The Art of Cycling

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!

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-2021/3837391-7-292177/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

Monday, July 26, 2021

Olympics 2020, Gold the Hard Way

Falling to the ground and gasping for air, Anna Kisenhofer (Austria) had given everything she had to hold off the peloton from the very beginning of the 137 kilometer Women's Olympic Road Race. Her efforts were hardly in vain. She is now the new Gold Medalist in the Women's Road Race. As she laid on the ground Annamiek Van Vleutin (Netherlands) came across the line waving her arms in apparent victory. She had not realized that one rider remained up the road when the other two from the break had been caught. So it goes when there are no race radios in the riders ears. Not that a silver medal in the Olympics isn't a special thing too. Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) took the Bronze for the second Olympics running.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Summer-Olympics/3826279-16-291661/Painting/gold-the-hard-way-o21-16.html

Olympics 2020, Bronze and Silver on the Road

Omer Shapira (Israel) and Anna Plichta (Poland) may have lost the wheel of the Austrian, Anna Kisenhofer, but they still were a minute or two ahead of the peloton with just six kilometers left to race. Should they be able to stay away, they will be fighting for Silver and Bronze medals between them. That is a big IF however.

Alas, they were caught finishing 24th and 27th respectfully. Yet, everyone knows that they were at the Olympics and were very competitive on the road. After all, they weren't caught until inside of the final two kilometers of the day.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Summer-Olympics/3826267-15-291661/Painting/bronze-and-silver-on-the-road-o21-15.html

Olympics 2020, There May Be a Medal in It

With just three women up the road, Juliette Labous (France) jumped clear of the peloton with hopes of bridging across the the last of the early break away. She has just 17 kilometers to catch at least one of the three and she will be in a Olympic medal winning position. Instead she was chased down by the peloton shortly before they also caught two of the remaining three up the road. She had clearly given the effort everything she had because once caught she couldn't hold the tail of the peloton. She finished her day in 30th three and a half minutes behind the time of the Gold Medal.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/2020-Summer-Olympics/3826263-14-291661/Painting/there-may-be-a-metal-in-it-o21-14.html