Tour Down Under, Stage 1: Taking the Lead in the Dance

It was Elia Viviani (Deceuninck-Quickstep) that struck first in the Tour Down Under.  Viviani's sprint was something to behold, threating the needle between competitors and the barrier to fly past Maximilian Richard Walscheid (Sunweb).  Walscheid may have gone too early into the wind, while it seemed like Viviani had left it too late.  Before the race, the Italian Champion had said he hoped to start the teams season with a win, just as they had in 2018.  Last year the then Quickstep team went on to dominate the Grand Tour sprints, and just about every other Pro Tour sprint.  Rounding out the podium was Jakub Marecko (CCC) claiming the first podium pedestal step for the new CCC Team.

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-Down-Under/3284051-121-194179/PaintingTaking-the-Lead-in-the-Dance--TDU19-3.html

Giro, Stage 2: Out Sprinting Them All

Leaving it a bit late clearly didn't keep Elia Viviani (Quick Step) from claiming victory in the first road stage of this Giro d'Italia.  Viviani jumped onto the wheel of Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Trestina - Selle Italia) and as Mareczko faded, Viviani road up the barrier to victory.  Mareczko just held off a fast closing Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) for second, with the Irishman taking third on the day.  Just off the podium, but into the painting is Sacho Bonifazio (EF Education First-Drapac) taking fifth.  None of these men effected the destination of the Maglia Rosa, that was taken over by Rohan Dennis (BMC) thanks to his taking the second intermediate sprint (and the 3 second time bonus) out on course.

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/3158053-10-249297/PaintingOut-Sprinting-Them-All--G18-10.html

Giro, Stage 12: Celebrating Together

There is no better symbol that cycling is a team sport than the actions of Team Quickstep as they crossed the line in Reggio Emilia.  As the stage winner and holder of the Maglia Ciclamino jersey, Fernando Gaviria punched the air, his teammate Maximiliano Richeze threw his arms wide in victory as well.  As each Quickstep team member crossed the line in turn, they all held their fists aloft.  A victory for one member to the team is a victory for every member of the team.  Behind Gaviria, Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Triestina) looked at the jumbo screen as he rolled over the line in second place on the day.  Further down the order were Sacha Modolo (UAE Team Emirates) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo)

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 racing of the 100th Giro d'Italia, I am crowd funding my third cycling art book through Kickstarter.  I could use your support in helping this book get made, please consider backing 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. With Kickstarter, if there is not a 100% funded, no one is charged a dime, and the project recieves 0% funding.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/100th-Giro-dItalia/2968387-85-235247/PaintingCelebrating-Together-G17-86.html

Giro, Stage 9: Getting Some Attention

Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Triestina) dropped back to the race doctor after leaving some of his skin and cycling shorts on the side of the road.  The Polish rider had miss judged a turn and gone down hard on his right hip.  He was quickly back onto his bike and riding again.  The race doctor is there to see after the riders and help them finish each stage, or convince them to pull out of the race if their injuries are too serious.  If you don't know, a rider must finish each stage (in the allotted time) in order to be allowed to start the next day.  So injured riders will do all they can to finish a stage and then decide if they are well enough to start the next day.  It has taken quite a bit of effort to get into the Giro and no one is very eager to leave before the end.

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/2966823-59-235247/PaintingGetting-Some-Attention-G17-60.html

Doha 2016, Men's U23 Road Race: By a Wheel

The Norwegian team had done quite a bit of work to get their man to the front.  It looked like it might have been in vain when both Pascal Ackermann (Germany) and Jakub Mareczko (Italy) had the jump on the Norwegian sprinter.  Ackermann had a teammate along with him, Phil Bauhaus.  But it was the legs and determination to reward the work of his teammates that fired Kristoffer Halvorsen to the line.  His sprint brought him from behind, just catching Ackermann, nudging pass him by less than the diameter of a front wheel.  So it was Halvorsen for the Gold (and the Rainbow Jersey), Ackermann for the Silver and Mareczko for the Bronze.  Bauhaus rolled across the line in fourth with the Spaniard Ivan Garcia Cortina claiming 8th.  There are plenty of other sources if you want to know each riders placing.  I am just relating the riders that are in this painting.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Doha%202016%20UCI%20Road%20World%20Championships/2865112-48-227958/PaintingBy%20a%20Wheel%20Doha48-Greig-Leach.html#.WAAN3eArLIU