Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: It's Rough at the Back

With the technical nature of the road race course, it was unwise to hang out at the back of the peloton.  Due to the constant cornering or the three short step climbs, radical changes of speed were bound to lead to a touch of wheels and a tumble on the tarmac.  It was Miles Scotson (Australia) who caused the small pile up at the back of the pack.  Most riders like Fabian Lienhard (Swiss) remained upright it was one of the Romanians who joined the Aussie sitting on the road way.  Fortunately, everybody was able to get back underway.  With the wreck coming so early in the race, all were able to rejoin the peloton but at what cost?

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  These paintings are created live while watching the races through a feed provided by the Richmond 2015 Worlds organization.  For two more days, you will be able to watch me create the works live at the Fanfest area at 5th and Marshall Streets near the finish line.  You can also purchase either the originals or one of two different sizes of prints while you are there, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Swinging Pass Robert

The original break of three changed members and grew with only Jose Luis Rodriguez of Chile left from the first attackers.  Now it is a Colombian, Jhonatan Restrepo tacked onto the back of Eddie Dunbar's wheel, proceed by Gregory Daniel (Team USA).  Leading them all around the statue to Robert E Lee is the Kazakhstan, Oleg Zemlyakov.  Much was made of the wrong-ness of keeping the statues to those who fought on the side of the American Civil War that was pro-slavery.  But then if one removes all evidence of their history, they are doomed to repeat it.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  These paintings are created live while watching the races through a feed provided by the Richmond 2015 Worlds organization.  For two more days, you will be able to watch me create the works live at the Fanfest area at 5th and Marshall Streets near the finish line.  You can also purchase either the originals or one of two different sizes of prints while you are there, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Making the First Move

With a long day in the saddle ahead of them, the peloton didn't exactly storm off of the line.  But there is always someone who wants to go out and look for some early glory.  After all, the break away almost never works out, but then there is that one time where it pays huge dividends.  Perhaps the Rwandan rider was looking for a chance to show his colors (I think it is Jean Bosco Insengiyumva),  The African was quickly joined in the effort by Omer Goldstein (Israel) and Jose Luis Rodriquez (Chile).  The trio would soon become a carrot for others who dreamed of a surprise victory.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  These paintings are created live while watching the races through a feed provided by the Richmond 2015 Worlds organization.  For two more days, you will be able to watch me create the works live at the Fanfest area at 5th and Marshall Streets near the finish line.  You can also purchase either the originals or one of two different sizes of prints while you are there, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: A Rough Way to Start

Daniel Hoelgaard (Norway) had a difficult start of this U23 Road Race.  While lined up waiting for the start of the race, he discovered that his front tire was flat.  He quickly headed back to his team mechanic for a quick wheel chain.  As his man was kneeling to replace the wheel, the neutral service mechanic came running up with a front wheel as well.  Hoelgaard was able to get back up to the start area before the race began, so I guess it was a case of "No harm, no foul".  But I feel like it may have been an omen of what was to come for his team.  Norway riders had more flats and a mechanical in the course of the race, and never seemed to be a factor on the day.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  These paintings are created live while watching the races through a feed provided by the Richmond 2015 Worlds organization.  For two more days, you will be able to watch me create the works live at the Fanfest area at 5th and Marshall Streets near the finish line.  You can also purchase either the originals or one of two different sizes of prints while you are there, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Crushing It

The title of this painting says it all.  Leapfrogging off of the efforts of her teammate, Emma White, Chloe Dygert (Team USA) crushed it on the final scaling of the first of the cobbled climbs.  Dygert was wise enough to use her solo break to find the smoother gutter of the climb saving the charging cobbles, the risk of a puncture or even a fall on the uneven surface.  It was clear with 5 kilometers left to race, no one was going to catch the gold medalist from the individual time trial earlier this week.  And no one did!  The tandem repeated their first and second in the ITT in the same order, each earning another of their respective medals.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  These paintings are created live while watching the races through a feed provided by the Richmond 2015 Worlds organization.  For two more days, you will be able to watch me create the works live at the Fanfest area at 5th and Marshall Streets near the finish line.  You can also purchase either the originals or one of two different sizes of prints while you are there, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Riding in Richmond

We have had the honor of hosting the young lady on the back of the second group on the road, Skye Davidson of Zimbabwe.  When I showed the work to Skye and her mother, Skye was able to identify where she was on the course (Libbie Hill), who the riders from New Zealand and Canada were, and just how much pain she was in trying to hold the wheel of the Kiwi rider just in front of her.  It is stunning just how relax and comfortable she has been since racing today.  I am sure I would be writhing in pain with leg cramps.  Ah, youth...

