Bergen 2017, Elite Women's ITT: Looking for the Podium

Linda Villumsen (New Zealand) has had a very strong track record over the years in this event.  She won in Richmond, Virginia (my home town) in 2015.  She has also had three bronzes and two silvers as well.  Today as she drove into the final bends by the harbor, she was looking to get onto the podium once again.  Her times already showed that she would not repeat her ride in Richmond, but this time she wasn't going to find the podium at the end of her ride.

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/3035001-21-239826/PaintingLooking-for-the-Podium--Bergen-21.html

Tour, Stage 19, Going on Alone

Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) had been with Pierre Rolland (Cannondale-Drapac) but when the Frenchman crashed on a wet corner, the former World Champion had to simply press on with his attack.  Costa won the World Championships in a driving rain storm, so this is certainly not his first time racing in the rain.  As Costa descended the Col de Domancy (the climb that had greeted those competing in the Individual Time Trial the day before), he must have been aware of the crashes that were happening all over the road behind.  Costa look sure to make it to the base of the final climb alone.  The question is, will he still be alone at the top?  Trust the Italian team, Lampre-Merida, to have the most colorful kit in the peloton.  It certainly is my favorite.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2827774-140-224974/PaintingGoing%20on%20Alone%20TdF141-Greig-Leach.html#.V5LAALgrLIU

Tour, Stage 13: Fans Along the Road

Today's Tour started with a moment of silence in honor of those who were killed over night in the city of Nice, by the third terrorist attack in France in the past 18 months.  The attack kind of put the events at the end of yesterday's stage in perspective.  It was debated to cancel the stage in respect of those who were suffering and had died, but in the end it was felt that continuing to live a full life was the best response (if a little subdued).

Now, on to racing.  Today the fans were far more respectful of the riders and their right to the road.  It was a treat to see Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) out on the course in his Time Trial Champion of Germany Jersey.  In addition to the bans of the German flag on his back, he wore the rainbow stripes of former World Champion on his sleeves, and honor he won three years in a row.  Continuing the international flavor of the Tour, Martin's fellow country man, dressed in a similar shirt, waved the German flag as his countryman sped by.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2824207-90-224974/PaintingFans%20Along%20the%20Road%20TdF89-Greig-Leach.html#.V4lHQLgrLIU

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Showing Some Power

As I said earlier, the Belgium team was litter with amazingly strong riders.  They went to the front of the peloton as the group swung onto the cobbles of Libby Hill yet again driving the pace to shuck as many sprinters as they could.  Sprinters are notoriously bad climbers, so this course implies that it wasn't going to be a sprinter pulling on a Rainbow Jersey at the end of the day.  Many of the roads in Belgium mirror the steep cobbled climbs of Richmond.  Although I suppose that it was Richmond that was mirroring Belgium.  One would deduce that this was a race for the long legs of Tom Boonen, and he was the one leading the team up the climb on this lap.  I suspect that he hope to intimidate his rivals into submission.

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 works were done live in the middle of the Fanfest area across from the awards podium as the racing was going on.  Prints and the originals will be available before very long at www.richmond.com (the website of the Richmond Times Dispatch newspaper).

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Back Underway

Tom Boonen (Belgium) had a flat tire as the peloton approached the Libby Hill cobbles for the second of the 15 times up to the high point of Church Hill and of the course.  Boonen, ever the professional, was calm as he slipped back into the convoy of following team vehicles.  He knew that it was extremely early in the race and he would have no trouble getting back into the fold.  Boonen is one of two former World Champions on the Belgium team that are on course for the final race of Richmond 2015 UCI World Road Racing Championships.

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 works were done live in the middle of the Fanfest area across from the awards podium as the racing was going on.  Prints and the originals will be available before very long at www.richmond.com (the website of the Richmond Times Dispatch newspaper).

Giro Stage 18: A Puncheur's Punch

Philippe Gilbert (BMC) timed his attack to perfection.  His teammate, Amael Moinard, had attacked the remaining trio from the original breakaway.  As the threesome had used a burst of energy to catch the fleeing Frenchman, Gilbert jumped from the back of the group and went off on his own.  With about 15 kilometers left to the finish in Verbania it was a long way to go, but the former World Road Racing Champion still had the legs to make it stick.  He had the added advantage of having a teammate behind to chase down any effort to bridge across to his wheel.  After 14 stages producing 14 different stage winners, Gilbert's win makes the third man to claim a second stage in the 98th Giro d'Italia.

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,  They are a lovely family run art supply business with some really fine products.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2560838---184157/Painting.html#.VWfcHc_BzGc

Giro Stage 12: A Puncheur's Stage

First a definition; a puncheur is a cyclist who specializes in rolling terrain and short steep climbs, they usual thrive in the Classics and Monuments of the ProTour calendar.  One of those puncheurs is the former World Champion, Philippe Gilbert (BMC) and today's stage was tailor made for his particular skill set.  His team had spent the day on the front of the peloton keeping the breakaway close enough so their team leader could bounce and claim the victory.  Gilbert did exactly that.  In so doing, he claim the first stage when for BMC in this the 98th edition of the Giro d'Italia.  Obviously, not every team can have a rider winn the Giro, and mathematically, it is not possible for every team to claim a stage win, although that is a minimal goal for every team in the race.  There are 22 teams competing in the race and only 21 stages that they can vie for.  It reminds me of the old birthday party game of musical chairs.  Someone is coming up short.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from the American family run art supply company, Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website for the low price of $50 USD, plus shipping (including international shipping).  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2557704---184157/Painting.html#.VV5Fu_lViko