Bergen 2017, Elite Men's Road Race: From the Start

It was two Irishman and an Azerbaijani (sounds like the start of a joke doesn't it?) who went on the attack right from the start of the Elite Men's Road Race.  Conor Dunne (Ireland), who had gotten in the early move here in Richmond, Virginia in 2015, looks over his shoulder at his teammate, Sean McKenna.  Between them is Elchin Asadov for Azerbaijan.  The trio would eventually be joined by seven more riders, and they would collectively build quite an advantage in the early part of the race.

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/3038004-47-239826/PaintingFrom-the-Start--Bergen-47.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Men's Road Race: Time to Pull Them Back

With just four laps left to race, the Spanish team decided it was time to chase down the remnants of the early break.  They wanted to set it up for a bunch sprint for the finale in hopes that their sprinter, Ivan Garcia, would be able to take out the win for Espana.  Garcia had just missed on the stage of this year's Vuelta in to his hope town of Gijon, I am sure he would love to redeem that effort with a win today.

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/3037105-34-239826/PaintingTime-to-Pull-Them-Back--Bergen-34.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: Cheering Their Man

It looked like the entire country of Norway had spilled onto the slopes of Mount Floyen to give their full throttle support to the elite men of the pro peloton.  To be fair, they were very enthusiatic to every single person struggling up the hill, but they really let lose when Andreas Vangstad (Norway) one of their own rode past.  Vangstad was not one of those to figure in the medals (although he did post some great times on the flatter sections of the course), but that did nothing to dampen the patriotic ferver on the roadside.

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/3036163-24-239826/PaintingCheering-Their-Man-Bergen-24.html

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

Bergen 2017, Elite Women's ITT: Climbing Well

Vita Heine (Norway) was being carried by the support of her home country fans as she reached the top of the now dreaded Birkelundbakken climb.  Heine was hoping to put on a medal winning performance for her countrymen who haven't had much to celebrate thus far in Bergen - patrioticly at least.  Riding behind her in the team car was her coach giving her encouragement, time splits and perhaps a kick in the cycling shorts as well.

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/3034984-18-239826/PaintingClimbing-Well--Bergen-18.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Individual Time Trial, Passing on the Birkelundsbakken

The American Nielson Powless was tiding a brilliant time trial.  He was going stronger and stronger as he approached the line.  He seemed to be the only one who wasn't fighting the Birkelundsbakken climb.  He even got Paulo Buccio (Italy) on the lower slopes of the hill.  It seemed to be no question that he would medal, it was just a question of which one.  And then...  As he crested the climb shifting into the big gears for the descent, he slipped his chain.  In the effort to get it back onto the front chain ring he went head over heals onto the asphalt.  While his bike change was incredibly fast, it still cost him too much time.  Buccio never caught him, but he ended his day in seventh.  It just shows, that the race isn't over until it is over.  Crashing is one reason I quit racing, it just hurts too damn much.

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/3034584-15-239826/PaintingPassing-on-the-Birkelundsbakken--Bergen-15.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Individual Time Trial: As Fast as He Can

The Dane, Mikkel Bjerg, was setting the best time at nearly every time check along the course.  He seemed to have measured his effort perfectly as he crested the Birkelundsbakken climb.  He just had do drive as hard as he could down the other side, across the pave and through the turns to the harbor.  All he could do is ride as fast as he could.  He did set the new best time at the line, unseating his teammate.  But having ridden in the first group, he was going to have a very long wait to see if his time would stand up.  It did!  Others got close, but none within 20 seconds of the second Danish U23 champion in three years.

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/3034570-13-239826/PaintingAs-Fast-as-He-Can-Bergen-13.html

Bregen 2017, Elite Men's Team Time Trial: Leading on the Cobbles

The organizers of the races in Bergen provided a team time trial course that had absolutely everything for the riders and fans alike.  The riders rode over a beautiful suspension bridge, climb a brutal steep hill, and then twisted their way through a section of cobble stones all on their way to a finish down by the historic harbor - a world heritage site.  BMC Pro Cycling was hoping to reclaim the Gold Medal that they had lost in the dessert of Doha last year and were still showing the best times at the third time check.  As they reached the end of the cobbles their fifth rider, Stafan Kung, signaled that he wasn't going to be able to keep on pace, and then dropped away fron the four remainders.  Going to the line with just four guys, they lost eight seconds to the Sunweb team, settling for their second Silver Medal in a row.  Chapeau to Tejay van Garderen, Rohan Dennis, Daniel Oss and all of the team.

