Giro Final Day: Time to Celebrate

Another last day tradition is reserved for the team that has the winning jersey, the champagne.  Sometimes it is poured in the team car and glasses are passed around inside the car and to the entre team, Astana went a little less formal and drank from the bottle.  The team worked its heart out for Nibali, while he wears the Maglia Rosa, it is a team victory.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it is available for sale at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but hurry, you know everyone will want this image.  Well every Italian, Nibali and/or Nibali fan at least.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2154527---184157/Painting.html#.UaeYWs_D_IU

Giro Day Twenty Two: Cannondale Pushes the Pace

Every team had the same objective today, to move their man up in the standings and Team Cannondale was no different.  Once the peleton reached the meat of the climb they came to the front to push the pace for Caruso.  Team Astana finally caught a break, letting the other teams do the pace making, all they had to do is watch Evans and Uran, but even then, they could give up four minutes and Nibali would still be wearing pink.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and it can be yours by following the direct link at the end of this page and purchasing this work at my artist website.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2154167---184157/Painting.html#.UaacdMvD_IU

Giro Day Twenty Two: Getting the Shot

The peleton has gotten up into the snow line of today's climb and I am not the only one who thought this was a great image.  The Giro is extensively covered by the world press, sporting and otherwise, not only are there five TV Moto, but there is a calavary of photographers riding on motorcycles getting thousands of still photos for magazines, newspapers and direct distribution.  I can't tell you who this is, but I do agree with his taste in imagery.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by following the link at the end of this post to my artist website. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2154159---184157/Painting.html#.UaabW8vD_IU

Giro Day Twenty Two: Looking Heavenward

Team Euskatel came to the front of the peleton during the stage, driving the pace for their GC man Samuel Sanchez.  Sanchez is riding high in the overall with a chance to move up in the standings thanks to a brilliant mountain time trial.  The peleton is riding through a beautiful river valley in the Dolomites of extreme northern Italy on their way to the final mountain top finish of the 2013 Giro.  They are hopefully seeing snow for the last time this racing season.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2154139---184157/Painting.html#.UaaXk8vD_IU

Giro Day Nineteen: Visconti Goes

Only one climb in Stage 17 but it was enough for Giovanni Visconti to jump away from the peleton in search of Di Luca, Rubiano and Durbridge.  He quickly found each of them and slipped right on by.  I don't know if his intention was a solo break for the line, but when he noticed he was alone at the crest, he certainly went hard for the finish.  He managed to get away from no less than Scarponi, Nibali, Sanchez and Evans.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase in a 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but hurry the auction begins as soon as this post is published.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251279236607

Giro Day Eighteen: Friends Along the Way

This is one of the many reasons that I love the Giro d'Italia, Felline knew that he had friends up the road, so he jumped out of the peleton looking like he was going on an attack to catch up to the break away.  The next time the TV Moto catches him in the lens, he is hugging two friends along the side of the course.  Once the peleton caught back up to him, he kissed the cheeks of his friends jumped back on the bike and got on with the race at hand.  The first time I watched the Giro, it was the birthday of a rider in the peleton and they were going to ride through his home town.  He rode ahead and joined a party on the side of the course.  When the peleton arrived, he handed out pastries to the riders, as they got back to riding they took the trays of desserts with them, making sure everyone had a treat.  When they got to the end of town, they passed the trays to fans and got back to the hard task of the Giro.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series, it was created with cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.Richesonart.com  Also, this work is available for purchase at my artist website, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2153265---184157/Painting.html#.UaVAsMvD_IU

Giro Day Sixteen: An Alpine Valley

France wanted to get in on the beautiful scenery of the Italian race.  This is the peleton heading across the valley as they prepare to climb the Col de Telegraph and the Col du Galibier with the added pleasure of doing it in the snow.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available through a short 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but act quickly, the auction begins as soon as this post is published.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251277823456

Giro Day Sixteen: This Is May?

That has to be the question amongst the peleton given the weather of the last two days.  This is the rear of the peleton riding up the Col du Mont Ceno (I think) across the Italian border into France.  And yes, that is snow along side the riders, and not the unmelted snow bank left from last winter but new snow from the last 36 hours.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series, it was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com   Also, all of these works are available for purchase, first through a brief auction on ebay, just follow the link at the end of this post.  Or later, I will be adding the works to my artist website and you will be able to buy the works there (ebay will be the better deal).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251277781335

Giro Day Thirteen: Pushing Hard with Wiggins Off the Back

With Bradley Wiggins off the back the teams of the other contenders came to the front of the peleton and push the pace up, trying to put as much time between themselves and the 2012 Tour de France winner.  Apparently, Wiggins has said that he has a cold that has been affecting his performance in the race.  Today, he lost another three minutes to the Maglia Rosa wearer, Vicente Nibali.  Ryder Hesjedal, the winner of the 2012 Giro isn't faring much better.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the other works in this series, was created using cake watercolors, brushes and papers from www.richesonart.com  In addition, this work is available for sale on my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but hurry, you wouldn't want someone else to get your painting.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2151523---184157/Painting.html#.UaAr0svD_IU

