Giro, Final Srage: Modern Day Warriors

As they rounded the final corner, it was Team Quick Step that hit the front.  Elia Viviani, their team leader, was looking for another stage win.  His Maglia Ciclamino wasn't in danger, but there isn't a sprinter who doesn't want to win every stage they can.  Behind the self titled Wolf Pack was Bahrain Merida.  I wonder how many of those along the side of the roads had plan on seeing the final stage of the Giro and how many were just caught up in the crowds while trying to see the sites.  Again, I have ridden these roads, without cheering crowds and with quite a few cars and tour buses.  Clearly, I am dreaming of being back in Rome riding around this eternal city.

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/3170399-97-249297/PaintingRiding-'Round-Roma--G18-101.html

Giro, Final Stage: First and Last

During the neutral role out, and through much of the early part of the stage (more about that later), riders had sometime to chat, congratulate each other, and generally revel in getting through to the final stage of the 101st Giro d'Italia.  Giuseppe Fonzi (Wilier Triestina) mad sure to congratulate Chriss Froome (Sky).  The pair represent the fastest, the Maglia Rosa and the slowest finisher, in the Tour de France, it is called the lantern rouge, here it is the Maglia Nera (black jersey).  While there was breifly an actual jersey awarded, now it is just a dubious honor.  For Fonzi, he was an animator of many break aways, so has no reason to hang his head.  Plus unlike some twenty plus riders, he made it to the final stage.  Beside the two, you can just see Elia Viviani (Quickstep) leaning in to chat with another rider on Team Sky.

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/3170188-92-249297/PaintingFirst-and-Last-G18-96.html

Giro, Stage 18: On the Side of the Road

There are times when what I choose to paint from a stage has no real impact on the story of the racing.  Sometimes it is just the visual interest of the image that leads me to hit pause and pick up my paint brush.  That is this one.  From art class, and color theory, green and purple should never be used to create a painting, they are theoretically incompatable.  So, naturally, that is why I wanted to do this image of Elia Viviani (Quick Step) in his Maglia Ciclamino stopping in the tall grass along the route.  Never did find out what the problem was.  But given how quickly the camera got off of the Italian, I am guessing he was just stopping to answer the call of nature.

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/3167739-73-249297/PaintingOn-the-Side-of-the-Road--G18-78.html

Giro, Stage 17: Making a Splash

The weather at the line in Iseo wasn't ideal, but Elia Viviani's (Quick Step) sprint sure was.  The leader in the sprint jersey had the perfect leadout from his teammates that delivered him to his fourth Giro stage win in the pouring rain.  He held off the closing Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) who is out of frame, and Niccolo Bonifazio (Bahrain-Merida).  It was Danny van Poppel (LottoNL Jumbo) taking fourth on the stage.  He was unable to box in or hold of the leader in the sprint points competition.  Sprinting in the background is yet another rider from Androni Giocattoli, Andrea Vendrame.

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/3167330-71-249297/PaintingMaking-a-Splash--G18-76.html

Giro, Stage 19: He Just Needs to Finish

Fernando Gaviria (Quickstep) was working his way back through the following caravan as he passed Alex Howes (Cannondale-Drapac).  Howes was filling his pockets, cages and jersey with waterbottles for his teammates.  A rider for each team will be assigned the task of dropping back to the car, picking up whatever is needed, and then work their way back up to his teammates distributing goodies along the way.  Gaviria as such a lead in the points competition, that all he needs to do now is finish the Giro and the final jersey will be his.  Alas, there is today's mountain stage, another one tomorrow and then the time trial.  By comparrison, the time trial will be the easy day.

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/2973288-126-235247/PaintingHe-Just-Needs-to-Finish-G17-134.html

Giro, Stage 13: The Long Way Around

Fernando Gaviria (Quickstep) had to go the long way around his fellow sprinters to take his fourth stage victory in the 100th Giro d'Italia.  He started his sprint boxed in on the right side of the road and managed to get all the way around to the left side to take the win.  They may be some complaining from Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott), he found himself in a head butting battle with one of Gaviria's teammates which most likely took the tiny Australian sprinter out of his rhythm.  Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) grabbed second and it was Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) who claimed the last step of the podium. Others who tried to factor in the stage were the aptly named Roberto Ferrari (UAE Team Emirate) and the pilot fish for Bennett, Rudiget Selig (Bora-Hansgrohe).

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. 

The computer gremlins have returned to my website.  Please email me at greigsart@gmail.com to puchase this painting for only $75 USD, shipping extra, and I ship anywhere in the world.

Giro, Stage 13: Adding to His Total

Fernando Gaviria (Quickstep) must becoming very fond of his Maglia Ciclamino.  At the first intermediate sprint in Fiorenzuola on a very flat stage, he jumped free of the peloton to pick up the maximum points still available in the sprint competition.  All along the course of the race, you can see cycling fans holding out their cell phones and tablets capturing the race as it flies past.  I am sure that there are thousands and thousands of blurry digital of brilliant color all over social media.  Some of the photographs might even be worth saving.  I am sure they will be to the phone photographers.

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. 

The computer gremlins have returned to my website.  Please email me at greigsart@gmail.com to puchase this painting for only $75 USD, shipping extra, and I ship anywhere in the world.

Giro, Stage 5: His Second

After the mistaken celebration of Luka Pibernik (Bahrain-Merida), it was Fernando Gaviria (Quickstep) who rightly threw his arms wide in the true stage victory.  Gaviria's victory was his second in just five stages, and it awarded him the Maglia Ciclamino for the effort.  Behind him, the now former wearer of the jersey, Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) managed fourth on the day.  That placing puts him back into his German National Champion jersey for stage 6.  Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) rewarded his team's effort by making the podium on the third step with Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Triestina) making the podium in second, but not making it into 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.

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/2964512-37-235247/PaintingHis-Second-G17-38.html