Giro, Stage 3: Getting Up to Speed

With just over eight kilometers left of racing in Israel (for now), it was time for the sprinters' teams to get themselves organized.  With the marque sprint teams trying to hide for now, it was Lotto NL Jumbo, Groupama-FDJ, and Trek Segafredo were the first teams to vie for control of the peloton.  All three were hoping to out smart the season long dominance of Quick Step Floors.

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/3159226-13-249297/PaintingGetting-Up-to-Speed-G18-13.html

Giro, Stage 3: Not Happy

It seemed like Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) had spent the first 125 kilometers talking, and apparently getting more and more frustrated with his break away companions.  As they approached the sole climb of the longest stage of the Giro, he seemed annoyed that the others weren't doing their share of the work.  Almost immediatley after I painted this image, Marco Frapporti (Androni Giorattoli Spidermac) attacked.  Ultimately, he took maximum points at the summit at Foran River, leaving Boivin hoping only to be able to draw even with the leader in the King of the Mountains competition, Enrico Barbin (Bardiani CSF).  Instead it was Barbin taking second over the summit furthering his lead in the Maglia Azzurro.

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/3159149-12-249297/PaintingNot-Happy--G18-12.html

Giro, Stage 3: Something to Talk About

The pair on the front of this three man break away had some issues to discuss from yesterday's stage.  Enrico Barbin (Bardiani CSF) had managed to bridge across from the peloton at the base of the first climb of this Giro.  That was fine, but in so doing he also got to the top of the climb just ahead of the Israel Cycling Academy rider, Guillame Boivin.  That meant that today, Boivin had to go with Barbin on another break in hopes of bettering the Italian on today's sole climb. This early King of the Mountains jersey was the best hope for the home team to have a leader's jersey.  Marco Frapponti (Androni Giocattoli-Spidermac) was happy to get on the wheels of two motivated (although a bit irrateable adversaries).  Today's stage took the peloton into the dessert and to the southern most city of Eilat, not quite the lush hills of Tucsany.

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/3159114-11-249297/PaintingSomething-to-Talk-About--G18-11.html

Giro, Stage 2: Out Sprinting Them All

Leaving it a bit late clearly didn't keep Elia Viviani (Quick Step) from claiming victory in the first road stage of this Giro d'Italia.  Viviani jumped onto the wheel of Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Trestina - Selle Italia) and as Mareczko faded, Viviani road up the barrier to victory.  Mareczko just held off a fast closing Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) for second, with the Irishman taking third on the day.  Just off the podium, but into the painting is Sacho Bonifazio (EF Education First-Drapac) taking fifth.  None of these men effected the destination of the Maglia Rosa, that was taken over by Rohan Dennis (BMC) thanks to his taking the second intermediate sprint (and the 3 second time bonus) out on course.

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/3158053-10-249297/PaintingOut-Sprinting-Them-All--G18-10.html

Giro, Stage 2: LIfting the Pace

With just seven and a half kilometers to the finish of the first road stage, it was time to try and line out the peloton.  Maunele Boaro (Bahrain Merida) and his teammate Domenico Pozzovivo vied for control at the front with Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin).  Martin had stretched the group out as they came out of the first two tight ninety degree turns.  He was using his famed time trial skills to keep his team's GC man save on the run in to the finish.  Boaro was trying to set up Pozzovivo for the stage win.  I will admitt that I enjoy that there are two Arab based teams racing through the streets of Israel to the cheers of crowds all along the course.

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/3158047-9-249297/PaintingLifting-the-Pace--G18-9.html

Giro, Stage 2: Water Boy

At first it looked like Christian Knees (Sky) was going on an attack to join the lone rider up the road.  Instead, with just 26 kilometer to race, he was trying to get across the peloton to grab bags of water bottles from his soigneur.  Having communicated his intentions to Remi Cavagna (Quick Step Floors), he was allowed to get ahead of the group, before sliding back down the peloton passing out bidons to his teammates.  I like that Team Sky uses brilliant yellow bags (not a team color) to help their guys find the soigneurs along the road.

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/3158043-8-249297/PaintingWater-Boy--G18-8.html

Giro, Stage 2: Trying Again

After having been thwarded in his first attempt at a break away, and on the climb of the Zikhron Ya'Agov, Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) went off the front of the peloton again.  With over 37 kilometers left to the line in Tel Aviv, it was perhaps a fool hardy effort.  But for the team, it was a chance to show their colors to the Israeli fans along the roads, and the millions watching around the world.  Again, it was unlikely that the ProTour teams sprinter's were going to let a lone attack succeed.

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/3158039-7-249297/PaintingTrying-Again--G18-7.html

Giro, Stage 2: They're Back There

The first road stage of the 101st Giro d'Italia featured the required early break.  Today it was three riders who got off the front, but it seemed that the sprinters were in no mood to let them get to far up the road.  After the time trial riders were very close together on the General Classification so the time bonuses at the intermediate sprints could well effect who would take over the Maglia Rosa from Tome Dumoulin (Team Sunweb).  Lars Bak (Lotto Soudal - although they race as Lotto Fix-all at the Giro) peers over his shoulder trying to catch a glimpse of the closing peloton.  All three were hoping to stay away to the top of the only catagorized climb (the King of the Mountain jersey would belong to whomever gets to the top first).  Leading the trio is Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) followed by Davide Ballerini (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermac).  Alas, none of these claimed the Maglia Azzure of the KOM competition.  So it goes.

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/3158038-6-249297/PaintingThey're-Back-There--G18-6.html

Giro, Stage 1: A Strong Defense

It may be the first time that a rider has won the final time trial of a race to claim the leader's jersey, and then won the first stage of the next year's race to claim the leader's jersey again, but that is exactly what Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) did today.  Dumoulin will trade his rainbow stripes of UCI Time Trial World Champion for the Maglia Rosa of leader of the 101st Giro d'Italia.  His advantage over the erstwhile leader, Rohan Dennis (BMC) was just two seconds, with third place Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Soudal) on equal time as Dennis.  Sorry, that I can't get everyone painted.  Chris Froome (Sky) who had crashed during warm-ups, finished 17th on the day a full thirty seconds behind the race leader.  Froome is hoping to make this is third grand tour victory in a row - there is 20 more days of racing to se if that will happen.

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/3157946-5-249297/PaintingA-Strong-Defense-G18-5.html

Giro, Stage 1: Beginning His Campaign

Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) hit the streets of Jerusalem with a new determination to his time trialing efforts.  Pinot, the darling of French cycling, as greatly improved his race against the clock, enough to claim seventh when he finished and eight place at the end of the day.  It was exciting to see so many out on the street of Jerusalem watching each man race around the 9.7 kilometer course.  Most where capturing the moment with their cellphones (or trying to capture the requiste selfie) and many had ridden their own bikes down to the race course - or at least I hope that is why the one spectator is wearing a cycling helmet.

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/3157940-4-249297/PaintingBeginning-HIs-Campaign-G18-4.html