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  These paintings are created live while watching the races through a feed provided by the Richmond 2015 Worlds organization.  For two more days, you will be able to watch me create the works live at the Fanfest area at 5th and Marshall Streets near the finish line.  You can also purchase either the originals or one of two different sizes of prints while you are there, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Attacking the Cobbles

The climb up the cobbles of Libbie Hill was billed as the place to be for all of the weekend's road races.  It absolutely lived up to its billing.  Tacked on to the back of the peloton were young women from Sweden, the USA, Denmark, Switzerland and Italy, not that other team members were spread around the group.  Fortunately for the Women's Junior race, the fear rains held off and most negotiated the treacherous roads without incident.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  These paintings are created live while watching the races through a feed provided by the Richmond 2015 Worlds organization.  For two more days, you will be able to watch me create the works live at the Fanfest area at 5th and Marshall Streets near the finish line.  You can also purchase either the originals or one of two different sizes of prints while you are there, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Taking Them Up Libbie Hill

The Junior Women's Road Race was the first race of the road racing section of the UCI World Road Racing Championships.  The course featured some Belgium style cobble climbs, one up Libbie Hill to the top of Church Hill and the second even steeper one up 23rd Street back up to Church Hill again.  The racing took in one more climb before the finishing line, but at least the asphalt was as smooth as silk by comparison.  Emma White (Team USA) was the first to attack on the first lap up the much feared Libbie Hill.  White had taken the Silver medal earlier in the week in her class's Individual Time Trial.  I am elated to say that she garnered silver again at the finish line 7 laps later.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  These paintings are created live while watching the races through a feed provided by the Richmond 2015 Worlds organization.  For two more days, you will be able to watch me create the works live at the Fanfest area at 5th and Marshall Streets near the finish line.  You can also purchase either the originals or one of two different sizes of prints while you are there, or later at www.richmond.com.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds:

Adriano Malori (Italy) found the final climb and the false flat a bit much but still managed to sprint across the line in first place with just four riders left on the road behind him.  The odds said he had a chance for the podium.  It would only take roughly another six minutes to discover which step would be his.  Behind him on the road were some pretty big names including a former hour record holder, Rohan Denni, Tony Martin and Tom Dumolin.  Then there was the very strong riding of Vasil Kiryienka.  As it turned out, only Kiryienka was able to best his time, and then by only 9 seconds after over an hour of effort.  The average time for the winner, Kiryienka was over 52 kilometers per hour.  Of course that means the Italian Malori claimed the silver medal for the Richmond 2015 UCI World Road Racing Champions.

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.  In addition this painting is available along with two different sizes of prints in the Richmond Convention Center just a block away from the finish line of every race of the UCI World Road Racing Championships.  Just come look for me directly across from the awards podium.  Plus you can find a live stream of my painting the works at www.richmond.com were the paintings will soon be available for purchase.

Richmond 2015 UCI Worlds: Looking for Speed!

The three time former World Time Trial Champion, Tony Martin, was the odds on favorite for the day, but almost from the start it didn't seem like it was going to be his day.  I talked with a friend and journalist who had been at the pre-race press conference who said that he seem nervous and unfocused, like he knew he wasn't on his top form.  It was only two months ago when he crashed out of the Tour de France while wearing the Maillot Jaune.  Yet another new friend pointed out that Tony Martin was going through surgery when most riders were well into training for the Worlds.  By the end of the day, Martin had dropped all of the way down to 7th place, not the result he or most of the cycling fans around the world were hoping for.

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.  In addition this painting is available along with two different sizes of prints in the Richmond Convention Center just a block away from the finish line of every race of the UCI World Road Racing Championships.  Just come look for me directly across from the awards podium.  Plus you can find a live stream of my painting the works at www.richmond.com were the paintings will soon be available for purchase.