Giro Day Thirteen: The Gates of the City

The peleton races through towns, highways, valleys and over mountains, and even through the arched gateways of ancient cities.  Omega Pharma Quickstep has come to the front to chase back the break away and set up a sprint for their man, Mark Cavendish.  It is still a long way to go to the finishing line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2151509---184157/Painting.html#.UaAkxMvD_IU

Giro Day Twelve: Driving Hard to Gain Seconds

With 10 kilometers left to race in Stage 11 and only 20 seconds separating 3rd through 6th places, Team Blanco, Lampre and Fantini-Selle Italia, came to the front of the Magila Rosa group and drove hard hoping to get some time splits in the peleton.  Nibali and Evans just stayed with the move and saved their fight for another day.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post, but hurry, you wouldn't want someone else to take your painting home.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2151497---184157/Painting.html#.UaAfVsvD_IU

Giro Day Eleven: Chasing the Move By Sky

Team Sky had the enviable position of being able to play two different cards against the contenders for GC rankings.  Most of the Giro hopefuls are most concerned about Bradley Wiggins and thought that Team Sky would be riding for him when they went to the front of the peleton and drove the pace on the final climb.  However Wiggins began to suffer on the climb so Rigoberto Uran jumped from his pace making position and attacked the peleton.  The contenders looked around for Wiggins and then hesitated when he was at the back of the group.  Once Uran had a good gap other teams that were close to him on GC took up the pace making, but it was to late, he was gone.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website.   Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  But hurry, you wouldn't want someone else to get your painting.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2151053---184157/Painting.html#.UZ7FI8vD_IU

Giro Day Nine: Pressing Their Advantage

As I have said earlier, their are strong rules of conduct and chivalry in the peleton.  Another hard rule is to never attack a competitor when they have had a crash or a mechanical.  The riders want to win by superior strength, team or training and not by superior luck.  However, today when Wiggins was off the back, all of the teams of the major contenders came to the front and drove the pace.  I can only assume that this was because Wiggins was having trouble and had not crashed.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be purchased through my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2150035---184157/Painting.html#.UZwxzM_D_IU

Giro Day Nine: In the Trees

Their are many codes of honor and conduct in the peleton and one of the hard and fast rules is that the team that has the leader's jersey must ride on the front of the peleton.  The only variable is when a break challenges another teams rider, or the sprinter's feel that they have a chance for a win.  This is Team Astana who's team leader is Vincente Nibali the current wearer of the Maglia Rosa.  I was struck by the beauty of the rain drenched forest and the aqua suited cyclist in the fog.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and like all of the works in this series it is created with cake watercolors, brushes, and papers from www.richesonart.com .  This painting is available on my artist website,  just follow the link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2151023---184157/Painting.html#.UZ65isvD_IU

Giro Day Seven: Cadel Under Escort

I am not exactly sure why Cadel had slide back aways in the peleton but given how quickly he was escorted back up through the climbing riders it must have been a mechanical or a chat with the team car.  (A "mechanical" refers to any problem with the bike, from a flat, to a broken chain, whatever deals with the mechanical workings of the machine.)  But given the results of the day, BMC was wise to keep Cadel up around the front of the peleton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by going to my artist website.   Just follow the link at the end of this post and you can get the special momento of the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149251---184157/Painting.html#.UZo6TcvD_IU

Giro Day Seven: Water for the Boys

A domestique is a rider who is the worker bee of the peleton, it is their job to rider as hard as they can until they collapse for the team leader.  It is their job to go back to the team car and gather up water bottles to bring back up to the team.  And it is their job to be part of a winning team or stage and to celebrate with everyone involved in the success of the effort. This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist  website.  Just follow the link at the end of the post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149237---184157/Painting.html#.UZo4KMvD_IU

Giro Day Six: The Catch Is Here

The fate of almost every break away is to be caught and the earlier it forms, the smaller the group, the surer it is to be reeled back in.  Cameron Wurf of Cannondale and Jack Bobridge of Team Blanco put in a valiant effort, but it was to be a day for the sprinters and no break away was going to spoil that.  So the peleton sucked them up with 25 kilometers left to race.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and is available for sale at my artist web site.  Just follow the link at the end of this post to get your original art of the 2013 Giro d'Italia. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149233---184157/Painting.html#.UZo1s8_D_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: Riding for Cavendish

When you have the fastest sprinter in the world on your team and the stage is almost pan flight, it is your job to bring back the morning break away.  Omega Pharma Quickstep went to the front and pulled the peleton for most of the day, and then had the job of putting together a lead out train to launch the Manx Missile towards the line.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard and can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow this direct link to bid.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2149181---184157/Painting.html#.UZmZr8vD_IU

Giro Day Five: BMC Takes Change

The end of Stage 5 saw Cadel Evans (in the red points jersey) and most of Team BMC come to the front of the peleton and storm their way into town.  I am quite sure this move put panic into the hearts of the other major contenders.  Team Sky seems to have missed the action.  The stage could have shook up the standings save for the rather large number of riders that went down on a wet corner with less than a kilometer to go.  Fortunately, several years ago, the rules changed to award all to the riders the same time when their is a crash inside of the last three kilometers.  This rule change has made the end of races considerably safer, but not entirely.  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/2149175---184157/Painting.html#.UZmXksvD_IU