Giro Final Stage:An Upset Victory

This year's Giro seems to be the year of the breakaways.  I don't have an exact number, but it feels like far more stages have been won by a member of the breakaway, either the early break working all day to achieve victory, or like today, the late attack that catches the peloton off guard.   For this pair of Lijo Keisse (Etixx Quickstep) and Luke Durbridge (Orica BreenEdge) you could see it enter their minds on the bell lap that one of them was about to win the final stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia.  Keisse had the advantage of coming from the track and from being wise enough to force Durbridge to start his sprint from the front.  Durbridge did what he could but with the peloton charging down on the duo, he couldn't do the classic game of cat and mouse, but instead had to hope that he had the legs and Keisse didn't.  Alas, for the Aussie, Keisse had them.  Durbridge can take comfort knowing that Orica GreenEdge held the first four Maglia Rosas and one the opening Team Time Trial stage.  Whereas, Etixx-Quickstep had yet to claim a stage, and their team leader had been unable to produce his former prowess in previous Giros.  So it was truly and upset victory even if the over all winner has been known for weeks.  So "Chapeau, Contador!"

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from the small family run art supply company, Jack Richeson and Company.  There website is www.richesonart.com.  Plus, this painting is available through my artist website for only $50 USD, plus shipping (international is available) at www.greigleach.com.  To get this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but don't delay.  This is an original work of art, so when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2561858---184157/Painting.html#.VWvLgM9Viko

Giro Final Stage: Trying to Make It Stick

Luke Durbridge (Orica GreenEdge) and Lijo Keisse (Etixx Quickstep) went from almost the moment the Promenade was over, prying almost a thirty second gab on the peloton full of sprinters.  Sprinters who surely wanted to vie for one more stage victory.  With the technical nature of the 5 lap circuit, the powerful duo had the strength and the long shot of actually making the escape stick.  They had already spoiled the Red Jersey hopefuls chances of getting maximum points at the intermediate sprint, now it was beginning to look like they might do the same at the final finish line of the 98th Giro d'Italia.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from the small family run art supply company, Jack Richeson and Company.  There website is www.richesonart.com.  Plus, this painting is available through my artist website for only $50 USD, plus shipping (international is available) at www.greigleach.com.  To get this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but don't delay.  This is an original work of art, so when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2561846---184157/Painting.html#.VWvFfs9Viko

Giro Stage 20: Flat, for Now

The penultimate stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia spent over a hundred kilometers on near pan flat roads, but the day ended with the peloton hitting the highest point of the entire Giro, the Colle Delle Finestre.  For Mauro Finetto (Southeast Pro Cycling), Nikias Arndt (Giant Alpecin) and Lijo Keisse (IAM Cycling), this would probably be the last time they would see the front of the peloton until the start of tomorrow's final stage.  Many of those around the back today were simply trying to conserve energy for what is sure to be a sprinter's contest in Milan.  Their only worry was to make sure they finished inside the time limit.  It would truly suck to not be allowed to start (and finish) the final stage after having ridden so many days and kilometers of the last twenty stages.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available for purchase from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But be advised, this is a one of a kind painting, so don't delay, when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2561482---184157/Painting.html#.VWqfss9Viko

Giro Stage 17: Just a Tap

Today's early break was most certainly doomed to fail.  The 98th Giro d'Italia has offered very few opportunities for the true sprinters to shine, even with the uncategorized climbs at the end of the stage, today was one of those for the fast men of the peloton.  Never the less, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  The trio of Marco Bardiera (Androni Giocattoli), Giacomo Berlato (Nippo Vini Fantini) and Lijo Keisse (Etixx Quickstep) were working well together pushing their advantage out to around two minutes over the peloton.  Bardiera is reaching out to tap Berlato, moving the Nippo Vini Fantini rider into the pace line ahead of him, rather than letting him drop to the back of the trio.  It wasn't that Bardiera didn't want to do his share, instead, he was waiting of his team car to pull up along side for a wee chat.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and  Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  This painting, and all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $50 USD plus shipping, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  It is a one of a kind original painting, so don't delay.  When it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2560564---184157/Painting.html#.VWaeD_lViko