Gallery
Cramped Up, Cramped Out MS22-3
Having lost the wheels of his erstwhile break away companions near the top of the Capo Berta, Filippo Conca (Lotto Soudal) had pushed deep to catch back on. Perhaps he went too deep. As he rode along the bottom of the climb he suddenly shoot out his leg as straight as possible. The next thing we knew he was grimacing in pain and rubbing out his legs as he came to a stop. I felt the need to paint this moment having had a similar experience on century rides all too often. Conca had cramped terribly after being off the front in a break away for over 250 kilometers thus far. As he stretched his leg out, he soon fell to the ground in pain. It looked like his day of racing was done, but that would be assuming he wasn't determined. Surprisingly, he got back on his bike moments after I painted this. He would have been caught by the peloton not long after, but I didn't see him for the rest of the day. Still, particualry for an Italian it is very important to finish a race on his home soil. I can relate, I have finished every century I have started, leg cramps or not.