The Art of Cycling: watercolors of Milano Sanremo

Showing posts with label watercolors of Milano Sanremo. Show all posts

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Milano Sanremo: Using the Descent

After multiple attacks from the those expected to vie for the win on the Via Roma in Sanremo on the way up the Poggio di Sanremo the peloton crested the climb all together. So that is when Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) launched the surprise move that seemingly no one expected. Everyone thought it would be about the climb of the Poggio, but instead the Slovenian champion proved it was more about the descent of that fabled climb. He quickly opened a gap while those behind looked to each other to take up the chase. If they didn't decide to work together, it was clear that their chance of winning was going up the road.

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/Spring-Classics-/3873554-469-195767/Painting/using-the-descent-ms22-6.html

Milano Sanremo: Chasing Back

Milano Sanremo is hard enough, clearly no one needs any bad look added on top of the kilometes and final climbs. But that is exactly what befell fan favorite Peter Sagan (TotalEnergies). Within sight of the Capo Cipressa, Sagan had a problem with his gearing and needed a quick bike change. While the swap went well, it meant that he was chasing back through those dropping off of the back of the peloton as the favorites were on the attack further up the climb. Sagan could comfort himself knowing that he was catching up the peloton as others, like Elia Viviani (Ineos-Grenadiers), were dropping away.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3873550-467-195767/Painting/chasing-back-ms22-4.html

Milano Sanremo: Cramped Up, Cramped Out

Having lost the wheels of his erstwhile break away companions near the top of the Capo Berta, Filippo Conca (Lotto Soudal) had pushed deep to catch back on. Perhaps he went too deep. As he rode along the bottom of the climb he suddenly shoot out his leg as straight as possible. The next thing we knew he was grimacing in pain and rubbing out his legs as he came to a stop. I felt the need to paint this moment having had a similar experience on century rides all too often. Conca had cramped terribly after being off the front in a break away for over 250 kilometers thus far. As he stretched his leg out, he soon fell to the ground in pain. It looked like his day of racing was done, but that would be assuming he wasn't determined. Surprisingly, he got back on his bike moments after I painted this. He would have been caught by the peloton not long after, but I didn't see him for the rest of the day. Still, particualry for an Italian it is very important to finish a race on his home soil. I can relate, I have finished every century I have started, leg cramps or not.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3873549-466-195767/Painting/cramped-up-cramped-out-ms22-3.html

Monday, March 22, 2021

Milano-Sanremo 2021 - He Has the Gap

If a rider wants to avoid a sprint and still win Milano-Sanremo he has four choices. Go away on the Cipressa, yet no one could today. Go away on the climb of Poggio, again no one was able to drop enough of the peloton to avoid a sprint. Ride off the front on the tricky descent of the Poggio, and despite Pidcock's best efforts, no one was able to pull away from the equally skilled group behind him. So the final method is to catch everyone napping at the base of the descent and attack off the front. That is exactly what Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) was able to do with just two kilometers left to race. It is a tall order to make this kind of effort against the best in the world after racing for over 290 kilometers, but the Belgium seemed to have the legs to pull it off.

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-2021/3801739-17-290150/Painting/he-has-the-gap-ms21-6.html

Milano-Sanremo 2021 - Making It Hard

As the peloton went up the penultimate climb of Milano-Sanremo (the Capo Cipressa) Sam Oomen (Jumbo Visma) hit the front setting a hard pace for his team leader, Wout Van Aert. Van Aert was using the strategy that if the pace was super fast on this climb no one would be able to launch the traditional race winning attack. He was right. Lined out behind the two from Jumbo Visma were Ineos-Grenadiers including Luke Rowe, Tom Pidcock (in his race debute), and Michal Kwiatkowski. It was looking like it was either going to be an attack on the final climb of the Poggio or it would be down to a sprint finale.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3801733-15-290150/Painting/making-it-hard-ms21-4.html

Milano-Sanremo 2021 - How Are We Feeling?

As the break hit the first of the three Capi, the Capo Mele, the break away was down to four riders and their gap was down to just a minute and a half. It seems that Mathias Norsgaard (Movistar) is looking over at Taco Van Der Hoorn (Intermache Wanty Gobert) asking how he is feeling. Most likely he was taking stock of the legs of his break away compatriots to see if they would be able to stay away from the charging peloton. Ironically, it was Norsgaard who dropped away on the may up the Capo Capressa in another ten kilometers time.

