Giro, Stage 20: Cooked

All of the effort, all of the kilometers, all of the climbs, and all of the attacking yesterday seemed to have finally caught up with Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ).  On the way up the Col Saint Pantaleon the Frenchman seemed to hit a wall.  He was cooked.  One of his teammates got him a bottle from the team car, passed it over, Pinot simply passed it back to the car.  He knew his Giro had ended and he wasn't going to be on the podium after all.  He was escorted through the rest of the stage by Sebastien Reichenbach, Jeremy Roy and Steve Morabito.  Pinot had fought hard for the complete race but sometimes the body says enough is enough.

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/3169671-87-249297/PaintingCooked--G18-91.html

Tour de France Stage 5: Bringing Their Man Back

The 102nd Tour de France is being as unkind to the French and the 101st was charmed.  For the second time today, and once yesterday, the Frenchman who finished third in 2014, had to be paced back on to the tail of the peloton after a crash.  On this trip back to the front, Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) was escorted back into the fold by his teammates Steve Morabito and Matthieu Ladagnous.  A nice marker that the peloton is close is the bright red Skoda of one of the Commisares that position themselves just behind the last man of each large group and/or the breakaway on the course.

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.  They are a small family run art supply company located in north central United States with incredible high quality supplies for artists and crafters alike.  You can learn more at their website, www.richesonart.com.  This work, and all of my cycling artwork, is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember, this is a one of a kind original, so don't delay, once this painting is gone, it is gone!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2578260---210122/Painting.html#.VZ3KnPlViko

Criterium International Stage 3: Dishing It Out

FDJ had plans for the finale up the Col d'Ospedale, going to the front and dishing out a hard pace for their man, Thibaut Pinot.  Jeremy Roy and Steve Morabito (FDJ) pushed the pace as riders for Cannondale Garmin and Trek Factory Racing looked on, waiting of the attack that was sure to come.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this painting, for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, and yes, international shipping is available.  Enjoying reading about professional cycling with this accompanying art?  Then be sure to check out my recently publish book on the 2014 Tour de France, just google the title, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" to discover where you can order a copy from your local online book seller.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2535420---195767/Painting.html#.VRrlE_nF-xU

Giro d'Italia Stage 9: Another Day at the Office

At the end of the day, pro cycling is a job.  It just happens to be an exciting one that takes you all over the world and lets you ride your bike everyday.  Once the Maglia Rosa moved over to Cadel Evans (BMC) it became his team mates turn to ride tempo on the front of the peloton and, if necessary, to chase down breaks that threaten his new Pink Jersey.  So as the peloton started up the first climb of the stage it was Daniel Oss & Steve Morabito for BMC that went to the front and raised the pace on the way up to Sant Antonio.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes.  In addition this painting, and all of my cycling art, is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  For this one, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But don't delay it is a one-of-a-kind painting, so you don't want to miss out.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2365357---198213/Painting.html#.U3kU28_D_IU

Giro d'Italia Stage 6: Pressing Their Advantage

These eight riders managed to stay up right as the rains fell at the base of the climb up to Montecassino.  As the peloton charged towards the ascent, they really ramped up the speed, alas they hit a traffic circle at full speed just as the rains turned the road surface to an oil slick.  Riders went every where, unfortunately some went to the hospital.  Cadel BMC) had put his guys right on the front of the peloton along with Michael Matthews' Orica GreenEdge team.  They got around unscathed, but Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha), Janez Brajkovic (Astana), Angel Vicioso Arcos (Katusha) and Davide Villella (Team Cannondale) were not able the finish the stage, some being taken directly to the hospital.  Many others went down and left skin and pieces of racing kit along the road.  I am sure there will be plenty of discussion of whether or not this group should have waited for the other GC contenders that were caught out by the crash.  It is tradition not to attack the leader's jersey when he has crashed or had a mechanical, but since the Maglia Rosa was in the lead group, they road hard for the line.  Three from Orica GreenEdge (although they are wearing three different jerseys), Michael Matthews, Luke Durbridge and Ivan Santaronita were joined by three more from BMC, Cadel Evans, Daniel Oss and Steve Morabito with Tom Wellens (Lotto-Belisol) and a rider from Neri Sottoli tagged onto this express train.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, 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%202014/2364485---198213/Painting.html#.U3Wlfc_D_IU