the big names in the sport including Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), Anna Van Der Breggen (Team SD Worx) and Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma). Vos is not in the black and yellow of her team's colors because she is wearing the Fushia of the points leader of the Women's Pro Tour. The plan worked, dropping the large group down to about fifteen serious contenders for the victory on the day.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3804604-27-290150/Painting/forcing-a-selection-rvv21-2.html

Ronde Van Vlaanderen: Being Her Own Mechanic

Arlenis Sierra Canadella (A.R. Monex Women's Pro Cycling) was hanging tough with the front group until she had a mechanical on a short cobbled climb. It looked to be that she dropped her chain as she down shifted on the rough surface. One of the many tough elements of racing on the narrow roads of west Belgium is that one's team support (or even neutral surface) can be so far behind the splinter groups of the peloton. Fortunatley she was able to get herself sorted quickly, but this was the last the TV cameras saw her for the rest of the day.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow th edirect link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth 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/Spring-Classics-2021/3804589-26-290150/Painting/being-her-own-mechanic-rvv21-1.html