Giro Day Sixteen: Falling Through the Snow

Chalapuo and Pirazzi were joined on a little break on the way up the Col by Borigiorno (Pirazzi's Bardiani teammate) and Rabottini who rides for Fantini - Selle Italia.  They then dived down the other side of the mountain putting time into the peleton, they got out to 6 1/2 minutes very quickly, although a few more joined them as they crossed the valley ahead of the two monster climbs that ended the day.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding on it in a short 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link I have added to the end of this post, but hurry, the auction begins as soon as this post is published.

This painting is sold.

Giro Day Eleven: A Hard Climb's Reward

Not to compare myself with the riders in the pro-peleton, I am not much of a climber, but I go down hill very fast!  I find descending to be the reward for a long hard climb up a mountain, I just wish the ride down took as long as the ride up.  This is Popovych leading the way down the first big mountain of the 2013 Giro.  Popo was a loyal team mate to the notorious Lance Armstrong, helping him in the mountains in some of Lance's 7 victories in the Tour de France.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for purchase through a brief 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to place a bid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251275637929

Giro Stage Eight: Catching HIs Minute Man

The Time Trial, often called the "Race of Truth", starts each rider out two minutes apart, to prevent the riders from encountering each other on the road.  However, when one of those riders is Bradley Wiggins, there is no way to keep him from catching up to the man ahead and from passing him, and perhaps others.  Danielo DiLuca is no match to the time trialing skills of the man from Team Sky.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours through my artist web site.  Just follow the link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2150017-57-54-184157/Painting/Sports.html#.UZwp68_D_IU

Giro Day Seven: Cadel Sneaks In

Behind the stunning victory by Adam Hansen, the peleton shook itself out and re-ordered the standings.  This is the select group of the peleton sprinting for the line like it was a stage win.  Every stage awards time bonuses for the top ten places so any one you can top you can even more time on.  Some of these riders are from right to left:  Danilo DiLuca, Ryder Hesjedal, Cadel Evans and Enricl Battaglin, not making the painting is the new Maglia Rosa.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series is available for purchase on my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post and purchase this painting and all of the others that are still ayailable.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149263---184157/Painting.html#.UZo_TsvD_IU

Giro Stage Seven: The Break Starts Up

Another day and another break away goes up the road.  In this case the road is going up as well.  Unlike the flat stage 6, a mountainous stage gives the small groups a better chance over the power and speed of the peleton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that like all of the works in this series was created using Richeson Art's cake watercolors, brushes, and papers. (www.richesonart.com )  And this painting is available for purchase through my artist website, just follow the link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149247---184157/Painting.html#.UZo5e8vD_IU

Giro Day Seven: Water for the Boys

A domestique is a rider who is the worker bee of the peleton, it is their job to rider as hard as they can until they collapse for the team leader.  It is their job to go back to the team car and gather up water bottles to bring back up to the team.  And it is their job to be part of a winning team or stage and to celebrate with everyone involved in the success of the effort. This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist  website.  Just follow the link at the end of the post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149237---184157/Painting.html#.UZo4KMvD_IU

Giro Day Six: Stopping Short

The down side of the riders being more relaxed and having time to chat is that they are a little less focused.  Remember that there are roughly 200 cyclist riding along all sorts of roads, most that they have never seen before, and it just takes a swerve, a quick tap of the brakes or a momentary loss of balance to cause a massive pile up.  Stage 6 saw its share of wrecks, fortunately none too severe.  These are the riders behind the crash desperately trying to get stop before they pile on to the twisted legs, wheels and handlebars.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get yours.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149189---184157/Painting.html#.UZmcpM_D_IU

Giro Day Five: Looking for the Peleton

The five man break away that was away for most of the day felt the peleton closing in when they reached the 30 kilometer to go banner.  They get a hint that the peleton is within a minute when the race referees pull out all of the vehicles between these riders and the peleton.  They ended up having a little more time than they thought, but they were right to think that they were going to get caught.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard (4"x6") and is available for sale on my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149131---184157/Painting.html#.UZl-o8vD_IU

Giro Day Five: A Bottle & A Push



Riders frequently will choose to go back to their team car to talk things over with their Director Sportif rather than just chat on their radios.  In addition, they can pick up waterbottles, food and with a little extra flip of the wrist a nice push off from the speed of the car.  The red car behind in this painting is the referee and they will turn a blind eye to this unless it is done too obviously for a struggling rider or on a steep climb.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard (4"x6") and like all of the works in this series, it is available for sale on my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149115---184157/Painting.html#.UZl45cvD_IU