Giro, Stage 3: Taking Another

In an interview after Stage 2, Elia Viviani (Quick Step) said that after winning that stage, all of the pressure was off of him.  However, it didn't mean he was done trying to win stages.  Again, he had to come from behind a sprinter who had launched first.  And again, he had the legs to take the victory, making it two out of two road stages.  Having gone first, Sam Bennett (Bora Hansgrohe) had to settle with third on the day with Sacha Modolo (EF Education First-Drapac) nipping him at the line for second.  Jens Debusschere (Lotto Soudal - or Lotto Fix-All for the Giro) managed sixth and Baptiste Planckaert (Katusha-Alpecin) crossed the final line in Israel in eight. 

I was concerned when I heard that the Giro would be racing in Israel, but it went beautifully and safely.  It was a great success, and I am now looking forward to seeing the peloton back on Italian soil.

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/3159232-15-249297/PaintingTaking-Another--G18-15.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 Final Stage: Starting an Arguement

With two riders up the road the points on offer for the remaining positions in the intermediate sprints were greatly reduced.  It is theorized that Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) and Sacha Modolo (Lampre Merida) had come to an arrangement that neither would sprint for the victory at the intermediate sprint leaving it all for the final sprint.  It seems that someone started to go for the early sprint, perhaps interpreting that since the breakaway had "won" the sprint, they were free to attack all of the other sprint hopefuls.  With the point differential in the race for the Red Jersey so tight, tempers seemed to be on edge.  Nizzolo appears to reach out and grab the jersey of Modolo right before Nizzolo and Trek Factory racing attacked for the remaining sprint points.  In the ensuing laps, the pair literally butted heads, shoulders and elbows.  Fortunately, the feathers seemed to have been back in place by the end of the stage, otherwise a head butt could have sent bikes and bodies flying all over the place.

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/2561844---184157/Painting.html#.VWvBhM9Viko

Giro Stage 17: A Perfect Delivery

This painting earned the title of "Bridget's Favorite" for stage 17.  Bridget is my wife of almost 35 years and it is her brilliance that got me to start painting my absolute favorite sport.  I race as an amateur way back in the 70's and have continued to ride longer distance ever since.  Having the opportunity to combine my two main passions of art making and cycling, is an unbelievable joy.

Lampre Merida delivered their sprinter, Sacha Modolo, to the final 200 meters with perfection.  While all of the other teams lost too many men on the sharp climb that crested with 4 kilometers to go, Lampre brought two men to lead out Modolo to the 2 kilometers of the flat approach to the finish.  While Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) was denied the stage victory, his second place at the line combined with his best of the rest at the last intermediate sprint was enough points to take over the Maglia Russo of the points jersey.  Luka Mezgec (Giant Alpecin) was left still searching for his first stage victory.

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/2560572---184157/Painting.html#.VWappflViko

Giro Stage 13: Fast Twitch

Stage 13 turned out to be rather unlucky for a number of the GC contenders, and unbelievable lucky for others.  A crash just outside of the magical 3 kilometer point, meant that time gaps caused by the crash would not be neutralized.  Fabio Aru (Astana) and Rigoberto Aru (Etixx Quickstep) were not delayed, however Alberto Contador was held up for almost two minutes, and the continually unlucky Richie Porte (Sky) was held up even longer.  Porte was one of those who hit the ground.  Ironically, the crash happen on the one straight section of road in the last four kilometers.  Contador's delay meant that Aru has taken the Maglia Rosa and Contador now trails by 33 seconds.  That should make for an exciting individual time trial tomorrow.

At the finish, Lampre-Merida wrestled control of the remaining members of the peloton from Trek Factory Racing.  Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) reward his teammates effort by just holding off the charging Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing).  Nizzolo had run out of lead out men and was forced to freelance his sprint.  Elia Viviani's (Sky) third place finish was enough for him to reclaim the Maglia Rosso, the Sprinter's Red Jersey.

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, find them online at www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website for only $50 USD at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But, don't delay, this is an original one of a kind work of art.  Once it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2558532---184157/Painting.html#.VWANNflViko

Giro Stage 6: One for the Gorilla

I am not being mean, "Gorilla," is Andre Greipel's (Lotto Soudal) nickname, one he embraces as his own.  Whenever there is a flat straight shot to the line, you can count on the German National Champion being the odds on favorite.  Behind the shadow of the big German were Sacha Modolo (Lampre Merida) as well as Manuel Belletti and Alessandro Pettachi (Southeast).  The sprint for the line was marred by a spectator trying to get a photograph of the charging peloton,  One of the riders clipped the erstwhile photographer and went down hard.  The video of the man writhing in pain from a dislocated elbow was way too disturbing.  Along with his hitting the deck a large number of others kissed the pavement, including the wearer of the Magila Rosa, Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo).  As I am writing this, I don't know if Contador will be able to start stage 7.  He was unable to open the traditional bottle of proscecco, donned his Pink Jersey or give the two armed wave from the podium.

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.  You can find all of their wonderful art supplies at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  All of the cycling art sells for only $50 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2554288---184157/Painting.html#.VVV3uyFViko