The Art of Cycling

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Flanders 2021: With Plenty of Time to Celebrate

With the four guys chasing him over a half of a minute behind, Julian Alaphilippe (France) had plenty of time to celebrate winning his second consecutive UCI Road World Championship. The last to win two in a row was Peter Sagan (Slovakia) who managed three in a row from 2015-2017. Alaphilippe becomes only the fourth man to win two Rainbow Jerseys in a row in the 100 year history of the race. Others have won two jerseys, but not consecutively. I am hoping we will get to see Alaphilippe in the jersey next weekend in the fabled Paris-Roubaix. And yes, I will be painting both the women’s race and the men’s starting this Saturday. I suspect we will see newly minted rainbow stripes in both races.

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-2021/3839020-34-292177/Painting/with-plenty-of-time-to-celebrate-uci21-34.html

Flanders 2021: Four Chasing One

With fifteen kilometers to race, this foursome was just 12 seconds behind the lone figure of Julian Alaphilippe (France). Michael Valgren (Denmark) was on the front with Jasper Stuyven (Belgium) having just swung off the front. Both Dylan van Baarle (Netherlands) and Nielson Powless (USA) were resting in the Dane’s draft before it was their turn to push the pace. But try as the quartet might, they were continuing to lose time against the defending World Champion. They never did catch him, leaving these four to fight it out for the remaining two steps of the podium. Those went to Valgren, who took bronze, and Dylan van Baarle (Netherlands) who claimed silver. After all the work that Team Belgium had but in all day, they missed out on the medals with Stuyven managing a fourth place. The American, Powless, took fifth place ahead of a fast closing Thomas Piddcock (Great Britain).

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3839019-33-292177/Painting/four-chasing-one-uci21-33.html

Flanders 2021: The Darlings of France

I am a big fan of a number of French cyclists, but one of the two I loved to watch race was Thomas Voeckler. Between his mugging for the cameras and his aggressive give it all racing style he was always a treat to watch. The French cycling fans fell in complete love with him when he held of Lance Armstrong in the Alps to stay in the maillot Jaune for a total of nine days in the Tour de France. And then there is Julian Alaphilippe (France) who has had some great days in yellow over the past three Tours de France. So it was an extra treat to see Alaphilippe drop back from the last break away of the day to talk with his team director, Voeckler, to get some sage advice on how to play the remaining 37 kilometers of the Elite Men’s Road Race. I just love the little pinching gesture Voeckler is making. I wonder what he meant.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3839018-32-292177/Painting/the-darlings-of-france-uci21-32.html

Flanders 2021: Bouncing Up the Veeweidestraat (well actually the Bekestraat)

Yes, the cobbles on the Bekestraat were rough, but it was Julian Alaphilippe (France) was going to make it very rough on the peloton as well. I titled it before I realized I had the name of the climb wrong, so this is the Bekestraat, not the Veeweidestraat. Alaphilippe was putting so much into the pedals that he bounced off of the barriers as he looked for the sweet smooth spot at the edge of the cobbles. On his wheel, Wout van Aert saw the danger and did his best to go with the Frenchman’s move. Down the hill were both Matej Mohoric (Slovenia) and in the gutter on the other side of the “road” was Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic) all trying to stay with the attack of the defending World Champion.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3839017-31-292177/Painting/bouncing-up-the-veeweidestraat-uci21-31.html

Monday, September 27, 2021

Flanders 2021: Opening Up Another Gap

With 87 kilometers to race, it was Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) still pushing the pace and starting another break away. This time he was joined by Neilson Powless (USA), Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Denmark) and about six others. While it was great to see cycling fans all along the multi-lap course, it made me nervous. I am not sure when I will be comfortable with large crowds in this Covid influenced world. Not that I have ever been a fan of big crowds in my life. Having finished the first set of laps through Leuven, the peloton was now back on their way to do another Flanders circuit. It was nice to see at least one member of Team USA on the front of the race.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3838933-30-292177/Painting/opening-up-another-gap-uci21-30.html

Flanders 2021: Leading Them Around

Once the previous three were caught, and then the early break of the day was reeled in too, it was time for Germany to hit the front and force the pace. While Georg Zimmerman was on the front, the Belgium team was not missing any moves. After Remeco Evenepoel was back in the field, it was Victor Campenaerts (Belgium) that was on Zimmermann’s wheel representing the host country. The next rider following the leaders was another German, Nikias Arndt. With 120 kilometers yet to race, it was wild just how aggressive the racing had been since the start in Antwerp.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3838931-29-292177/Painting/leading-them-round-uci21-29.html

Flanders 2021: Is this a Move?

It may have been very early for it but this sure looked like a move to take the win, regardless that there were another 175 kilometers to race. It was Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) riding off the front of the peloton on the cobbled climb of the Moskesstraat. The fan holding up the sign with his name on it must have felt as though he was the one to inspire the move. Benoit Cosnefroy (France) and Magnus Cort (Denmark) quickly jumped on to the wheel of the local rider. The three build up a nice lead that it took the peloton 40 kilometers to pull back in.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3838924-28-292177/Painting/is-this-a-move-uci21-28.html

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Flanders 2021: The Sprint to the Rainbow

Having been led out in her sprint by none other than her country woman, Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) Elisa Balsamo had nothing for it but to go hard to the line, braid flying out behind her. Also behind her and unable to come around was the three time World Champion, Marianne Vos (Netherlands). Bringing up the best of the rest is Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland) claiming her first medal in the UCI Road World Championships. But it is Balsamo who will be wearing the Rainbow Jersey every time she takes to the start in a road race for the next year. What a nice new jersey to bring to her new team, Trek-Segafredo, starting next season. As Balsamo raised her arms in victory, we could just see Longo Borghini mirroring her celebration in their distance.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3838702-27-292177/Painting/sprinting-to-the-rainbow-uci21-27.html

Flanders 2021: Watching Every Move

Ruth Winder (USA) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland) had been keeping a close eye (and wheel) on every single move they were making. This attack by Annemiek van Vleutin (Netherlands) was no exception. Of course, Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) was never far off the front being equally vigilant as those just in front of her. With just another seven kilometers to race, there wasn’t a woman who was going to let anyone get away if they could possibly help it. I am excited by this grouping. I am a big fan of van Vleutin and Borghini, plus as an American I have to root for Winder. And then finally, I first painted Niewiadoma back in 2015 when she led the women’s peloton down Main Street in Richmond, VA (my adopted hometown) in the UCI Worlds.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3838701-26-292177/Painting/watching-every-move.-uci21-26.html

Flanders 2021: Adding to Her Advantage

The next to get away from the aggressive Dutch led peloton was Mavi Garcia (Espana). Unlike anyone before her, she opened up a thirty second lead on those chasing behind. She had 21 kilometers left to race, but at least through the downtown, fan lined, streets of Leuven, no one was getting any closer to the Spaniard’s wheel. Even the official’s motorcycle and the Shimano service moto were having trouble getting through the sharp corners as quickly as Garcia. It was going to take a united effort to pull this woman back.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Flanders-2021/3838697-25-292177/Painting/adding-to-her-advantage-uci21-25.html