Giro d'Italia, Stage 1: What He Does Best

When Rohan Dennis (BMC), bedecked in his Australian Time Trial Champion jersey, crossed the line he was the one with the new best time.  He would have to wait quite some time to see if it would be enough to win the stage (and the first Maglia Rosa of the 101st Giro).  In fact it would be until the final rider of the day came to the finish before he would know the anwser.

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/3157921-2-249297/PaintingWhat-He-Does-Best-G18-2.html

Giro, Stage 5: Coming Back Together

No one was surprised to see the catch of the break away come with just 15 kilometers left to race.  The teams of the sprinters didn't want to catch them too early, nor did they want to let them steal the glory.  Maciej Paterski (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) and Evgeny Shalunov (Gazprom-Rusvelo) knew it was a long shot that their break would work, but both were equally sure they didn't have a chance of taking the stage if they didn't give it a try.  Now with the race 'gruppo compacto' it was time for the sprinters' teams to get themselves organized.

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/2964468-34-235247/PaintingComing-Back-Together-G17-35.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

Giro d'Italia Stage 4: The Final Dash for the Line

All of the sprinters may have had a sense of relief when they learned that Marcel Kittel would not be starting the stage due to a high fever that came on during the rest day.  Not that any of them would wish him harm or celebrate his illness.  Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) took the anger and adrenaline from his chase back on and rewarded his team's efforts in getting him back on with a very dramatic charge to the line around Tom Veelers (Giant Shimano) and ahead of Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) and Roberto Ferrari (Lampre-Merida).  Where you may ask is Cannondale?  They fell victim to the wet roads and sharp corners just ahead of the flame rouge.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2363409---198213/Painting.html#.U3KBz8_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 1: No Luck for the Irish

Normally, I don't feature the crashes in my cycling art, but this crash represented so much of the heart break of bike racing.  Dan Martin (Garmin Sharp) was one of two Irish racers who had the honor of racing in one of the three Grand Tours on his home soil.  I have even heard the claim that the reason this running of the Giro started with a Team Time Trial was to get him into the Maglia Rosa, as Garmin Sharp is one of the strongest time trialing teams.  But it takes just on millisecond, a brief lost of traction on a wet manhole cover, to bring all of the planning, training, and dreaming to come to an abrupt and painful end.  To add to the team's woes, when Dan went down, he didn't hit the pavement alone, but was joined on the asphalt by five other teammates.  With the rules of timing, those that hadn't fallen had to wait for enough Garmin Sharp riders to get back on their bikes, before they could press on for the finishing line.  This has now but the winner of the 2012 Giro, Ryder Hesjedal, in a very deep hole (three and a half minutes) that he may not be able to climb out of to repeat his previous victory.  Sadly, this is the end of Martin's Giro, 15 minutes after it began.  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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2361647---198213/Painting.html#.U2329c_D_IU

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2361643---198213/Painting.html#.U23zdM_D_IU

Giro Day Seven: Miss the Turn, Meet the Fans

Poor Emanuele Selle, he had a perfect day going until he locked up his rear wheel going into a corner on a very fast descent.  Cycling is on of the only international sports where fans have close access to the atheletes, for these fans it got a little to close.  The  police discovered that you need to look at the racers as well as the crowd.  He did jump up and kept racing.  To confound his day, he did fall again, and he did get back up, but that was the end of his being out ahead of the peleton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for sale.  Just follow the link at the end of this post to purchase the work directly from my artist website. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149259---184157/Painting.html#.UZo8gMvD_IU

Giro Day Seven: Incredibly Steep

The title of this painting says it all.  I don't think I have ever seen such a steep section of road way.  These two riders are what remains of the original break away on the day, the others just couldn't hang with these two on this climb.  This is Adam Hansen for Team Lotto and Emanuele Selle riding for Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela continuing on with the hope against hope of staying away from the peleton.  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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149253---184157/Painting.html#.UZo7ScvD_IU

Giro Day Seven: Cadel Under Escort

I am not exactly sure why Cadel had slide back aways in the peleton but given how quickly he was escorted back up through the climbing riders it must have been a mechanical or a chat with the team car.  (A "mechanical" refers to any problem with the bike, from a flat, to a broken chain, whatever deals with the mechanical workings of the machine.)  But given the results of the day, BMC was wise to keep Cadel up around the front of the peleton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by going to my artist website.   Just follow the link at the end of this post and you can get the special momento of the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149251---184157/Painting.html#.UZo6TcvD_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 Six: An Italian Coversation

