Giro Stage 7: A Bit Precarious

I am always struck by how the team mechanics are able to tend to their charges in the most difficult of circumstances.  Here this talented mechanic is more than half way out of the team car trying to fix the radio for Pier Paolo De Negri (Nippo Vini Fantini).  De Negri was one of the four man group that scooted off the front of the peloton at the front end of a very long stage.  He was joined by Nikolay Mihaylov (CCC Sprandi), Nicola Boem (Bardiani CSF) and Marco Bardiera (Androni Giacottoli).

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting and all of my cycling art is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.  Do act quickly to get your own piece of the 98th Giro d'Italia.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2554768---184157/Painting.html#.VVbq7yFViko

Giro Stage 6: Flat and Fast

The approach to the finishing town of Castiglione Delta Pescaia the roads were smooth, wide, and flat.  That allowed for all of the teams that wanted to compete for the stage victory to get their teams organized and ready to bring their sprinter to the line ahead of everyone else.  In the middle of those vying for stage victory are the Pink Jersey of Alberto Contador and one of his Tinkoff Saxo teammates.  They were there to keep Contador safe from crashes, not that he would mind a stage victory as well.  The two main trains to get themselves together at 5 kilometers to go were Team Sky and Giant Alpecin.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  You can find all of their wonderful art supplies at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  All of the cycling art sells for only $50 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2554276---184157/Painting.html#.VVV0OSFViko

Giro Stage 6: Perhaps in Vain

As I have discussed in previous post, it is a very long shot to succeed in a break away.  The odds are even longer on a flat stage like today.  Most of the sprinters have few stages that can honestly expect to contend for victory, so they are not about to let a break away succeed.  So it was perhaps in vain that Eduard Michael Grosu and Alessandro Malauti both riding for Nippo Vini Fantini along with Alan Marangoni (Cannondale Garmin), Marek Rutiewicz (CCC Sprandi) and Marco Bandiera (Androni Giacattoli) rode off the front of the peloton on a stage that was marked as one for the sprinters.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  You can find all of their wonderful art supplies at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  All of the cycling art sells for only $50 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2554240---184157/Painting.html#.VVVsliFViko

Giro Stage 3: Looking for the Peloton

Pavel Kochetkov (Katusha) was caught on the descent off of the Barbagelata by Simon Clarke (Orica GreenEdge), Adam Hansen (Lotto Soudal) and Maciej Paterski (CCC Sprandi).  The foursome could feel the charging peloton as they approached the 5 K to go banner.  Paterski took the opportunity to look back as he swung off the front of the group.  Hansen was hoping to mark his birthday by giving himself a stage victory in the Giro d'Italia.  The peloton didn't seem to be in a generous mood as it hunted down the escapees.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my artists website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 98th Giro d'Italia.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553048---184157/Painting.html#.VVGKmiHBzGc

Giro Stage 3: A Helping Hand

Bike racing is a team sport, and that plays out in many different ways.  For Luca Chirico (Bardiani CSF), it was his teammate, Eduardo Zardini, who reached out and gave Luca a push when the diminutive Italian had a problem with his gears.  Silvan Dillier (BMC) kept a sharp eye on the Bardiani men making sure that their efforts didn't entangle him or disrupt his rhythm on the climb.  Sure enough, the Swiss rider was forced to break to avoid Chirico, before the little man got his bike functioning again.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my artists website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 98th Giro d'Italia.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553042---184157/Painting.html#.VVGCsSHBzGc

Milano Sanremo: A Rather Wet Roll Out

Milano Sanremo is the longest of the Spring Classics with the peloton facing 293 kilometers of nearly all out racing.  The one saving grace is that most of the race is flat and the prevailing winds usually provide a nice stiff tailwind for most of the race.  Today it was hardly the warm shining sun one imagines when thinking of southern Italy, instead the riders where bundled up in warm clothes and rain jackets in hopes of staying warm and dry over the next six hours on the road.  Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quickstep) sported a new rain cape that showed his rainbow stripes of the World Road Racing Championship.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  They are a wonderful family run art supply company located in Wisconsin, USA.  In addition, this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  The painting is only $50 USD and international shipping is available.

If you are enjoying reading about bike racing this way with the accompanying artwork please check out my recently published Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  The book is available through virtually every online bookseller.  So google the title to discover where you can get a copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2531032---195767/Painting.html#.VRDKTfnF-xU