The Art of Cycling

Monday, March 27, 2023

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Women's Race: Showing Her Colors

Ever the professional, Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) had the wherewithal to unzip her rain jacket so her team's rather brightly colored jersey would be visible to fans and photographers alike. Equaling her professional finale was the way she was not only able to hold off the chasing peloton, but she continued to build on her lead. When she saluted the crowd at the finish she had to wait almost three minutes to see who would be joining her on the podium at the award ceremony.

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 and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3942741-66-207546/Painting/showing-her-colors-gw23-12.html

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Women's Race: Can They Catch Her?

It would seem that a group of seven should be able to chase down a single escapee in the final 30 kilometers, but instead partially due to the leader's teammate, Christine Majerus (SD Worx) the gap just kept growing. These seven including Majerus and Shirin Van Anrooij (Trek-Segafredo), Elinor Barker (Uno-X), Eugenia Bujak (UAE Team ADQ), Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM), Shari Bossuyt (Canyon SRAM) and Anna Hendersen (Jumbo-Visma) seemed unable to close the widening gap. If they aren't careful, they will find that the rest of the peloton will be able to catch them instead. If they do, then these women will have even less of a chance of getting onto the podium in Wevelgem.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3942738-65-207546/Painting/can-they-catch-her-gw23-11.html

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Women's Race: Solo Over the Kemmelberg

I suspect that the rather elite chasing peloton thought they would be able to catch Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) on the final trip up the Kemmelberg. Instead, as she went up the fabled cobble climb, she opened up another handful of seconds. It was beginning to look like she might not be caught at all. By now she had a minute and seven seconds on the chasers with another 35 kilometers left to go.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3942704-64-207546/Painting/solo-over-the-kemmelberg-gw23-10.html

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Women's Race: Using Her Skill Set

Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) was able to get away from the peloton on the final climb of the Baneberg. She opened up a few seconds on the chasers but then used the time trial skills that won her the European Time Trial Gold Medal back in 2019. She uses those same skills to chase down breaks and set a tough pace in service of her teammates. Today, she was able to use those same skills on her own behalf. By the time she turned onto the main road back towards the Kemmelberg she had already put a minute into those behind.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3942695-63-207546/Painting/using-her-skill-set-gw23-9.html

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Women's Race: Jump On!

Today's race has been marred by crashes and bad luck, seemingly most of it befalling Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team Emirates). In the most recent one she wasn't as damaged as much as others. They were able to get back going as well, at least Katia Ragusa (Liv Racing Teq Find) and Katarzyna Miewadoma (Canyon-SRAM) were able to get up and chase the now diminshed peloton. As Ragusa speed past the struggling Bastianelli she seemed to call to her to jump onto their express train. With 42 kilometers to go, it seemed as though they won't have too much problem getting back on terms.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3942691-62-207546/Painting/jump-on-gw23-8.html

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Women's Race: Opening Up a Gap

This trio of stars of the women's peloton used the first trip up the Kemmelberg to open up a bit of a gap on those still in the peloton. It was Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) who seemed to glide up the cobbles with both Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) and Anna Hendersen (Jumbo-Visma) struggling to hold onto the Belgium's wheel. With 52 kilometers to race it might be the move that wins the race. Then again, the peloton might just get itself organized on the way back down the other side.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Professional-Womens-Cycling/3942659-61-207546/Painting/opening-up-a-gap-gw23-7.html

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Men's Race: Winning Together

With 35 kilometers to race it was clear that Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) and his teammate Wout Van Aert were going to take first and second in this edition of Gent-Wevelgem, the only question was who would win and who would take second. It was clear leading up to the final meters that the two had been having quite the conversation. I am sure it was part celebration and part how shall we come to the line in Wevelgem. They each gestured to the other in respect and admiration. They then clasped hands in a combined victory salute as they rolled to victory with the rest of the peloton almost two minutes behind. It seems like they had decided between them that since Van Aert had won last weekend, this one should go to Laporte. While the Belgium fans would have prefered a Belgium had one, it had been 25 years since a Frenchman had won, until today! Chapeau!

It does remind me of their three man victory salute at the opening of the Tour de France either last year or the year prior.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3942464-513-195767/Painting/winning-together-gw23-6.html

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Men's Race: Long Chase, Short Road

All during the race I have had trouble identifying which rider was whom, I am quite sure I wasn't the only one struggling with the race numbers hidden under various jackets and rain capes. So I can't say which of the Israel Premier Tech riders was leading the chase (unsuccessfully) of the escapeing duo, but he was being aided by Daniel McLay (Arkea Samsic), Alexis Renard (Cofidis) and Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X). It was awful nice of Uno-X to give Tiller Norwegian Champion's jacket and vest along with his champion's jersey. I don't know which of the Bora-Hansgrohe riders is looking back to see if any help was forth coming. With 14 kilometers left to race, it is very unlikely the couple of seconds they were pulling back were going to get them to the leaders in time, thus the title, "Long Chase, Short Road."

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3942463-512-195767/Painting/long-chase-short-road-gw23-5.html

Gent-Wevelgem 23, Men's Race: Riding Away

Having gotten a gap on the way up the Kimmelberg, Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) and his teammate, Wout Van Aert pushed on whilst going down the other side of the climb. The two quickly opened up just over a minute on the disorganized peloton unable to get back on terms behind. The peloton was being frustrated by two more of this duo's teammates. With this situation, Jumbo-Visma was in an enviable position, should Laporte and Van Aert stay away, they will win. Should they be caught, then Nathan Van Hooydonck and Olav Kooij will be well rested and more than capable of mounting a very strong sprint for victory. Whether this was by design or good fortune, it was sure to be a winning strategy.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3942462-511-195767/Painting/riding-away-gw23-4.html

Gent=Wevelgem 23, Men's Race: You Game?

With the peloton all back together having just caught Anthony Turgis (Total Energies), it was Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) using the second time up the Kimmelberg to push the pace in hopes of dropping as many as possible. As he looked back he found his teammate, Christophe Laporte, the only one staying with him on the slick cobbles of the fabled hill. Surprisingly, it was the sprinter Caleb Ewan (Lotto Dstny) who was the best of the rest. It did seem as though Ewan had a bit of trouble getting around the fading Turgis which may explain why he couldn't go with the yellow clad duo. As I restarted the race -after painting this I began to realize that I had just painted the winning move of this edition of Gent-Wevelgem.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3942459-510-195767/Painting/you-game-gw23-3.html