Giro, Stage 16: Looking for Stage Honors

Rohan Dennis (BMC), the time trial champion of Australia, went out looking for a time trial stage win today.  He was just two seconds off of the pace in the opening TT in Jerusalem to kick off the 101st Giro d'Italia.  It was two seconds he made up the next day to pull on the Maglia Rosa for two stages while racing in Israel.  I doubt he expected to regain the over all lead, but he certainly found the stage victory he wanted.  He finished twnety two seconds ahead of the current time trial world champion as well as fourteen seconds ahead of the four time champion, Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin).  His time today did move him into sixth overall, leaving his in striking distance of the podium in Rome.

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/3166968-65-249297/PaintingLooking-for-Stage-Honors--G18-70.html

Giro, Stage 16: "Vie, Vie, Vie!"

While most riders have a radio earpiece that connects them directly with their Director Sportif in the following vechiles, sometimes it is just too much fun to yell out the window.  Mattia Cattaneo (Androni Giocattoli) had his mouth wide open trying to draw in enough air as his director yelled encouragement (or comdemnation) from the car behind.  Cattaneo finished the day in 16th place on the stage, but he was much higher on the stage when he was urged across the line by his teamcar.

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/3166938-61-249297/Painting

Giro, Stage 11: A Display of Power

Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) clad in the leader's Maglia Rosa, hit the climbs at full speed, showing that his lead is no fluke.  Attempting to join the leader, and hoping to over take him as well, is last year's winner, Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb).  As they approached the flame rouge denoting the final kilometer of the stage, you can see crowds lining the course and advertising inflatables.  Yates finished the stage in the lead, with Dumoulin taking second on the stage.  Each held their place on the GC, with Yates gaining just a couple more seconds on the day.

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/3164943-52-249297/PaintingA-Display-of-Power--G18-52.html

Giro, Stage 10: A Day in Pink

Thanks to his incredible climbing abilities, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) got to spend the day in the Maglia Rosa of race leader.  However, he doesn't have the same ablities against the clock.  So at least for now, he will only be spending one day in pink.  Don't cry for the young Colombian, there are six more days of climbing to come in this the 100th Giro d'Italia, so I am sure he will pull back on the Maglia Rosa.  I am sure he is well aware that he must gain as much time in the mountains as he can, the final stage of this Giro is the other individual time trial.

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/2967494-73-235247/PaintingA-Day-in-PInk-G17-74.html

Tirreno-Adriatico Final Stage: New Best Time

Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) hit the line 13 seconds faster than the previous best set by Johan Le Bon (FDJ) just nipping past a rider who had started two minutes before him.  The Swiss rider had thrown down the gauntlet that few who even dare to pick up.  Cancellara's over all time meant that he had little chance of upsetting the overall classification, but it had to feel good to take out the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watecolors and Steve Quiller brushes both from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this original work of art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

Plus, please be sure to check out my newest book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.  The book is complied from my live paintings of the 2015 Championships here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia along with my blogposts serving as the rough draft for the text of the book.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2743987-286-195767/Painting.html#.VukHW_krLIU

Giro Final Stage: On a Promenade

Much as in the Tour de France, the peloton allowed the entire team of Tinkoff Saxo to ride onto the finishing circuit in Milan en mass with the Maglia Rosa tucked onto the end of the procession.  Close on the heals of Tinkoff Saxo were that Astana boys all in blue.  Astana holds the Maglia Blanco, the best team title and second and third on the general classification.  They do not hold the King of the Mountains Jersey as I said in my final post from yesterday.  Sorry, I had gotten bad information.  The Maglia Azzurro stayed on the shoulders of Giovanni Visconti (Movistar), so he finishes the Giro as the King of the Mountains.  The only Jersey that could possible change hands (barring any extreme misfortune) is the Red of the most consistent sprinter.

