The Art of Cycling

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Flanders 2021: Can Lightening Strike Twice?

I feel I may need to explain this title. This is Anna Kiesenhofer (Austria) who just one the Gold Medal in the Olympic women's road race. She won by getting into an early break and then leaving that group on her own. Her solo effort (and the lack of race radios behind) gave her the win in Tokyo. The ability to ride alone is what this discipline is all about. Sadly for Kiesenhofer today wasn't to be her day as she finished in 17th place on the day. But on the other hand, she is the Olympic Champion for another three years.

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 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/Flanders-2021/3837720-10-292177/Painting/can-lightening-strike-twice-uci21-10.html

Flanders 2021: Catching Her Minute Woman

This titled isn't entirely accurate. Actually, Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands) started a minute and a half after Lisa Klein (Germany) who is just ahead of her. It wasn't that Klein was riding slow, she took 7th place in the final placings on the day, it was just that van Dijk was just that fast. Not only did she pass the German ahead of her, but she just missed catching Leah Thomas (USA) who finished her ride just about 10 seconds ahead of van Dijk. Keep in mind Thomas had started a full three minutes ahead of the Dutch woman. With that kind of a ride it should come as no surprise that she is the new World Champion in the Women's Elite Time Trial. It did mean she had to wait for 37 other women to finish their efforts before she knew that the title and the rainbow stripes were hers.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3837713-9-292177/Painting/catching-her-minute-woman-uci21-9.html

Flanders 2021: She's Just Getting Started

The American Leah Thomas was one of the earlier women to ride down the start ramp in the Elite Women's Time Trial. She has just made the turn at the bottom of the start ramp as she sprints to get up to speed. She has just over thirty kilometers of effort ahead of her. An effort she will make all on her own. While she posted some early strong times, she finished her day in 14th place.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3837706-8-292177/Painting/shes-just-getting-started-uci21-8.html

Monday, September 20, 2021

Flanders 2021: Celebrating Another One

Flippo Ganna (Italy) had the rare opportunity to celebrate his victory in a time trial as he crossed the line in Bruges. As the defending World Champion in the time trial discipline he had the luxury of being the last guy to ride down the start lamp, so as he crossed the line, he knew his best time would be THE best time. The Belgium cycling fans pressing against the barriers would have to content themselves with the knowledge that their men, Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel had taken silver and bronze respectfully. I believe the last man to win back to back TT titles was the man who will retire after these Worlds, Tony Martin. Chapeau, Ganna!

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3837391-7-292177/Painting/celebrating-another-one-uci21-7.html

Flanders 2021: One Last Time!

As Tony Martin (Germany) rolled down the start ramp, I was saddened to learn that he announced today that this would be his last UCI Road World Championship. Martin has held the Champion title in the Men's Elite Time Trial four times and many more national titles in Germany. He is one of those guys I have always enjoyed watching race. When the Worlds came to Richmond, VA I had the good fortune to meet his mother. She, too, is a wonderful kind person. She said she would bring him by so I could meet him but it just didn't happen.

He was going out of racing still passing riders who had started before him. He was second when he arrived in Bruges, but fell to seventh on the day. Not a bad way to end a career racing in the Worlds (most never get a 7th for their entire racing career).

By the way, his mother did buy one of my watercolors of Tony from the road race back in 2015. I wonder in who's house it hangs.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3837389-6-292177/Painting/one-last-time-uci21-6.html

Flanders 2021: On a Fast One

One of the challenges with painting a time trial is trying to guess who will be the players in the leader board at the end of the day. Kasper Asgreen (Denmark) was out on a strong ride putting in yet another new best time at the first time check. He stayed near the top as he completed the course, claiming the second spot on the podium when he finished. Unfortunately for the Dane, two of the three behind him out road him. He finished the day in that awful position of just off of the podium. As I watched the race I was struck by just how many bike lanes were all over the course most of which were protected from cars and trucks (that is what the red stripe is going across the road... the red streak is Asgreen). I think I need to spend some time riding in Europe soon.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3837385-5-292177/Painting/on-a-fast-one-uci21-5.html

Flanders 2021: The Other Belgium Hope

Wout van Aert (Belgium) may have had a bit less pressure on him knowing that his teammate was sitting in the hot seat with the best time thus far. Yet he was still super focus and ready to lay out a strong ride to trade the stripes of his country's flag for the Rainbow Stripes of World Champion. In this past Tour de France he won the final time trial, but then he also won a stage on the top of a mountain and in a field sprint on the Champs Elysees. As he road the course, he had the best time including at the end of the course. With just one guy on the road he was ensured a medal. He ended the day with the Silver, making it two Belgiums on the podium in the Elite Men's Time Trial. Not bad for the home team on the opening day of Flanders 2021!

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3837381-4-292177/Painting/the-other-belgium-hope-uci21-4.html

Sunday, September 19, 2021

Flanders 2021: Rolling Out

Most times my paintings do what they should, but then there are others... this is a bit of the latter. Michal Kwiatkowski rolled off the start ramp on the coast in hopes of a strong ride. It is his ability to ride miles after miles on the front of the peloton that makes his team, Ineos-Grenadiers, so hard to keep out of a leader's jersey. I am sure he was hoping his legs would deliver that kind of a ride for some personal glory. It should be pointed out that he is a former UCI World Champion on the road yet I don't think he was one of the main contenders for the rainbow jersey in the time trial.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3837377-3-292177/Painting/rolling-out-uci21-3.html

Flanders 2021: Fastest at the Second Check

Stefan Bissegger (Switzerland) was laying down a brilliant ride. When he got to the second time check he logged the best time thus far. Yes, there were some big names on the road behind him but he looked to be on a podium worthy time trial. Unfortunately, he wasn't going to replace the lore of his countryman, Fabian Cancellara. It was a combination of fading a bit towards the finish and some of the other behind him that left him with a seventh place on the day.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3837375-2-292177/Painting/fastest-at-the-second-check.html

Flanders 2021: On Home Roads

Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) choose to go out early for the Elite Men's time trial. I may have been nerves, or just a desire to get done what needs to be done. Whatever the reason, he was the one setting new best times at every time check on the course. And that included the most important one at the end of his all out effort. The down side of going early was that now he had to wait to see if his time would stand up to all of the guys (43 of them) yet to come to Brussels. Spoiler... He finished the day with the bronze medal, but it was only the last two guys who moved him out of the hot seat he had held for most of the day.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3837373-1-292177/Painting/on-home-roads-uci21-1.html