Giro d'Italia Stage 2: First Sprint, First Win

Stage 2 was the first open road stage of the 2014 Giro d'Italia and its relatively flat course out and back to Belfast was destined to be one for the sprinters.  Of the current marquee sprinters of the Pro Tour only Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano) has chosen to ride the Giro. The others, Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma Quickstep) have opted to race the Tour of California.  So with the first sprint contested it is Kittel one and all of the others, zero.  Although Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) gave it a good show to finish second to the big German.  But it was Michael Matthews' (Orica GreenEdge) eight place finish that was enough for him to take over the race lead and to don the Maglia Rosa and spray the crowd with champagne.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could 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.  Thank you and good luck being the first to get this original work of art.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2362039---198213/Painting.html#.U26z3s_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 2: Trying to Do It Alone

Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin Pro Cycling) had spend way too much time out in the break away to let the peloton catch him without a fight.  So as his fellow escapees surrender and sat up Maarten had one more dig in perhaps a vain hope to beat the sprinters at their own game.  With just over 3 kilometers left to race he still had 10 seconds over the charging peloton, but once the sprinter's trains have the bit between their teeth, that is no where near enough time.  So yet again, the valiant effort of the break away was unsuccessful.  Although Tjallingii was able to claim the King of the Mountains Jersey for his efforts on the day.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could 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%202014/2362021---198213/Painting.html#.U26vks_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 2: Is That a Banana in Your Pocket?

With the cold, wet roads of Northern Ireland seeping into the muscles of the peloton, Omega Pharma Quickstep called one of their domestiques back to the team car to collect bananas for the team.  The potassium in the fresh bananas is a great way to combat the cramping muscles that come from long rides in the kind of conditions that faced the peloton along the coastal roads of the Emerald Isle.  As my son but it, I just couldn't resist the opportunity to make a "blue" joke, that being... "Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could 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.  But why not take the time to browse all of the artwork on offer at the site?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2362001---198213/Painting.html#.U26rjc_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 2: Along the Irish Coast

The peloton spend a long time discovering why Ireland is so green.  They spent most of the day in the rain and mist as they turned back for Belfast along the coast of the Irish Sea.  With a four man break up the road, it fell to the team of the Maglia Rosa to ride tempo (although Svein Tuft's jersey was hidden under his rain coast all day long).  Later the team of the sprinter, Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano) joined in the chase too busy with the job at hand to enjoy the spectacular views and postcard beautiful scenery.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But while you are there, why not take some time to browse all of the artwork on offer at the site?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2361985---198213/Painting.html#.U26oAs_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 2: The Gates of Carn Lough

For the first time ever the Giro d'Italia left continental Europe to start in Northern Ireland, first with the Team Time Trial in Belfast and then today's stage that raced 219 kilometers heading north out of Belfast before turning west along the coast and heading back along the Irish Sea to Belfast.  The Irish have embraced the Giro turning out bedecked in pink and line nearly every kilometer of the stage's course.  I was so taken with this little girl's pink sunglasses and pink rain coat as she held onto dad and watched the bikes speed by.  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%202014/2361983---198213/Painting.html#.U26kMc_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 2: Sprinting for Points

Stage two of the Giro d'Italia included the first chance for the racers to claim points in the King of the Mountain Competition with this relatively small climb up Cushendall Road along the northern coast of Northern Ireland, not far from the Bushmill's distillery.  With just a few points on offer from the Category 4 climb the four riders of the early break went into an all out sprint to get points for the first three across the line.  It was Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin Pro Cycling) that nip Andrea Fedi (Neri Sotolo) at the line for maximum points with Jeffry Johan Romero (Team Colombia) and Sander Arme (Lotto-Belisol) completing the make up of the four man break away.  These riders built up a lead of five and a half minutes before the team of the Pink Jersey and the sprinters' teams started the long sure chase.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com,  Also, this (and all of my cycling paintings) is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com  Or you could follow the direct link at the end of this post for this particular painting.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2361967---198213/Painting.html#.U26hDc_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 d'Italia Stage 1: Into the Final Corner

Team Movistar counts one of the main contenders for the overall on its roster, Nairo Quintana, who won the King of the Mountains Jersey and the Best Young Rider Jersey in last year's Tour de France.  While it certainly wasn't possible to win the Giro in the Team Time Trial, it was feasible to do some serious damage to one's overall chances with a bad ride, or worst.  Movistar did well despite some rain on the course and was actually able to help put some time into Quintana's rivals on the very first day of racing.  Although it must be said there is still quite a lot of racing to come.  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.  While you are there why not take the time to look around at all of the cycling art on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2361641---198213/Painting.html#.U23wus_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 1: Pushing It

There are two Irishmen in this year's running of the Giro, both hoping to ride well on the first three stages that are being raced on their home soil before the race makes its way to southern Italy.  One, Nicholas Roche rides on the Belgium team, Tinkoff-Saxo.  There are seen here sprinting for the line in the opening Team Time Trial in the heart of Belfast, Northern Ireland.  It was very exciting to see just how many screaming fans lined the entire 21.9 kilometer course that kicked of the weekend of racing on the Emerald Isle.  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 to get your piece of the Big Start.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2361639---198213/Painting.html#.U23uHc_D_IU