The Art of Cycling

Monday, March 29, 2021

Gent-Wevelgem 2021: Celebrate/Congratulate

Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) patted his chest and his team sponsor's name as he took the sprint in Wevelgem. Crossing just behind him was Giacomo Nizzolo (Qhubeka-ASSOS) reached out to congratulate the victorious Belgium. Speaking of victorious, it was Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) who watched the festivities as he finished fourth on the day. While not in this painting (or camera angle) it was Michael Matthews (Bike Exchange) who claimed the final step of the podium in Gent-Wevelgem.

This is the final painting of this race. I will be back next week with Ronde Van Vlaanderen and the following week with Paris-Roubaix (assuming the resurging Covid-19 pandemic doesn't canceled Paris-Roubaix for the second year running).

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-2021/3803000-25-290150/Painting/celebratecongratulate-gw21-7.html

Gent-Wevelgem 2021: Probably Too Late

With just under 10 kilometers left to race, Anthony Turgis (Total Direct Energie) probably left his attack too late. He opened up a gap on the second group on the road but he still had another 46 seconds make up on the lead group and not much road to do it. Behind him Sam Bennett (Deceunick-Quick Step) was going backwards once he had blown all of his energy reserves (and his lunch) from the effort to stay with the lead group up the Baneberg and the over two hundred kilometers of racing already covered. Turgis never caught the group, but his efforts did give him a top ten finish.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3802983-24-290150/Painting/probably-too-late-gw21-6.html

Gent-Wevelgem 2021: I've Got a Question

With just 16 kilometers left in the race, Zdenek Stybar (Deceuninck-Quick Step) thought it would be best if he asked the race commissare for permission to drop back to his team car. Usually, inside of the last 20 kilometers of a race riders are not allowed to go to their team cars nor take on any drinks, food, etc. After a bit of a conversation, he was allowed to go back and talk to his sports director. His teammate, Sam Bennett, had managed to hold onto the lead group over the final climb, but had gotten physically sick with the effort. He was still with Stybar in the lead group, but I think he wasn't going to be able to stay there much longer. Even he did hold the lead group, I can't imagine he was going to have much of a sprint.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3802980-23-290150/Painting/i-have-a-question-gw21-5.html

Gent-Wevelgem 2021: Shedding Some Sprinters

With 42 kilometers left to race, Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) felt it was time to try and get rid of some of the pure sprinters in the front group. As they hit the steepest section of the Baneberg he drove the pace as hard as he could. This was the last climb and he was sure he wouldn't be able to beat either Giacomo Nizzolo (Qhubeka-ASSOS) and Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) in a straight up sprint. Just peeking around the corner of the banners is Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step), even he managed to stay on the wheel of the Swiss National Champion. So just like Demare tried to use a climb to no avail, so too his teammate wasn't able to use a climb to his advantage.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3802962-22-290150/Painting/shedding-some-sprinters-gw21-4.html

Gent-Wevelgem 2021: Attacking the Monteberg

The French champion, Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) is more of a sprinter than a climber. However, he used the short steep climb of the Monteberg to launch an attack from the second group on the road. His move was covered from a rider from Qhubeka-ASSOS. I am sorry to say I was never able to discover who he was. Alas for Demare, the duo was pulled back into the group on the down side of the climb. However, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3802961-21-290150/Painting/attacking-the-monteberg-gw21-3.html

Gent-Wevelgem 2021: Keeping Upright

Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) struggled to keep himself from crashing as he rounded a corner in the Plugstreet. He was one of at least a half dozen guys to have fallen (sorry I didn't intend that pun) prey to punctures on the gravel sections and rough roads of this stretch of the race. Vermeersch was able to stay upright and to get a quick wheel change. However, I don't recall seeing him for the rest of the race.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3802939-20-290150/Painting/keeping-upright-gw21-2.html

Gent-Wevelgem 2021: The Third Group

Before the race came to air, the air came to the race. Or should I say the crosswinds came and split the peloton apart. And early break of some big names was up the road, followed by another small group trying to join up with those in front. The third group was being driven on by some of the names that had missed the moves. With only a minute between the three groups, Greg Van Avermaet (Ag2r-Citroen) was pushing the teams of Lotto Soudal, Alpecin-Fenix, and Movistar to work on the chase.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3802938-19-290150/Painting/the-third-group-gw21-1.html

Monday, March 22, 2021

Milano-Sanremo 2021 - Surprising Them All

The title of this painting says it all. Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) surprised the peloton for a solo run to the finish on the Via Roma in Sanremo. He left it all out on the road. His lobsided victory salute shows just how completely spent he was from the effort. After crossing the line, he collapsed into his soigneurs' arms, eventually laying on the ground still clipped into his bike. Behind it was Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) winning the sprint of the peloton for second place followed by Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma), a resurging Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) rounding out the top five. Peter Sagan was diagnosed with Covid-19 at the start of 2021 and has clearly now re-found his racing legs. I, and I will assume you, am very relieved he has recovered so well.

This is the last for Milano Sanremo. I will be painting Ronde Van Vlaanderen (hopefully both the men and the women) followed by Paris Roubaix (also hoping to be able to paint both the men and the women). The current plan is then to paint the Dauphine and the Tour de France.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3801746-18-290150/Painting/surprising-them-all-ms21-7.html

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3801739-17-290150/Painting/he-has-the-gap-ms21-6.html

Milano Sanremo 2021 - Time to Go!

The peloton hit the final climb of the Poggio all together so it was time to try and give it a go. As expected it was Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) who was the first to launch an attack. The World Champion was quickly covered by Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix). These were the three that started the day as the favorites to win the day, two having one the race in the recent past. However, it didn't look like they were getting enough of a gap to hold off the peloton on the technical descent in just a few minutes.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-2021/3801737-16-290150/Painting/time-to-go-ms21-5.html