Giro Stage 3: Tickled Pink

Winning a stage in one of the three Grand Tours is a rare moment in any professional cyclist career. To win one while wearing the Tour's leader's jersey is a special moment indeed.  So it was for Michael Matthews (Orica GreenEdge) as he threw his arms wide in the pure joy of the accomplishment.  Matthews held off Fabio Felline (Trek Factory Racing) and Philippe Gilbert (BMC).  Gilbert had been collecting points and bonus seconds along the road apparently targeting the  Giro's Sprinter's Jersey (although he didn't make it into this painting).  Just missing the podium in Sestri Levante is Francesco Gavazzi (Southeast).

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my artists website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 98th Giro d'Italia.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553050---184157/Painting.html#.VVGNWiHBzGc

Giro Stage 3: Looking for the Peloton

Pavel Kochetkov (Katusha) was caught on the descent off of the Barbagelata by Simon Clarke (Orica GreenEdge), Adam Hansen (Lotto Soudal) and Maciej Paterski (CCC Sprandi).  The foursome could feel the charging peloton as they approached the 5 K to go banner.  Paterski took the opportunity to look back as he swung off the front of the group.  Hansen was hoping to mark his birthday by giving himself a stage victory in the Giro d'Italia.  The peloton didn't seem to be in a generous mood as it hunted down the escapees.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my artists website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 98th Giro d'Italia.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553048---184157/Painting.html#.VVGKmiHBzGc

Giro Stage 3: Over He Goes

As the break slogged its way up the six kilometer long climb up the Baragelata, it was Pavel Kochetkov (Katusha) who jumped away from his compatriots to claim the maximum King of the Mountain points on offer.  His effort not only distanced the others, it also ensured that he would be on the podium in Sestri Levante to receive the Azure Blue King of the Mountains jersey.  It is amazing to be able to see one of the TV Moto camera men in action.  These talented and brave videographers will stand on the rear pegs of their motorcycles to capture the powerful images that reveal the story of the race.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my artists website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 98th Giro d'Italia.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553046---184157/Painting.html#.VVGIICHBzGc

Giro Stage 3: Bridging Across

As the peloton drew close to the remnants of the break away, Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani CSF) jumped out of the crowd and went in search of the smaller group up the road.  The Italian managed to catch on to the tail of the break escorted by one of the many enthusiastic fans, or tifosi, who run beside the riders yelling encouragement (all sometimes the yells can turn ugly).  Fans will line almost every kilometer of the entire race, often drinking for hours as they wait for their heroes to speed by.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my artists website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 98th Giro d'Italia.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553044---184157/Painting.html#.VVGEviHBzGc

Giro Stage 3: A Helping Hand

Bike racing is a team sport, and that plays out in many different ways.  For Luca Chirico (Bardiani CSF), it was his teammate, Eduardo Zardini, who reached out and gave Luca a push when the diminutive Italian had a problem with his gears.  Silvan Dillier (BMC) kept a sharp eye on the Bardiani men making sure that their efforts didn't entangle him or disrupt his rhythm on the climb.  Sure enough, the Swiss rider was forced to break to avoid Chirico, before the little man got his bike functioning again.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my artists website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 98th Giro d'Italia.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553042---184157/Painting.html#.VVGCsSHBzGc

Giro Stage 3: Two Italians

Stage 3 of the 98th Giro was the first to feature a Category 2 climb and it was a very short day in the saddle.  The peloton had only to cover 136 kilometers of a rather jagged terrain, the last 20 of which were almost pancake flat.  After a flurry of attacks, a rather large break away of roughly twenty riders formed off the front of the Tinkoff Saxo lead peloton.  With such a big group, it was inevitable that some of its members would try to scurry up the road on their own.  This pair of Italians, comprised of Diego Ulissi (Lampre Merida) and Davide Villella (Cannondale Garmin) dreamed of giving a second stage win to the home country.

This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family owned art supply company located in Wisconsin.  The painting is also available for purchase through my artists website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 98th Giro d'Italia.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553040---184157/Painting.html#.VVF_viHBzGc

Giro Stage 2: Salute

The sprint into Genova was not quite as straight forward as it appeared to be on the race handbook.  The profile showed what appeared to be a flat finish, but instead the final 600 meters was a bit of a drag up to the line.  Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) was the first to launch his sprint, but the rise in the road proved to be too much for the legs of the German National Champion.  The finale was taken by the Italian, Elia Viviani (Team Sky) who popped out from the wheel of the fast man from LottoNL Jumbo, Moreno Hofland.  Tucked in behind the top finishers on the stage was the White Jersey (best placed under 24 rider in the race) of Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge).  His seventh place finished was good enough for the Aussie to exchange his White Jersey for the Pink Jersey of the Overall Leader of the 98th Giro d'Italia.  Salute!

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com, as is all of my cycling art. To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2552494---184157/Painting.html#.VU_oOyHBzGc

Giro Stage 2: Pressing Their Advantage

An oft sited mantra of the multi stage race, is to stay safe by riding at the front.  This mantra is even more important to heed on the first couple of stages when riders are nervous and a good ride can result in a leader's jersey.  With the second large crash of the day catching out some of the early contenders for the overall title, Alberto Contrador's team, Tinkoff Saxo, hit the front of the splintered peloton and drove both the pace and their advantage.  The team's of the sprinters were quite happy to let Tinkoff Saxo raise the pace and save them the energy of sticking their noses into the wind.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com, as is all of my cycling art. To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2552488---184157/Painting.html#.VU_lYiHBzGc

Giro Stage 2: First Over the First

The opening road stage of the 98th Giro d'Italia featured just one small Category 4 climb, but the first over the climb would also win the first King of the Mountains' jersey of the race.  The early five man break attacked each other on the way up the climb, but it was Bert-Jen Linderman (LottoNL Jumbo) who had the legs to claim the points at the summit.  The Dutchman was followed over the rise by Lukasz Owsian (CCC Spandi) with the moment being caught by the TV cameraman standing on the rear of TV Moto 1.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com, as is all of my cycling art. To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2552486---184157/Painting.html#.VU_jQCHBzGc

Giro Stage 2: Time to Chat

With apologies to the teams that raced so beautifully as one in the opening stage of the Giro d'Italia, I have only started recording my artistic impressions of my favorite of the Grand Tours with the first open road stage of the 98th running of the "Fight for Pink."  I have had some personal family issues that have distracted me and taken most of the last four weeks to bring to conclusion.  But now, on to today's stage to Genova.  As per usual, the day was marked with an early break that sucked up all of the intermediate sprint victories, but left a few points remaining for the peloton.  Trek Factory Racing seemed to be interested in getting as many of the crumbs as possible.  These two had some time to talk a little strategy on the way to the line.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family owned art supply company in Wisconsin, USA, that have some very wonderful media to chose from.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is 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.  International shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2552484-142-138-184157/Painting/Sports.html#.VU_gcSHBzGc