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/3034306-10-239826/PaintingLeading-on-the-Cobbles--Bregen-10.html

Bregen 2017, Men's Team Time Trial: Down the Other Side

It was the rather colorful Norwegian team, Fixit.no, who got the men's team time trial underway this afternoon.  As it always is for the first team to start, they were setting the best time at each of the time checks out on course.  However, unlike the women's team, Virtu Cycling, their time didn't stand up for long.

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/3034242-5-239826/PaintingDown-the-Other-Side--Bergen-5.html

Bergen 2017: Elite Women's TTT: Climbing Together

Defending World Champions, Boels-Doleman, opted to keep the entire team of six women together as they scaled the steep climb out on course.  The orange skin suit clad riders were chasing the times of Team Sunweb around the roads of Norway, just a few seconds off of the pace.  As they reach the line, just one rider short, they just couldn't catch Sunweb.  They will have to settle for the Silver Medal - no shame in that, at all.

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/3033346-4-239826/PaintingClimbing-Together--Bergen-4.html

Bergen, Elite Women's TTT: Pushing All of the Way

Clearly Team Sunweb had measured their effort around the 42 kilometer hilly course in Bergen today.  The team was behind at each of the check points except for the only one that truly matters, the final one.  They had sacrificed two riders towards the end of the course, but sprinted hard as they neared the final meters of their day.  As they rode under the banner lead by the American Coryn Rivera, their's was the new best time.  And it stayed the best time as the remaining teams out on course finished their day.  Chapeau!

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/3033322-3-239826/PaintingPushing-All-of-the-Way--Bergen-3.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Women's TTT: All Here?

The course for the Team Time Trial included a very steep short climb that will be catching out riders for the entire week of racing in Bergen.  Only the Junior Women's course will skip this climb, all other races (and racers) will have to face this on race day.  As FDJ Novelle Aquitane crested the climb, the rider at the front looks over her shoulder to make sure she has a minimum of three others with her at the summit.  In this TTT, the time is taken when the fourth rider crosses the line.  The team is comprised of six riders giving two riders the option of dropping off of the group.  There are many different strategic methods on how to approach expending riders, apparently, FDJ was hoping to keep everyone together.

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/3033319-2-239826/PaintingAll-Here?--Bergen-2.html

Bergen 2017, Women's TTT: Up and Over

It was the women that got the UCI Road World Championships underway in Bergen, Norway today.  And it was Team Virtu Cyclin that were the first to roll down the start ramp and out onto the roads of Norway.  It was quite a sight to see these women ride over the very tall suspension bridge that led them into Bergen proper.  Naturally, the team was setting the best times at each check point, the advantage of going first.  And posted an acceptable time at the end of the day, leaving them in the middle of the back on the day.

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/3033316-1-239826/PaintingUp-and-Over-Bergen-1.html

Eagerly Awaiting the Start of the Tour

I am pulling together all of the information that I need to write the blog post for the coming 2016 Tour de France.  I have just finished going through the Le Tour website and logging all of the stages, profile maps, distances, climbs and sprint towns, complete with how many kilometers left to race at each climb or sprint.  I am awaiting the assigning of bib numbers and final confirmation of who will be representing each team at the Grand Depart at Mont Saint Michele.

Be sure to check back for my paintings and blog post of every stage of the Tour, everyday that wheels roll on the Grand Boucle.

All of the paintings will be painted in real time (or as close to real time as possible) without knowing the results of each day of racing.  The artwork will be created using ink and Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors (available at www.richesonart.com).  After I have posted the art here on this blog, the work will be available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  I will provide a direct link to each painting at the end of each co-responding post.