Every nation (well almost every nation) awards a national champion each year for both road racing and time trialing.  There are champions for women, Under 23, and every other cycling discipline as well.  This is Italy's Road Champion, Franco Pillizotti, chatting with his fellow Androni Giocattoli -Venezuela team mate as they ride through the groves of olive trees and fields of crops on the Italian coast.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series, was created with Richeson Company's watercolors, brushes and paper. (their web site is www.richesonart.com ).  All of the work is for sale, including this one at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149191---184157/Painting.html#.UZmfGc_D_IU

Giro Day Six: Lunch To Go

Every Stage in the Giro has what is called a "Feed Zone".  It is an designated area at roughly the middle of the day's racing where the team helpers stand on the side of the road holding special bags called "Musettes" for the racers to grab as they zoom by.  The cyclist in the peleton while burned 6,000 calories on an average stage, so keeping themselves fueled up is an ongoing challenge.  The musettes are filled with easily digested high protein snacks, energy drinks, and special treats to lighten the hearts of the riders.   The bags are emptied by the riders and then tossed to the fans along the roadside hoping to get this special souvenir.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the work in this series 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/2149183---184157/Painting.html#.UZmbE8vD_IU

Giro Day Six: Riding for Cavendish

When you have the fastest sprinter in the world on your team and the stage is almost pan flight, it is your job to bring back the morning break away.  Omega Pharma Quickstep went to the front and pulled the peleton for most of the day, and then had the job of putting together a lead out train to launch the Manx Missile towards the line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow this direct link to bid.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149181---184157/Painting.html#.UZmZr8vD_IU

Giro Day Six: Two Today

Another stage in the Giro d'Italia and another break away, this one was the smallest yet with only these two riders.  Remember Cameron Wurf from stage one (I thought his last name was Wulf), this is him with Jack Bobridge of Team Blanco.  Today's stage also showed the peleton leaving the breakaway hanging out in front. pegged at two and a half minutes.  But when the sprinters decided it was time, you know what happened.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for sale on my artist web site.  Just follow the link at the end of this post and make this your very own.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149179---184157/Painting.html#.UZmYp8vD_IU

Giro Day Five: BMC Takes Change

The end of Stage 5 saw Cadel Evans (in the red points jersey) and most of Team BMC come to the front of the peleton and storm their way into town.  I am quite sure this move put panic into the hearts of the other major contenders.  Team Sky seems to have missed the action.  The stage could have shook up the standings save for the rather large number of riders that went down on a wet corner with less than a kilometer to go.  Fortunately, several years ago, the rules changed to award all to the riders the same time when their is a crash inside of the last three kilometers.  This rule change has made the end of races considerably safer, but not entirely.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard 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/2149175---184157/Painting.html#.UZmXksvD_IU

Giro Day Five: Charging Up to Matera

Stage 5 finished in a very beautiful town named Matera that welcomed the peleton with open arms and screaming fans.  The peleton is currently under the control of Moviestar, with Katusha keeping Paolini in pink and BMC seems to be up to something, with Cadel Evans riding right at the front of the remains of the peleton.  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 a one of a kind treasure of cycling.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149135---184157/Painting.html#.UZmBfMvD_IU

Giro Day Five: Looking at the End

These two riders had taken another dig after the first breakaway was caught, but as you can see the charging peleton is just down the hill.  This is a rider for Lottos and for Team Cannondale that feel the end of their chances of a victory disappearing with the sound of turning high pressure tires on Italian asphalt.  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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149133---184157/Painting.html#.UZl_ocvD_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: Wardrobe Change

On a day like Stage 5, with periods of bright sun and heavy rain, the riders found it difficult to be dress for the conditions on the road.  While the riders toss their water bottles to the side of the road, a favored souvenir for the fans along the way, they go back to the team cars to drop off the rain capes.  This is a rider for Team Sky disrobing at 40 kph while riding amongst cars and other racers.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the paintings in this series, it is available for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149127---184157/Painting.html#.UZl81MvD_IU

Giro Day Five: Multi Tasking at 44 kph

Riders in the peleton are capable of many different feets, many of them at the same time.  The rider for Team Venezuela is eating while he is putting on a rain vest, don't forget that he is also riding along in a group of over two hundred cyclist at roughly 44 kilometers per hour.  Stage 5 plagued the riders with heavy down pours and bright sun, with everything inbetween, it felt like they were constantly changing clothes and trying to eat enough to keep up their energy.  A cyclist while burn 6,000 calories in an average stage so eating enough is a constant challenge.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard create with Richeson Company cake watercolors, brushes and papers.  This painting, and all of the works in the series, are available on my artist web site, just follow the direct link at the end of the post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149119---184157/Painting.html#.UZl608vD_IU