Giro Stage Seven: The Break Starts Up

Another day and another break away goes up the road.  In this case the road is going up as well.  Unlike the flat stage 6, a mountainous stage gives the small groups a better chance over the power and speed of the peleton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that like all of the works in this series was created using Richeson Art's cake watercolors, brushes, and papers. (www.richesonart.com )  And this painting is available for purchase through my artist website, just follow the link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149247---184157/Painting.html#.UZo5e8vD_IU

Giro Day Six: Stopping Short

The down side of the riders being more relaxed and having time to chat is that they are a little less focused.  Remember that there are roughly 200 cyclist riding along all sorts of roads, most that they have never seen before, and it just takes a swerve, a quick tap of the brakes or a momentary loss of balance to cause a massive pile up.  Stage 6 saw its share of wrecks, fortunately none too severe.  These are the riders behind the crash desperately trying to get stop before they pile on to the twisted legs, wheels and handlebars.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get yours.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149189---184157/Painting.html#.UZmcpM_D_IU

Giro Day Six: An Italian Coversation

Every nation (well almost every nation) awards a national champion each year for both road racing and time trialing.  There are champions for women, Under 23, and every other cycling discipline as well.  This is Italy's Road Champion, Franco Pillizotti, chatting with his fellow Androni Giocattoli -Venezuela team mate as they ride through the groves of olive trees and fields of crops on the Italian coast.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series, was created with Richeson Company's watercolors, brushes and paper. (their web site is www.richesonart.com ).  All of the work is for sale, including this one at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149191---184157/Painting.html#.UZmfGc_D_IU

Giro Day Six: Lunch To Go

Every Stage in the Giro has what is called a "Feed Zone".  It is an designated area at roughly the middle of the day's racing where the team helpers stand on the side of the road holding special bags called "Musettes" for the racers to grab as they zoom by.  The cyclist in the peleton while burned 6,000 calories on an average stage, so keeping themselves fueled up is an ongoing challenge.  The musettes are filled with easily digested high protein snacks, energy drinks, and special treats to lighten the hearts of the riders.   The bags are emptied by the riders and then tossed to the fans along the roadside hoping to get this special souvenir.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the work in this series is available for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.
http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149183---184157/Painting.html#.UZmbE8vD_IU

Giro Day Five: Looking at the End

These two riders had taken another dig after the first breakaway was caught, but as you can see the charging peleton is just down the hill.  This is a rider for Lottos and for Team Cannondale that feel the end of their chances of a victory disappearing with the sound of turning high pressure tires on Italian asphalt.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for sale on my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149133---184157/Painting.html#.UZl_ocvD_IU

Giro Day Five: Wardrobe Change

On a day like Stage 5, with periods of bright sun and heavy rain, the riders found it difficult to be dress for the conditions on the road.  While the riders toss their water bottles to the side of the road, a favored souvenir for the fans along the way, they go back to the team cars to drop off the rain capes.  This is a rider for Team Sky disrobing at 40 kph while riding amongst cars and other racers.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the paintings in this series, it is available for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149127---184157/Painting.html#.UZl81MvD_IU

Giro Day Five: The Sprinter's Teams Move Up

After the break away gets to about six minutes ahead the peleton begins to think about bringing them back into the fold.  Stage 5 looked to be a perfect day for the sprinters to shine, so it was their teams that went to the front and made short work of chasing down the five man break.  So it was up to Argos Shimano, Orica Greenedge and MovieStar to do the work.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it is available for sale on my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149125---184157/Painting.html#.UZl74MvD_IU

Giro Day Five: Multi Tasking at 44 kph

Riders in the peleton are capable of many different feets, many of them at the same time.  The rider for Team Venezuela is eating while he is putting on a rain vest, don't forget that he is also riding along in a group of over two hundred cyclist at roughly 44 kilometers per hour.  Stage 5 plagued the riders with heavy down pours and bright sun, with everything inbetween, it felt like they were constantly changing clothes and trying to eat enough to keep up their energy.  A cyclist while burn 6,000 calories in an average stage so eating enough is a constant challenge.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard create with Richeson Company cake watercolors, brushes and papers.  This painting, and all of the works in the series, are available on my artist web site, just follow the direct link at the end of the post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149119---184157/Painting.html#.UZl608vD_IU

Giro Day Five: Under the Camera in the Sky

The video footage of the Giro is stunning, from the still cameras, boom cameras, 3 separate motorcyclist and cameraman duos, and two helicopter mounted cameras that capture every move of the race and the incredible scenery of the country of Italy (or France, or Spain).  Frequently, one camera crew will catch sight of another.  While the moto was filming the rear of the peleton they caught the helicopter above in their lens.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series, available for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149107---184157/Painting.html#.UZl3McvD_IU

Giro Day Five: And They Are Off

Each road stage of the Giro (and all of the Grand Tours) start with the jersey wearers lined up on the starting line with the rest of the peleton behind.  However when the flag drops it is only the start of the neutral area,  after the riders get going, about 5K, then the flag drops and the racing is on.  The fans gather to see their favorites sign in for the day, hope to get an autograph or even a picture, and then cheer as the peleton rides away.  After the riders and crowds are gone, the roadies come in and take everything off to the next start town.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for sale in a quick 3 day auction on ebay.  I will provide a direct link at the end of this post.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251272803314

Giro Day Four: DiLuca's Late Attack

Daniello DiLuca had a rough break in yesterday's stage crashing on the last descent of the day and shearing off his rear derailleur and losing two and a half minutes.  So while the peleton was watching Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins he jumped out and stormed off, a few tried to go with him but they couldn't hang.  He quickly passed Sylvain Georges and stormed off through the driving rain in hopes of a victory akin to Paolini's that placed him in the Maglia Rosa.  In the true heartbreaking style of the peleton, he was caught with less than 500 meters to the line.  But he was able to gain time on many of his rivals, most notably Wiggins.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for sale on my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149105---184157/Painting.html#.UZl15svD_IU

Giro Day Four: Watching Wiggins

Near the very end of the stage, Team Sky and favorite, Bradley Wiggins went to the front of the peleton and started tamping out the rhythm.  The rest of the peleton got nervous and watch Wiggins very carefully expecting him to attack at any moment.  In the end it was the another rider that launched the attack and Wiggins who ended up losing time.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for purchase on my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your affordable original art.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149099---184157/Painting.html#.UZl0xMvD_IU

Giro Day Four: Forming Another Break

One thing that frequently happens in the peleton is that when a break away is caught another group will jump out almost immediately.  This is so common that the peleton will often leave a group out front just to prevent others from giving it a go.  Here Marco Marcato of Vancansoleil leads a group of five on another attempt to surprise the peleton.  The second rider is Sylvain Georges who came close to pulling of the surprise.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard.  I will be creating a grouping of prints from this series at the end of the Giro.  If you would be interested please leave a comment so I can get an idea of the level of interest.

This painting is sold.