Giro, Stage 14: Easier to See

As the peloton came down off of the Avaglio catagory 3 climb, Salvatore Puccio (Sky) went to the front to lead his captain, Chris Froome down.  It is always easier to decent off of a mountain when you can have clear sight lines and a bit of elbow room.  On the four time Tour de France winner's wheel were two Mitchelton-Scott lieutenants, Svein Tuft and Sam Bewley.  They were keeping a close eye on from for the Maglia Rosa.  Froome has been known to attack on descents (successfully) to gain time on the general classification. 

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/3165198-54-249297/PaintingEasier-to-See-G18-54.html

Giro, Stage 8: A Job to Be Done

It falls to Mitchelton-Scott to lead the chase by the peloton.  After their succes in stage 6 claiming the stage, the Maglia Rosa and the Maglia Azzurro, they are honor bound to chase down the break away.  And that job through the flat sections of today's stage fell to Svein Tuft and Sam Bewley.  The other teams were happy to let them do the work since Tuft was pulling the seven escapees back second by second.  And it falls to the crowds to cheer their efforts on.

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/3162084-32-249297/Painting-Job-to-Be-Done--G18-32.html

Giro, Stage 7: Working for Caleb

It was Svein Tuft and  Christopher Juul Jenson who drove the pace for their sprinter, Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scot).  To thier left, Movistar was working, not for the sprint but for their GC man, Nairo Quintana.  With just over nine kilometers to the line, sprinters and GC men were at cross purposes.  Sprinters need to make the race tough and fast to set up their win on the day, GC men need to keep safe (always easier on the front) until the magical three kilometer mark.

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/2965607-48-235247/PaintingWorking-for-Caleb-G17-49.html

Tour de France Stage 9: Coming In All Together

Orica GreenEdge was at a distinct disadvantage in today's Team Time Trial.  The team has lost three of its members to the crashes that plaque the early stages of the Tour.  The team time trial is run with the entire team racing together against the clock, however the time is taken when the fight rider crosses the line.  With three less men to share the work load it was unlikely that the team was going to finish the day on the top of the leader board.  Unlike most of the other teams, Orica GreenEdge came to the line with all of their riders together.

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.  In addition this painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $60 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Don't delay, this is an original work of art, so when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202015/2579658---210122/Painting.html#.VaLOavlViko
 

Giro d'Italia Final Stage: The First to Attack

Once the first lap had been completed and the honor and respect had been paid to the Maglia Rosa of Nairo Quintana (Movistar) it was time to get down to racing.  The first two, to quote Phil Ligget, to turn a pedal in anger where Lars Bak (Lotto-Belisol) and Svein Tuft (Orica GreenEdge) under the watchful eye of the following TV Moto.  All of the racing is covered by multiple camera men on the backs of motorcycles following the racers most every move, combined with two camera mounted helicopters and some stationary cameras at the finishing line.  It is the rare sporting event that will cover hundreds of kilometers of open road rather than being limited to a stadium.  Tuft won the Maglia Rosa on the first day of road racing in Belfast and spent time as the Lanterne Rouge (the last on the general classification), but went on the attack to show the jersey of Orica GreenEdge who are down to just two riders.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard measuring 4"x6" and is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, why not take the time to browse around all of the artwork on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d'Italia%202014/2373974---198213/Painting.html#.U4uIZMvD_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 Stage 1: Poetry in Motion

The Giro d'Italia started today with their wheels rolling across the Emerald Isle in Belfast racing the most specialized discipline of the Team Time Trial. It was impressive to see all of the Irish fans decked out in their pink finery in honor of the Italian race.  One of the earliest teams to roll down the start ramp was the Australian Orica-GreenEdge team.  Their early start proved to be fortuitist with the rains that fell on some of the later starting teams.  The combination of good weather, dry roads and a well drilled team was enough to enable them to set an early high water mark that couldn't be topped.  So as the stage winning team, it was the rider for Orica-GreenEdge who crossed the line first that got to pull on the first Maglia Rose of the 2014 Giro d'Italia.  As it would happen, it proved to be a great 37th birthday present for Svein Tuft, quite the way to celebrate one's birthday.  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 work is available for purchase through 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 in Northern Ireland.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%27Italia%202014/2361637-1-0-198213/Painting/Sports.html#.U23rfs_D_IU