Giro, Stage 3: Making Their Own Luck

The Belgium team, Quickstep, knew that there would be strong cross winds when the peloton hit the flats by the sea as they neared Calgiari.  Six members of the team hit the front, used half of the road, and drove the pace as fast as they could possibly go.  By limiting the amount of road, they limited the ability of those behind to shelter from the wind.  Initially, the Maglia Rosa of Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) was able to make the front group when the splits appeared, but his lucked failed him at the most crucial of times.  Only three other riders that were not members of Team Quickstep were able to stay in the front group.  Both Fernando Gaviria and Bob Jungels had a lot to gain on the day.  Gaviria was racing for the stage (although a win may give him the Maglia Rosa as well) and Jungels was gaining time on his GC rivals.

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.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2963209-22-235247/PaintingMaking-Their-Own-Luck-G17-22.html

Doha 2016, Elite Men's Road Race: Classic Style

For those of you who regularly follow my cycling art, you'll know how much I enjoy a title that has multiple interpretations.  This is just such a title.  Does it refer to the classic styling of the Belgium team jersey, the use of racing techniques employed in the Classics (mainly raced in Northern Europe in the Spring), or from the classic formation of the echelon?

A few kilometers before the peloton hit the northern most point of the course, the speed suddenly shot up as teams positioned themselves for the turn into the crosswinds.  Belgium hit the front and using the skill they have perfected riding on the winding flat lands of the North, split the peloton to splinters.  Surprisingly, the Dutch and the Germans missed the move as the main peloton broke into two majors pieces, with others in groups of ten or less scrambling behind.  The Belgium team was being led by Jasper Stuyven, but most of the team was here, including Jurgen Roelandts, Tom Boonen and Greg Van Avermaet astride his golden bike that celebrates his Olympic Gold Medal.  The Norwegian sprinters Edvald Boasson Hagen and Alexander Kristoff were among others that made the first group.

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/2866417-59-227958/PaintingClassic%20Style%20Doha2016-Greig-Leach.html#.WAT54-ArLIU

Tour, Stage 1: Caught Out

The open flat roads of Normandy combined with the winds off of the Atlantic and the English Channel, provided the peloton with yet another element to contend with.  The race course had the riders switching direction almost constantly.  A few like Borut Bozic (Cofidis) and Jan Polanc (Lampre-Merida) were caught out by a strong crosswind and the acceleration of the front end of the peloton.  These eight or ten riders were left scrambling to catch back onto the fast disappearing tail of the leaders.  They could take comfort in knowing that the road was sure to change direction yet they could ill afford to lully-gag in hopes of it all coming back together.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2817373-3-224974/PaintingCaught%20Out%20TdF3-Greig-Leach.html#.V3fyYLgrLIU

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: Half the Road

In the northern reaches of Europe (and many other places in the world) the winds sweeping across the wide open flat lands can really effect the course of the race.  When the winds come at the riders from one side or the other, the peloton will form echelons (where each following rider is behind and to the side of the preceding cyclists - trying to find the spot in his draft).  Teams will move over to allow only their teammates to be able to find the sweet spot for the draft, leaving those behind to work just that much harder to keep up.  The Belgium team Lotto Soudal knew this tactic all too well, and employed it to perfection today, splitting the peloton apart and ridding themselves of some of the competing sprinters or rival teams.

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.  This painting and many, many other pieces of cycling art are 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.  And yes, international shipping is available.

Plus, I have just released my second book, this one entitled, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  Obviously, it focus on the 2015 Championships that took place here in Richmond, Virginia this past September and includes my paintings and writings on all of the races contested on the very streets that I ride every week.

I am having trouble with loading my artwork on to my website.  Please email me at greigsart@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing this work, or any of my other Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne paintings.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Topping the Hill

It was a treat to watch Kathryn Bertine (St. Kitts and Nevis) top the Governor's Street hill and turn onto the finishing straight on E. Broad Street.  I have been a big fan of hers since seeing her documentary, "Half the Road" and reading her book.  She is a forceful advocate for equity in cycling.  The average professional woman earns considerably less than half the salaries of the average professional man.  To be honest the few women's races that I have been able to watch (there is even a wider inequality in TV coverage), I find their races to be more exciting and unpredictable.  Will know today if that holds true for the Elite Men's Time Trial versus the Elite Women.

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.  What is unusual about this race for me is that I am painting it live at the Fanfest area, sitting directly across form the podium and the hot seats where the well placed finishers await the final verdict of the clock.  You can come watch me paint there, or watch it on a live stream at www.richmond.com.  The works are available as originals or two different size prints at Fanfest, or later at www.richmond.com.