The costal road to Sanremo was punctuated with multiple construction zones, here safety cones are moving the riders to their left. This is just one of the many pinch points on the route for the much larger peloton. Side note, Intermache Wanty Gobert ride Cube bikes, as do I. This is the first time I have ever been on a bike that was also being ridden by a Pro Tour team.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3801730-14-290150/Painting/how-are-we-feeling-ms21-3.html

Milano-Sanremo 2021, You Gotta' Eat

With 190 kilometers covered, a distance longer than most every Grand Tour stage, it was important for everyone to keep eating just to be able to make it to Sanremo. Let alone to be able to race to the finish. So it was that Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiaini-CSF-Falzane) dropped back to his team car to grab another bite to eat. He and his break away companions still had another 109 kilometers so he (and they) had to eat. The octet had almost five minutes on the peloton behind, yet it would not be enough time to ensure a win on the Via Roma.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3801707-13-290150/Painting/you-gotta-eat-ms21-2.html

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Milano-Sanremo, Half a Bike

After 305 kilometers, it was thalf the length of a race bike that decided the 2020 edition of Milano-Sanremo! The duo of Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Vismo) and Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) came together on the fast descent of the Poggio di Sanremo. They joined forces in a successful attempt to hold off the chasing peloton. In the end, Van Aert had the sprint to take the victory over the defending winner, Alaphilippe. Van Aert added today's victory to his solo win in Strade-Bianche last Saturday, a feat that was accomplished by Alaphilippe in 2019. It leaves me wondering what the delayed 2020 Tour de France will be like.

I most likely will not be painting cycling until the start of the Tour de France, but with being furloughed from my night work who knows what I will paint next? I do always enjoy watching the Dauphine, so one never knows.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post. Since it is an original it is first come first served. The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3632998-17-280747/Painting/half-a-bike-ms20-6.html

Milano-Sanremo, Time to Go!

As the peloton neared the summit of the final climb, the Poggio di Sanremo, it was time to make the attack that would stick. As he did in 2019, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) attacked hard on the climb. As he went the only one that could come close to holding the Frenchman's wheel was Dutchman, Wout Van Aerts (Jumbo-Visma). Behind you can see the rest of the peloton dropping away. I didn't manage to get who it was just behind riding for Team Ineos. I wonder if the peloton had the chance to take in the beautiful views of the sea off their fight shoulders.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post. Since it is an original it is first come first served. The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3632964-16-280747/Painting/time-to-go-ms20-5.html

Milano-Sanremo, Keeping His Distance

Descending off of the Cipressa, Daniel Oss (Bora-Hansgrohe) opened up a rather large gap on the following peloton. On the way down, he had a near miss with the camera moto, almost coming down on one of the sharp turns on the cliffs over the sea. Once off the front Oss road hard to keep the peloton from catching him up. Along the roads, fans safely observed their social distancing (and wore masks) just as Oss kept his social distance from the rest of the race.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post. Since it is an original it is first come first served. The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3632941-15-280747/Painting/keeping-his-distance-ms20-4.html

Milano-Sanremo, Checking the Gap

While it was a very long day in the saddle, it wasn't until the final 30 kilometers that the race really got going. This duo of Loic Vliegen (Circus-Wanty Gobert) and Jacop Mosca (Trek-Segafredo) jumped free of the peloton on the penultimate climb of the day, the Cipressa. Trek-Segafredo kept up the agression sending men up the road one after another. By the finale, they had four of their six riders go up the road on the attack. I guess was the thinking was that it would allow for their team leader, Vincenzo Nibali, to have an easier time of it, thus allowing him to be fresher to go for the victory. Spoiler, it didn't work.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post. Since it is an original it is first come first served. The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3632933-14-280747/Painting/checking-the-gap-ms20-3.html

Milano-Sanremo, Looking for His Car

Normally the last of the Spring Monuments, the 111th Milano-Sanremo was moved to the heat of August for this Covid-19 altered 2020 cycling season. Since Italy is finally opening up, the race was allowed, but the mayors along the traditional coast roads refused to close the roads for the race. After all they finally could generate some very much needed tourist income. So not only is this edition hotter than normal, it is racing on new inland roads that made the race into a 305 kilometer race.

With still another 97 kilometers to race, Leonardo Bonifazio (Total Direct Energie) was dropping off the back of the peloton in search of his team car. It was of the upmost importance to keep feed and hydrated on this longest of races of the season. The camera didn't stay with Bonifazio to confirm that he was getting supplies for himself or for all of his teammates, but I am sure it was the latter.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post. Since it is an original it is first come first served. The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Bike-Racing-Revised-Season/3632899-12-280747/Painting/looking-for-his-team-car-ms20-1.html