The Art of Cycling

Friday, January 3, 2025

Koksijde, Men's Cyclo-Cross: Chasing the Podium

Try as he might Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP) just wasn't able to bridge up to the two leaders today in the sands of Koksijde. On the up side, those chasing him were unsuccessful as well. Aerts claimed the final step of the podium in the cold wins and deep sand on the edge of Belgium and the North Sea.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Chasing the Podium CX-K25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Koksijde, Men's Cyclo-Cross: Surfing the Sand

Every sport has its own jargon, and cyclo-cross is no different. Today I learned that there is such a thing as 'surfing the sand.' It means to ride relaxed when in the deep sand. The trick (apparently) is to keep one's speed up and to not fight the bike too much. Today in the early laps, Tibor del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was giving a master class to the master of sand behind him, Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon). However, Sweeck soon came back and eventually won today's race in Koksijde, with del Grosso finishing the day in second place. I believe each man had their best finish thus far this season.

"Surfing the Sand CX-K25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Koksijde, Men's Cyclo-Cross: A Slight Advantage

The young Dutchman Tibor del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was having an incredible race against one of the masters in the sand, Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Cortendon). While they were only into the second lap, he had built up a ten second lead over the man nicknamed "the Sandman." Surprisingly, not only was he putting time into the more experienced Belgium in the sand, he was also doing it on the harder mud packed surfaces of the course.

"A Slight Advantage CX-K25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Koksijde, Women's Cyclo-Cross: Making Her Own Track

Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) made her own track through the deep sand on course in Koksijde. Pieterse won my heart in her amazing ride and stint in the Maillot a Pois in this past Tour de France Femmes. I was disappointed not to see her win earlier in the week, but she came back with vengeance at the end of today's race claiming her first cross victory of the season by twenty seconds over the reigning World and Dutch Champions. I might fast becoming a fan of Cyclo-Cross. At least of the women's races.

"Making Her Own Track CX-K25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Koksijde, Women's Cyclo-Cross: Climbing the Dune

It is just sand that makes Koksijde so difficult. Within sight of the start line the peloton faces a wall of sand that can only be scaled by shouldering one's bike and running up the deep sand. I can't imagine scaling this once, let alone the five times that the pro women managed this feat. At this point the Dutch Champion, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) is leading the World Champion, Fem vamn Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) up the climb as they both chase the sole leader already down the other side.

"Climbing the Dune CX-K25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Koksijde, Women's Cyclo-Cross: Sand Pit

I've been stuck at home nursing my first bout of Covid and have gotten into watching Cyclo Cross. It took me a couple of races, but I am really starting to get into it. However, watching the pros race, I have decided that it would be foolish for me to give it a go after all. I figured, if I am watching, I might as well paint the racing, too.

This is the Women's Koksijde race in the extreme north of Belgium that features sand dunes as the major challenge to the riders. This is the second dune the peloton faced and is being led by Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon) who is just about to remount at the top of the climb. Behind her, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) is taking her last steps before swinging her bike off her back and back under her for the descent.

"Sand Pit CX-K25-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Race: A Tip of the Crown

Perhaps this title needs a little explaining. In the world of professional cycling, the Triple Crown is winning the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Championship in the same season. Until today, only two men have managed the feat. The first was Eddy Merckx of Belgium who did it 50 years ago this week, and the second was Stephen Roche of Ireland who equaled Merckx thirteen years later. But now, a third name can be added to that list, Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia. In so doing he also broke his own record for longest breakaway win in a race. This year he went from eighty kilometers out to win Strade-Bianche. Today, he jumped free of the peloton with 100.7 kilometers to race. I don't think he was on his own until about 50 kilometers to go, but the records will say 100 K. He had plenty of time to think up a victory salute, but I think he might have been a bit emotional as he came to the finishing line alone, savoring the applause of the fans crowding the barriers and the roadway prior to the flame rouge. Behind him Ben O'Connor (Ireland) came alone for the silver medal, and the defending champion, Mathieu Van Der Poel (Netherlands) outsprinted the chasing six or seven to take the bronze.

This is truly the end of my cycling season. So I won't be back sharing my cycling art until the Tour Down Under in late January 2025.

"A Tip of the Crown Z24-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Race: Alone on the Bell Lap

Before the start of the final lap around the Zurich 2024 course, Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) dropped the last of member of the UCI Road World Championship's Elite Men's start list on his way towards achieving his goal of winning the Rainbow Jersey of World Champion. With just under thirteen kilometers left to go he was still holding his forty second advantage on the various groupings of chasers behind. It was surprising to see just how many flags of Slovenia decorated the 27-kilometer course through Zurich.

"Alone on the Bell Lap Z24-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Race: Anyone Coming?

One of my favorites in the peloton, Toms Skujins (Latvia) had gotten away from the group of favorites along with Ben Healy (Ireland). They had already caught and dropped Tadej Pogacar's erstwhile companion Pavel Sivakov but still had to close another 38 seconds up to Pogacar. Skujins was looking over the support motorcycles of both Shimano neutral support and race marshals to make sure no one was closing on them from behind. In the Worlds, the riders don't have race radio, so figuring out what is happening on the road gets a bit tough to lay down a race strategy mid-race.

"Anyone Coming? Z24-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

UCI Worlds, Zurich 2024, Elite Men's Road Worlds: Stretching Their Advantage

Both Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) and Pavel Sivakov (France) both look over at the timekeeper's motorcycle to see just how far back the chaser are. With 73 kilometers the duo from UAE Team Emirates were stretching out their advantage to just shy of a minute over those closest behind them. Pogacar had waited for Sivakov at the top of a climb after they escaped the breakaway. He knew that despite his strength there was still too many kilometers to try and go it alone to the finish line. However, he eventually found the Slovenian's pace just too much to stay on his wheel.

"Stretching Their Advantage Z24-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)