Amgen ToC, Stage 4: Along the Coast

As per race tradition, today featured yet another break away, this one was not given the king of gap that happened yesterday.  Today's escapees where all contiental teams and included both the champion of Israel and the United States.  It is very unlikely the sprinters and their teams where going to let these guys, Joonas Henttala (Novo Nordisk), Michael Hernandez (USA Cycling), Roy Goldstein (Israel Cycling), along with the two Hagen Berman Axeon teammates, Jonny Brown and Ian Garrison, steal their chance at a stage victory.  It must have been a treat to ride along the Pacific Coast Highway with the dramatic rocky coast for scenery dispite the unrelenting head win for 130 miles.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/3332810-74-223355/Along%20the%20Coast%20%20ToC19-19.html

This painting has sold!

Amgen ToC, Stage 2: Opening a Gap

With a chance of staying away from a dwindling peloton, many were willing to try their luck at getting off the front of the lead group.  On the way up the Carson Pass, it was Alexander Cataford (Israel Cycling Academy) stretching his legs and the elastic on the breakaway.  As is tradition, the contiental teams were animating the race.  All of the non-Pro Tour teams had at least two guys in the front group on one of the most difficult stages of this year's Tour of California.

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.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20of%20California/3331445-61-223355/Rough%20Day%20at%20the%20Office%20%20ToC19-6.html

Giro, Stage 18: Skirmishes

So the question is... "When will they develop a pen that has spell check and will check your grammar as well?"  The word I was going for was "skrimishes" not "scrimmages".   The two are totally different kinds of confrontations.  For the strong men of the formally large break away, the ascent of the Prato Nevoso was a war of attrition.  Each of this four man group put in an attack on the others.  And several found themselves dangling off the back of the quartet as well.  Reuben Plaza (Israel Cycling Academy) is just checking the eyes of Christoph Pfingsten (Bora-Hansgrohe) before having another dig.  Behind them Maximilian Schachmann (Quick Step) and Mattia Cataneo (Androni Giocattoli) wait to see what they will be able to do in response.

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/3167749-74-249297/PaintingScrimmages--G18-79.html

Giro, Stage 17: When Legs Are Faster

There are times when the light agile racing bikes can do a better job of handling tight corners than the larger and heavy motorbikes that escort the race around Italy.  Long ago, I got to discover just how much faster a bicycle could whip through traffic when I was a bike courier in DC.  Today as they worked their through small town on their way towards Iseo, the break away caught a group of motos.  Fortunately the foursome of Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Wout Poels (Sky), Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) and Ben Hermans (Israel Cycling Academy) were able to stay upright.  I am sure De Marchi had a few choice words for the driver who's actions almost brought the Italian to grief.  There have been some horrible wrecks between motos and racers, I sure hope that we don't see one again anytime soon. 

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/3167325-69-249297/PaintingWhen-Legs-Are-Faster-G18-74.html

Giro, Stage 9: Here, Take Mine

I wish I had caught who it was that was passing a front wheel to Ruben Plaza (Israel Cycling Academy).  Teammates who are further down on general classification will aid those on the team that have a mechanical.  That is what is going on here, Plaza had a puncture to his front tire so his teammate passed his own over to him.  Plaza quickly got back underway while his teammate awaited the arrival of the Israel Cycling Acadmy team car.  Cycling is, after all, a team sport.

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/3162384-37-249297/PaintingHere,-Take-Mine--G18-37.html

Giro, Stage 3: Not Happy

It seemed like Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) had spent the first 125 kilometers talking, and apparently getting more and more frustrated with his break away companions.  As they approached the sole climb of the longest stage of the Giro, he seemed annoyed that the others weren't doing their share of the work.  Almost immediatley after I painted this image, Marco Frapporti (Androni Giorattoli Spidermac) attacked.  Ultimately, he took maximum points at the summit at Foran River, leaving Boivin hoping only to be able to draw even with the leader in the King of the Mountains competition, Enrico Barbin (Bardiani CSF).  Instead it was Barbin taking second over the summit furthering his lead in the Maglia Azzurro.

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/3159149-12-249297/PaintingNot-Happy--G18-12.html

Giro, Stage 3: Something to Talk About

The pair on the front of this three man break away had some issues to discuss from yesterday's stage.  Enrico Barbin (Bardiani CSF) had managed to bridge across from the peloton at the base of the first climb of this Giro.  That was fine, but in so doing he also got to the top of the climb just ahead of the Israel Cycling Academy rider, Guillame Boivin.  That meant that today, Boivin had to go with Barbin on another break in hopes of bettering the Italian on today's sole climb. This early King of the Mountains jersey was the best hope for the home team to have a leader's jersey.  Marco Frapponti (Androni Giocattoli-Spidermac) was happy to get on the wheels of two motivated (although a bit irrateable adversaries).  Today's stage took the peloton into the dessert and to the southern most city of Eilat, not quite the lush hills of Tucsany.

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/3159114-11-249297/PaintingSomething-to-Talk-About--G18-11.html

Giro, Stage 2: Trying Again

After having been thwarded in his first attempt at a break away, and on the climb of the Zikhron Ya'Agov, Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) went off the front of the peloton again.  With over 37 kilometers left to the line in Tel Aviv, it was perhaps a fool hardy effort.  But for the team, it was a chance to show their colors to the Israeli fans along the roads, and the millions watching around the world.  Again, it was unlikely that the ProTour teams sprinter's were going to let a lone attack succeed.

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/3158039-7-249297/PaintingTrying-Again--G18-7.html

Giro, Stage 2: They're Back There

The first road stage of the 101st Giro d'Italia featured the required early break.  Today it was three riders who got off the front, but it seemed that the sprinters were in no mood to let them get to far up the road.  After the time trial riders were very close together on the General Classification so the time bonuses at the intermediate sprints could well effect who would take over the Maglia Rosa from Tome Dumoulin (Team Sunweb).  Lars Bak (Lotto Soudal - although they race as Lotto Fix-all at the Giro) peers over his shoulder trying to catch a glimpse of the closing peloton.  All three were hoping to stay away to the top of the only catagorized climb (the King of the Mountain jersey would belong to whomever gets to the top first).  Leading the trio is Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) followed by Davide Ballerini (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermac).  Alas, none of these claimed the Maglia Azzure of the KOM competition.  So it goes.

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/3158038-6-249297/PaintingThey're-Back-There--G18-6.html

Giro, Stage 1: Racing at Home

The 101st Giro d'Italia has done something that no grand tour has done before, it has started outstide of Europe.  198 riders went to Jerusalem, Israel for three days of racing around the country before heading back to Italy for the remaining 18 stages.  So it is fitting that the first painting of the race is of the Israeli National Time Trial Champion, Guy Sagiv (Israel Cycling Academy).  Sagiv had to be super motivated to put in a great showing, but he was up against the world, including the European Champion and the World Champion in this discipline. 

Part of the reason I decided to paint this year's Giro d'Italia is that it is starting in Jerusalem and ending in Roma near the steps of the Vatican.

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/3157915-1-249297/PaintingRacing-at-Home-G17-1.html