Giro Stage 5: Climbing Alone

Jan Polanc (Lampre Merida) had spend the lion share of the 150 kilometer stage out in front of the peloton in the five man break.  Once the small group hit the 17 kilometer climb up to Abetone and the finish of the stage, Polanc saw his chance to go for the win.  The younger man left the more experienced Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) behind, perhaps relying on the ignorance of youth.

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, www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company located in the upper midwest of the United States.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com for only $50 USD.  And yes, international shipping is available.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553626---184157/Painting.html#.VVP-cCFViko

Giro Stage 5: Where They Belong

Today was the first day that Orica GreenEdge had to do their traditional duty.  It is an unwritten law that the team that holds the leader's jersey must ride on the front of the peloton keeping tabs on the break aways and generally pay homage to the Maglia Rosa.  Orica GreenEdge has been spared their duty by other teams hoping to put their rivals into difficulty.  Today, a truce seemed to have been drawn and the duty fell to the Aussies and their adoptees.  With the early break now 10 minutes past the small down of Bagni di Lucca, it was time to raise the tempo ahead of the coming finishing climb to Abetone.

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, www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply company located in the upper midwest of the United States.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com for only $50 USD.  And yes, international shipping is available.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553620-160-156-184157/Painting/Sports.html#.VVP8iyFViko

Giro Stage 5: Checking the Map

Every team is provided with a race "Bible" that will describe each stage in detail.  For Silvan Dillier, the most important detail is the elevation map of the final climb up to Abetone.  While each rider has a small index card version of the map, Dillier took the opportunity to go over the map with his Director Sportif in the following team car.  After I painting this, I saw him checking his small map several times.  I think he was hoping he could make the climb disappear.

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.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553584---184157/Painting.html#.VVPTQiHBzGc

Giro Stage 5: A Big Welcome

For many small towns along the route, the Giro's arrival is most likely the biggest event to ever happen for miles around.  It seems like every inhabitant of Poggio turned out to see the arrival of the five man breakaway.  I'm sure they stayed to cheer every single member of the peloton, remaining until the broom wagon had passed them by.  Today seemed to be the perfect day to be in the break with the peloton letting these men gain almost eleven minutes.  The best placed member of the group is over nineteen minutes behind the Maglia Rosa of Simon Clarke (Orica GreenEdge).  As they rolled through the cheering crowd, Jan Polanc (Lampre Merida), Silvan Dillier (BMC), Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling), Axel Domont (AG2R) and Seghei Tvetcov (Androni Giocattoli) could entertain thoughts of taking a stage in the 98th edition of the Giro d'Italia.

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.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553582---184157/Painting.html#.VVPRgCHBzGc

Giro Stage 4: That's Embarrassing

22 seconds after the winner of Stage 4, Davide Formolo (Cannondale Garmin), crossed the line, Simon Clarke (Orica GreenEdge) threw his arms in the air celebrating out sprinting the big GC contenders on his wheel.  Just behind him, Giovanni Visconti (Movistar), reached out an tapped Clarke on the butt letting him know that he hadn't won the stage.  In a post race interview, Clarke said he was overcome with emotion knowing that his sprint meant that he was the new bearer of the Maglia Rosa.  He is correct, Orica GreenEdge has now passed the coveted pink fleece to the third member of the team from Australia.  Sliding in well ahead of most of those left in the Giro d'Italia were Fabio Aru (Astana), Amael Moinard (BMC), and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo).

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.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553580---184157/Painting.html#.VVPN-yHBzGc

Giro Stage 4: Holding Them Off

Most everyone was surprised to see the young Italian, Davide Formolo (Cannondale Garmin), hold off some very experience riders on the final climb of Stage 4 into Le Spezia.  Apparently, he proved his abilities last year when he finished just behind Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) in the Italian National Road Racing Championships.  Spoiler alert, Formolo kept the entire peloton at bay taking a solo victory on the streets of Le Spezia 22 seconds ahead of the head of the rest of the field.  Behind Formolo, you can see one of the neutral service vehicles sponsored by Vittoria.  Vittoria is a very familiar logo having donned many of the tires on my road bikes over the years.

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.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553578---184157/Painting.html#.VVPM5yHBzGc

Giro Stage 4: Dishing Out the Pain

Astana had a plan, perhaps taking a page from Tinkoff Saxo's play book.  They put six of the team's nine riders on the front (two more were up the road in the early break).  The boys in turquoise raised the pace to a near lethal level, shedding hopefuls and pretenders alike.  By this point, many of the other contenders were down to one or two teammates (if any) for support.  The move was so strong that Richie Porte (Team Sky), called up his team car in hopes of any ideas on how to respond to the show of strength.  It was a little ironic, considering that setting a vicious pace is modus operundi for Team Sky.

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.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553576---184157/Painting.html#.VVPL8iHBzGc

Giro Stage 4: He's a Good Sport

Most of the peloton at least knows each other, many have ridden on the same teams at some point in their careers, but ultimately, they all know just how hard it is to be a professional cyclist competing in a Grand Tour.  With those that are in a break that is well ahead of other large groups on the road, it can be very difficult for the riders to get drinks, food and help from their team.  There are "neutral service" vehicles, but even they can be difficult to access at times.  With that in mind, Amael Moinard (BMC) kindly reaches over to his competitor, Kanstantsin Siutsou (Team Sky), and gives him a bottle and a gel.  Moinard will need the help of all of the men in the break if their escape is to succeed, so the gesture may also have a bit of a selfish element to it.  The pair are tucked in behind Andrey Zeits (Astana) and another four or five riders in search of another small group that is up the road.

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.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553574---184157/Painting.html#.VVPLYSHBzGc

Giro Stage 4: Keeping Watch

The title of this painting has several different possible interpretations.  The most obvious refers to the race director who is standing on the seat of the race car, poking out of the sunroof so he can keep an eye on the racers, the team cars and all of the other vehicles in the race caravan.  Another version is that the director sportif for Tinkoff Saxo is keeping an eye on his man, Roman Kreuziger.  The final way to look at the title is in reference to the team tactic of putting a man up in the break to keep an eye on the moves and to cover the attacks for their respective team leaders.  So Kreuziger is watching over the break for Alberto Contrador, and Kanstantsin Siutsou (Team Sky) is doing the same for Richie Porte.

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.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553572---184157/Painting.html#.VVPKeiHBzGc

Giro Stage 4: Still Alone?

Attack after attack went from the drop of the start flag, but the peloton seemed in no mood to let anyone get off the front.  Finally, as they approached the first categorized climb of the day, another large breakaway formed and set about the business of leaving the peloton behind.  Eduardo Zardini (Bardiani CSF) decided to pick up where he left off in the previous stage.  As he reached the KOM point, he checked behind one more time, perhaps not believing that he could actually be reaching the summit of the Colla di Velva alone.

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.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553570---184157/Painting.html#.VVPJQSHBzGc