Giro, Stage 6: Stage for One, Jersey for the Other

The title tells the story.  It was exciting to watch Jhoan Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) attack the leading group and get away on the final kilometers of the Etna climb. It was strange to watch his teammate, Simon Yates go on the attack from the peloton (or what was left of it).  Normally, a teammate would not risk pulling adversaries up to his man up the road.  Yates, however, was able to go so hard, that no one could catch his wheel.  The Mitchelton-Scott came to the line together, both celebrating.  Chaves made the sign of the cross and Yates raised his arms, seemingly celebrating his teammates stage victory.  But he became the new owner of the Maglia Rosa of race leader and his teammate took the stage.  There will be champagne at the Mitchelton-Scott dinner table tonight!  Chapeau!

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/3161036-30-249297/PaintingStage-for-One,-Jersey-for-the-Other--G18-30.html

Giro, Stage 6: A Little Dig

With riders spread all over the mountain (or should I say volcano), it may have been this trio that fans were most interested in.  With attacks jeopardizing their GC positions and the maglia rosa already dropped, it was Chris Froome (Sky) who had a little dig.  He as hoping to gain some time on Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb).  In the end he didn't have the legs to get away, in fact, he lost some time against Dumoulin.

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/3161032-29-249297/PaintingA-Little-Dig--G18-29.html

Giro, Stage 6: All Who Matter

This vastly reduced peloton was chasing the even more drastically reduced break away up the final kilometers of the Etna climb.  At this point all of the big names (and GC contenders) were still together, including the Maglia Blanco of Maximilian Schachman (Quick Step), my hometown boy, Ben King (Dimension Data), the Maglia Rosa of Rohan Dennis (BMC) and Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates) in his Italian National Champion jersey.  The big M is on the back of Richard Carapaz (Movistar).  The others who are odds on favorites are leading this group, but not really readable in this painting.

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/3161026-28-249297/PaintingAll-Who-Matter--G18-28.html

Giro, Stage 6: The First to Attack

It was only a matter of time before the attacks would come from the rather large lead group.  It was Robert Gesnik (LottoNL Jumbo) who jumped clear on the base of the climb to the Etna Observatory.  I never did catch who the Ag2r La Mondiale rider was, but he quciksly slipped back from this group to be absorbed by the chasing peloton.  Gesnik got a good gap, but was quickly pulled back, and spat out the back.  Perhaps he attacked too hard and blew his own legs.

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/3161020-27-249297/PaintingThe-First-to-Attack--G18-27.html

Giro, Stage 6: Cold Drinks, Here!

Think ball park, or football stadium, and the vendors yelling, "Cold beer, here!"   With just under twenty kilometers left to race, the team soigneurs lined out along a straight stretch of road for the riders to take one last bottle for the climb.  Leading the peloton are Jack Haig and Jhoan Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) followed closely by Sebastien Reichenbach (Groupama-FDJ).  Clearly it was a BMC soigneur looking to pass to his man in the leading group Alessandro De Marchi.

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/3161014-26-249297/PaintingCold-Drinks,-Here!--G18-26.html

Giro, Stage 4: A Huge Effort

Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) was the sole survivor from the early break of the day.  With just three kilometers left to race, he had over a minute and a half on the remnants of the peloton.  It would be touch and go, but it was looking like this would be one of those rare times that the break away succeed.  Spoiler alert, he did take the stage by a whole ten seconds over the closest chaser.  He was too far down on GC to take over the Maglia Rosa, but I think the stage victory was his target.  He now as one two stages of the Giro in his career.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2964240-30-235247/PaintingA-Huge-Effort-G17-30.html

Giro, Stage 4: Climbing Away

While one rider was still up the road, it was time to try and gain time on the other GC men.  Pierre Rolland (Cannondale-Drapac) was one of the first team leaders to attack the peloton of favorites.  With the Maglia Rosa back down the volcano it was a sure thing that the race leader was going to chance for the fourth time at the end of the stage.  Behind Rolland the Astana rider, Pello Bilbao (Astana) was trying to get onto the wheel of the Frenchman.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2964224-29-235247/PaintingClimbing-Away-G17-29.html

Giro, Stage 4: Little Help

As the peloton started up the side of the Etna volcanic slopes, the group came to a near stop.  Tejay van Garderen (BMC) had to stop.  In order not to fall he unclipped his pedals. Admit it, we have all taken a fall while unable to unclip.  Tejay's teammates, Silvan Dillier and Joey Ross Kopf helped their leader get back going as he clipped back in.  Riders are not allowed to push each other up climbs, but this was more like a mechanic pushing a rider after a mechanical.  Van Garderen quickly pedaled away to ride with all of the GC hopefuls.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

With the start of the Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in making this book get made, please consider supporting the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/art-of-cycling-100th-giro-ditalia.  This will be just one of the hundred plus paintings that will be included.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2964210-28-235247/PaintingLittle-Help-G17-28.html