Giro Stage 16: Working Their Way Up

It was certain that there would be an early breakaway.  The sixteenth stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia started with a 14 kilometer climb to the top of Campo Carlo Magno.  This rather large group got away from the peloton on the climb and then pressed on on the descent.  Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale Garmin) led the group that included Przemyslaw Niemiee (Lampre), Brent Bookwalter (BMC) and Edoardo Zardini (Bardiani CSF) among others.  Hesjedal has been showing all that he gets stronger and stronger as a Grand Tour enters the final week.  The riders faced rather cold and wet conditions, but nothing like the snow storms that have plagued the Giro in the previous two years.  That was by design, the race has stayed below the snow line, although just barely today.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  The 4"x6" painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular art work for $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.

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Giro Stage 4: Still Alone?

Attack after attack went from the drop of the start flag, but the peloton seemed in no mood to let anyone get off the front.  Finally, as they approached the first categorized climb of the day, another large breakaway formed and set about the business of leaving the peloton behind.  Eduardo Zardini (Bardiani CSF) decided to pick up where he left off in the previous stage.  As he reached the KOM point, he checked behind one more time, perhaps not believing that he could actually be reaching the summit of the Colla di Velva alone.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase 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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553570---184157/Painting.html#.VVPJQSHBzGc

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

Giro d'Italia Stage 6: Still Away at 15 K

The early break that had gotten away about 10 kilometers into the stage was still out in front (even if by only 40 seconds) as they went under the 15 kilometers to go banner.  The means they had been away from the peloton for 222 kilometers (roughly 133 miles) but there was a sharp sting in the tail up to Montecassio.  So it is hats off the efforts of Eduardo Zardini (Bardiani CSF), Torres (Team Colombia), Marco Bardiera (Androni Giocattoli) and Andrea Fedi (Neri Sottoli).  It is the second time Fedi has managed to get himself into a break away.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting you can follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But why not browse around and look at all of the artwork on offer?

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Giro d'Italia Stage 6: Chatting It Over

Another stage and another breakaway, this one included Eduardo Zardini (Bardini-CSF) chatting with his Director Sportif on how to keep out ahead of the peloton.  The other three, Torres (Team Colombia), Marco Bardiera (Androni-Giocattoli) and Andrea Fedi (Neri Sottoli) are just ahead of him as they speed past the enthusiastic Italian fans.  This is the first day that I have seen crowds that came close to rivaling the Irish in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.  At this point their maximum lead of seven minutes had slipped down to roughly five minutes, where it stayed for roughly 50 kilometers.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com, for only $50 USD.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%27Italia%202014/2364477-31-30-198213/Painting/Sports.html#.U3WVnM_D_IU