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/2561842---184157/Painting.html#.VWu9EM9Viko

Giro Stage 16: Off on His Own

Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale Garmin) used his descending skills to leave his breakaway companions and head off on his own.  The Canadian but two minutes between himself and the rest of those on the road as he climbed up to Aprica for the first time.  The course took the peloton through the early ski town before swinging back down to the valley and up the biggest climb of the Giro.  The competitors would then drop back off of the Passo del Mortirolo before climbing back up to Aprica for the second time.  This time their long day of five categorized would be over.  Along the road various race sponsors will set up inflatable advertisements like this one celebrating the bike saddle company, Selle Italia.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  The 4"x6" painting is available from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular art work for $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2559962---184157/Painting.html#.VWUG7_lViko

Giro Stage 12: Checking One More Time

Tanel Kangert (Astana) was given leave from riding for his team leader, Fabio Aru, and went off in search of a stage victory for the boys from Kazakhstan, although Kangert is an Estonian.  Kangert had first chased down the attacking Franco Pellizotti (Androni Giocattoli).  Once under the flame rouge signifying the final kilometer of the stage, he looked over his shoulder to discover that he was dropping the Italian.  Unfortunately, what he couldn't see was the charging peloton that contained both stage hopefuls and GC men who wanted the time bonuses of a podium finish.  With their umbrellas held high, the fans lining the barriers were being treated to some very aggressive racing, while the competitors had no need to fear another wet descent off of this climb.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from the American family run art supply company, Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website for the low price of $50 USD, plus shipping (including international shipping).  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2557684---184157/Painting.html#.VV4-DvlViko

Giro d'Italia Stage 13: Ring Side Seating

If you have enough clout, a big enough VIP, you can get a ride in one of the official's vehicles that ride along with the peloton or the breakaways.  They are there to make sure that rules are followed, dangers are communicated, and riders get the assistance they need from either their teams or the race doctor.  While I have no idea who is in the car with the pink cap, he sure is getting a great view of Maxim Belkov (Katusha) as he finishes off a bottle and loads up his bottle cages on the bike.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that measures 4 inches by 6 inches and is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting you can follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2368877---198213/Painting.html#.U3_kGs_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 9: A Defiant Victory

I don't know what more I can say about Orica GreenEdge.  Their Giro d'Italia has been nothing short of amazing thus far winning the opening Team Time Trial in Belfast and then holding the Maglia Rosa through eight days of racing first with Svein Tufts and then starting with Stage 2, Michael Matthews.  After Matthews lost over twenty minutes and surrendered the jersey to Cadel Evans (BMC) today started out even rougher for the former Maglia Rosa.  He hit the deck early on in the stage, yet managed to get back on the bike, although he was missing a fair amount of skin and a nearly obscene about of the Orica kit.  But rather than despairing, the team managed to get one of their own into the 14 man break away.  From there it was all Peter Weening (Orica GreenEdge) chasing down Davide Malacarne (Europcar) and besting him at the line after an extended game of cat and mouse.  So it is that Orica GreenEdge now has three victories out of nine stages, certainly the most successful of Giros and it is only just the second rest day.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2365613---198213/Painting.html#.U3lyqc_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 8: One More to Catch

With two or three members left from the original break, it was Pierre Rolland (Europcar) that attacked the GC group and went off in search of a stage win.  With his team mate Perriq Quemeneur up the road to act as a bridge and then offer some drafting, Rolland was able to chase down the lone leader up the road.  It was a truly Herculean effort that would have given the French their third Giro stage win and the second in as many days.  At this 5 K banner, he was only 40 seconds behind Johan Davi Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2365133---198213/Painting.html#.U3hxC8_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 4: What's the Plan?

Luca Paolini (Katusha), either self-nominated or by the peloton, was the rider that went up to the race director to try and find out just what the plan was for the finish of the stage.  At one point it seemed that the organizers might neutralize the entire stage, later that all of the final circuits of the race would be what was neutralized, all do to a very technical eight laps in town with very slippery conditions.  Apparently, the roads are not designed to move water off of the surface and there was a build up of oil on the surface.  Sadly, the fears of the riders was to be proven founded on the final lap through the town of Bari.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be purchased by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2363343---198213/Painting.html#.U3Jzmc_D_IU