Giro d'Italia Stage 2: First Sprint, First Win

Stage 2 was the first open road stage of the 2014 Giro d'Italia and its relatively flat course out and back to Belfast was destined to be one for the sprinters.  Of the current marquee sprinters of the Pro Tour only Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano) has chosen to ride the Giro. The others, Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma Quickstep) have opted to race the Tour of California.  So with the first sprint contested it is Kittel one and all of the others, zero.  Although Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) gave it a good show to finish second to the big German.  But it was Michael Matthews' (Orica GreenEdge) eight place finish that was enough for him to take over the race lead and to don the Maglia Rosa and spray the crowd with champagne.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Thank you and good luck being the first to get this original work of art.

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Giro d'Italia Stage 2: Trying to Do It Alone

Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin Pro Cycling) had spend way too much time out in the break away to let the peloton catch him without a fight.  So as his fellow escapees surrender and sat up Maarten had one more dig in perhaps a vain hope to beat the sprinters at their own game.  With just over 3 kilometers left to race he still had 10 seconds over the charging peloton, but once the sprinter's trains have the bit between their teeth, that is no where near enough time.  So yet again, the valiant effort of the break away was unsuccessful.  Although Tjallingii was able to claim the King of the Mountains Jersey for his efforts on the day.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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Giro d'Italia Stage 1: Counting Heads

The Team Time Trial is a rather unique form of racing.  Like any other time trial, the racer is running without the benefit of the peloton being message against the clock.  However, as the name implies, it is the team that is racing together, drafting off of each other and working together to go as fast as possible.  At the finish, the time of the fifth rider to cross the line is what determines the team's placing in the stage.  So the team will set out with all nine riders, but should any not be able to hold the pace, it isn't a problem until it is down to five riders.  So here, the man on the front for Team Sky, looks down the line of his teammates, counting heads to make sure that there are at least four more men on his wheel.  Sky normally excels at this discipline, but today was not one of their strongest showings.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com, or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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Giro d'Italia Stage 1: Into the Final Corner

Team Movistar counts one of the main contenders for the overall on its roster, Nairo Quintana, who won the King of the Mountains Jersey and the Best Young Rider Jersey in last year's Tour de France.  While it certainly wasn't possible to win the Giro in the Team Time Trial, it was feasible to do some serious damage to one's overall chances with a bad ride, or worst.  Movistar did well despite some rain on the course and was actually able to help put some time into Quintana's rivals on the very first day of racing.  Although it must be said there is still quite a lot of racing to come.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com, or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there why not take the time to look around at all of the cycling art on offer?

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Giro d'Italia Stage 1: Pushing It

There are two Irishmen in this year's running of the Giro, both hoping to ride well on the first three stages that are being raced on their home soil before the race makes its way to southern Italy.  One, Nicholas Roche rides on the Belgium team, Tinkoff-Saxo.  There are seen here sprinting for the line in the opening Team Time Trial in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland.  It was very exciting to see just how many screaming fans lined the entire 21.9 kilometer course that kicked of the weekend of racing on the Emerald Isle.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com, or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the Big Start.

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