Strade Bianche, Opening a Gap

With just nineteen of the 183 kilometers remaining, it was Greg Van Avermaet (CCC) that was letting a gap go on the penultimate gravel section of the day.  Ahead, the trio of Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates), Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) and Alberto Bettiol (EF Pro Cycling) was just getting on with chasing the disappearing Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma).  I was sad to see the reigning Olympic Champion not able to hold the wheels, I am a fan of the Belgium.

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/3609826-9-280747/Painting/opening-a-gap-sb20-9.html

Strade Bianche, Closing In

With Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) alone up the road, it was this quartet that had to give chase.  As they road up another of the gravel sections, Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) lead Alberto Bettiol (EF Pro Cycling) followed by the fast closing Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma).  Along the side of the road the tifosi were out, many wearing masks and all keeping a safe distance from each other.  One of their main interactions with the racers was to pour their cold water bottles, a much appreciated gesture, over the over-heated athletes.

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/3609670-8-280747/Painting/closing-in-sb20-8.html

Strade Bianche, Vastly Reduced

As it was with the Elite Women earlier, the peloton was vastly reduced by the final 50 kilometers.  On the front Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) was talking over possible options with Jakob Fulgsang (Astana).  On there wheels, Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling) must have been trying to eavesdrop over the rattling bikes on the white gravel roads.  Stretched out behind the trio was about the remaining twenty or so that made up who would have a chance to win the 2020 Strade Bianche.  Some of the big names, and last year's winner, Julian Alaphilippe (Decuninck-Quickstep) were way off the back, or even already off of the bike.

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/3609637-7-280747/Painting/vastly-reduced-sb20-7.html

Strade Bianche, Clouds of Dust

With Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling) put back into the peloton, it was Michael Gogl (NTT Pro Cycling) was the next to ride away from the group.  One of the distinctive features of Strade Bianche is the white gravel roads that kick up dense clouds of dust as the motos, race vehicles and the bikes themselves race over the rough surfaces.  Gogl seemed to be trying to go for a solo run, but with 53 K to race, it was more likely he just wanted to get out of most everyone else's dust clouds.  I am sure it made breathing a bit easier.

At the start line, and at the end of the race, the competitors would quickly don a cloth mask to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus.  Gogl may have been wishing he had kept his with him.  Although I find it impossible to ride with one on, and I am sure I am not putting out anywhere near the wattage he is.

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/3609580-6-280747/Painting/clouds-of-dust-sb20-6.html

Strade Bianche, Looking for Company

After Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling) jumped free of the reduced peloton, he looked back to see if anyone was going to join him.  With 57 kilometers and four sections of gravel to go, it was far too long to go for a solo break.  Behind he did have a teammate, he may have been looking to see if he was coming across.

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/3609537-5-280747/Painting/looking-for-company-sb20-5.html

Strade Bianche - Women, Waving for the Camera

Annemiek Van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) showed why she has the rainbow bands across her chest and arms.  She was able to chase down the lone leader and the group that Margarita Garcia Canellas (ALE BTC Ljubljana) had left behind.  Van Vleuten dropped the ALE rider with just about 2 kilometers left to the finish and Siena.  Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there were no crowds massed at the finish line in the old city square.  So instead, Van Vleuten waved to the press core and the TV cameras as thought it was the crowded Italian Piazza.  This makes it two Strade Bianches in a row for the on fire Dutch phenom.

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/3609424-4-280747/Painting/waving-to-the-camera-sb20-4.html

Strade Bianche - Women, Just Not Her Day

The gravel roads conspired to ruin Leah Thomas's (Equip Paule KA) day.  After having a mechanical on one of the gravel sections, she flipped off her bike as her mechanic was giving her the push to get her up and going.  The crash certainly cost her time, but it may have been demoralizing as well.  She was able to take third on the day, but she was left to wonder what could have happened.  She was just two minutes off of the best time on the day, so she could have had her day.

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/3609380-3-280747/Painting/just-not-her-day-sb20-3.html

Strade Bianche - Women, Next on the Road

With just one rider up the road, the next to go on the attack was none other than the reigning World Champion, Annemiek Van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott).  With 14 kilometers left to race, it was going to take a spectacular ride by Van Vleuten if she was going to take the victory in Siena.  Van Vleuten has been on amazing form this season having won four out of four races.  She is clearly hoping to make it five out of five.

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/3609352-2-280747/Painting/next-on-the-road-sb20-2.html

Strade Bianche - Women, Off by Herself

Today was the first time that the peloton was able to take to the open roads in a major race.  There have have been a few smaller races, but this is the first to have a full compliment of World Tour teams take to the start line.  I am pleased that I was able to access coverage of the women's race that covered much of the same course as the men's race that started about and hour and a half after the women in Siena.  

I have described Strade Bianche as Italy's answer to Paris-Roubaix.  The women (and later the men) face numerous sections of gravel roead.  With today's heat the traditional white roads of Siena are raising clouds of fine white dust that coat the sweating bodies of the racers, and most likely their lungs as well.  Due to Covid-19 this race was delayed from its normal late March schedule to today, the first of August.  A cruel switch considering that the heat of summer was fulling on in Tuscany.  

This is Margarita Garcia Canellas (ALE BTC Ljubljana) who had dropped the rest of the peloton and was off on her own with 20 kilometers to race.  It was looking like she was going to upset all of the pre-race favorites and take a surprise victory.  Spoiler alert, she finished her day with second place.

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/3609247-1-280747/Painting/off-by-herself-sb20-1.html

Paris Nice, Final Stage: Every Last Ounce

Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) had to dig very, very deep to keep Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb) from taking the Maillot Jaune off of his shoulders.  He succeed in that effort holding onto the final Yellow Jersey by 18 seconds.  The effort cost him every last ounce of his strenght, even too exhausted  to get off of the bike at the end of the stage.  Schachmann becomes only the tenth rider in the 78 year history of Paris Nice to hold the lead from start to finish.  Perhaps it would have been different with one more stage, but I doubt it.

This will be the final painting of what may be the last race of the season.  The Pandemic has stopped all racing officially until mid April, but it is doubtful that the world will be in a strong enough place to risk bring hundreds if not thousands of racers, teams and cycling fans back together.  I have read that the Tour de France is looking at ways to keep the roads fan free as the finishing areas were made to be here.  I can't see how that would be possible.  One of professional cycling's greastest strengths is that it is on open roads, free to watch wherever fans and the course take it.  I hope this all ends soon, and our lives regain a sense of normal, but that is months away.  So I am sure the Giro d'Italia is gone for 2020, I will presume so too is the Tour de France, and as bad as things are in Spain I can't image there will be a Veulta d'Espania either.

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay home!

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/Paris-Nice/3492767-37-272742/Painting/every-last-ounce-pn20-37.html