Giro, Stage 19: Climbing into Pink

Chris Froome (Team Sky) pulled off an amazing feet today!  To be down almost four minutes on stage 17, and to have attacked solo with 75 kilometers that included two catagorized climbs, all to come alone to the line is stunning.  I truly hope it is a clean ride, it certainly was an exciting one!  Froome is now the Maglia Rosa with a forty second lead over the perpetual second place Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb).  With just one more day in the mountains, and as in the honor of stage racing, just one more day to fight out the general classification, it appears to be Froome's race.  That will make him the first rider in decades to hold the winner's jersey in all three grand tours at once.  Last season he took both the Tour de France and the Veulta d'Espania, and may well now have the next grand tour in succession, the Giro d'Italia.  Or he could blow tomorrow like he did after taking the stage to the top of Monte Zoncolan.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/101st-Giro-dItalia/3169155-84-249297/PaintingClimbing-into-Pink--G18-88.html

Giro, Stage 19: Getting a Bit of a Gap

While Chris Froome was up the road, now wearing the Virtual Maglia Rosa, Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) wasn't done trying to improve his position on the general classification.  He was able to use his sticcato rhythm climbing technique to open up a gap on Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb), who is more of a methodical time-trialing type of climber.  Pinot had already secured the bottom step of the podium as he climbed to Bardonecchia, perhaps he could gain more time on the Dutchman behind him on the road.  Dumoulin does have over two minutes on the Frenchman, so he would be wise to stay within himself, and hope he can pull back just enough time to pull on the Maglia Rosa.  His second overall is still well in hand with six kilometers left to race to the summit.  Holding on to the wheel of Dumoulin is Richard Carapaz (Movistar) hoping to get enough time to re-take the Maglia Bianca of best young rider. 

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/101st-Giro-dItalia/3169152-82-249297/PaintingGetting-a-Bit-of-a-Gap--G18-87.html

Giro Day Fifteen: Two Victors

Stage 14 actually had two winners of the stage today, Nibali and Santambrogio crossed the line together, one for the stage victory and one adding to his lead in the over all GC tightening his hold on the Maglia Rosa.  Now the tradition that I alluded to in an earlier post, when the overall leader comes to the end of the stage with another rider it is good form to give the victory (or at least not challenge the rider for the lead).  For Nibali he has his victory by putting time into all of his rivals, the only gain for Santambrogio, was the stage victory.  For Nibali to have taken the victory on the line would have been just rude.  Remember these guys ride in races togethers for years so a little decorum is in order.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it can be yours by bidding on it in a 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but hurry, the auction starts as soon as this post is published.

This painting is sold.

Giro Day Fifteen: Gaining Time

Nibali and Santambrogio found the strength and drive to climb faster than anyone else in the peleton today.  For them the Italian flags along the course drove them forward to a great stage result for both riders and insulated them from the cold and snow.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2153211---184157/Painting.html#.UaU1eM_D_IU

Giro Day Fifteen: In Pink with Authority

Vincenzo Nablai came into the final kilometer with Mauro Santambrogio  and none of the other contenders.  Today he stamped his authority on the Giro taking time out of all his rivals on a cold day on top of a mountain in northern Italy.  Another tradition in the peleton was played out in this stage, that I will explain with the final image in today's grouping of paintings.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2153197---184157/Painting.html#.UaUzvc_D_IU

Giro Day Fifteen: Waiting All Day for a Shot

With no mobile video feed, I got to see the finishing village and just how much standing around can be involved in the race.  The photographers that don't manage to get onto the back of a motorcycle are left waiting at the finishing line for the iconic victory salute of the victor of the day.  So basically, these guys have stood around in the wet snow all day to capture the single moment of victory.  This group was doing a lot of story telling while they waited.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for sale at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2152795---184157/Painting.html#.UaQWgsvD_IU

Giro Day Fifteen: Waiting in the Cold

It was a miserable day for racing or even watching racing today in Bardonecchia, Italy.  The satellite relays couldn't work due to the cloud cover so there was no video of the race except for the stationary cameras.  It was a hard day to be a commentator with no images to discuss.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, why not check out the rest of my art while you are there?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2152777---184157/Painting.html#.UaQTeMvD_IU