The Art of Cycling: January 2024

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: Leaving No Doubt

Much was made about how the final climb up Mount Lofty and the end of the stage might play out. Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech) had started the day tied with Oscar Onley (DSM-Firmenish-PostNL) and just a five second lead on Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers). But as they sprinted for the line, Williams was able to get around Narvaez (and the rest of those looking to take either the stage or the jersey) to claim the stage, a ten second time bonus, and the 2024 Tour Down Under. While Narvaez claimed second and a six second bonus it left him in second place overall. Finishing the stage in third thus moving himself in third was a former wearer of the Ochre Jersey, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates). Bart Lemmen (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished in fourth on the day, and fifth in the Tour. Just peeping in behind this group was the man who started the finale attacks, Laurence Pithie (Groupaman-FDJ).

This is the finale of the Tour Down Under. I will be back painting some of the Spring Classics and Monuments over the coming months. But now it is on to finishing a cycling art commission and then preparing for an exhibition of my large scale figurative works at the end of March in Richmond, VA.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996273-205-194179/Painting/leaving-no-doubt.-tdu23-28.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: The Fight for Ochre

Inside of the final three kilometers of the climb of Mount Lofty, it was time to make a play for the Ochre Jersey of race leader. Having covered the first attack the erstwhile leader of the Tour Down Under, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) found himself on the front being covered by the former Spanish Champion, Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers). The Spaniard was just five seconds behind the lead of Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech), so Williams was staying glued to his wheel in hopes of keeping his leader’s jersey. Now tacked onto the back was the guy who started the attacks, Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) who still had hopes of winning the final stage of the 2024 Tour Down Under.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996272-204-194179/Painting/the-fight-for-ochre.-tdu24-27.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: Flick of the Elbow

With the peloton bearing down on the remnants of the break away Stephan De Bod (EF Education-EasyPost) encouraged his companions to press on. He is giving a flick of his elbow to let the guy behind him, Gil Gelders (Soudal-Quick Step) to pull through and keep the attempt going. Tucked onto Gelders’ wheel was Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates) followed by Franck Bonnamour (Decathlon-Ag2r-Mondale). Just to their right you can just make out Jacopo Mosca (Lidl-Trek) who has just swung off in surrender to the fast closing peloton on the outskirts of Sterling. The town marks the start of climb of Mount Lofty. At one point De Bod was the virtual leader of the Tour Down Under, but with five kilometers left to race, that honor had gone out the window.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996271-203-194179/Painting/flick-of-the-elbow.-tdu24-26.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: All Working Together

The early break away finally got established and set about working together to build a three and a half minute lead over the following peloton. At this point Franck Bonnamour (Decathlon-Ag2r-Mondale) was slipping off the front as the veteran Simon Gerschler (Cofidis) prepares to take over the pace making duties for the seven allies. Behind Geschke is Jacopo Mosca (Lidl-Trek). Maurice Ballerstedt (Alpecin-Deceuninck) had finished his turn on front and was sliding to the back to get a bit of rest before rolling through again. Later Ballerstedt stopped taking turns and just hung onto the back of the group, perhaps feeling the kilometers they had already ridden this week building up in his legs.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996270-202-194179/Painting/all-working-together.-tdu24-25.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: Not Letting Anyone Go

It was a constant escape and catch up the first climb in the opening kilometers of the final stage of the Tour Down Under. The duo of Jacopo Mosca (Lidl-Trek) and Stefan De Bod (EF Education-EasyPost) did finally manage to slip the grip of the peloton on the descent of the Windy Point climb. As they pressed on, Gil Gelders (Soudal-Quick Step) can be seen bridging up from the peloton. The trio was eventually joined by four more hopefuls out to the peloton. The stage ends with three climbs up to the top of Mount Lofty, so any chance of getting an early start on the climbers had to be worth the effort.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996269-201-194179/Painting/not-letting-anyone-go.-tdu24-24.html

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Tour Down Under, Stage 5: Anonymous No More!

I should explain the title. The race director for DSM-Firmenich-PostNL had been frustrated with out absent his team had been in the first four stages, but with the stage win by Oscar Onley took care of that. He is now on equal time with the new Ochre Jersey, and the new owner of the White Jersey of best young rider. He is just barely behind the guy who was just behind him on the stage, Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech). Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers) takes second on the stage moving himself into third overall in this Tour Down Under. It was then Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) who faded after putting a sprint in to get over the King of the Mountains line first. I’m convinced he thought that was the finish line and not the line 400 meters up the road. He did move himself into fifth overall, so not a bad day out for the two time world champion. Shadowing the Frenchman was Bart Lemmen on the newly renamed Visma-Lease a Bike. Who now sits just behind Alaphilippe on the general classification.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996157-200-194179/Painting/anonymous-no-more-tdu24-23.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 5: Time to Climb

The sprinters have had four days to show off their skill sets, now it is time for the climbers to shine. With the last member of the early break away caught at the base of Willunga Hill, it was time for the climbers and general classification riders to stake their claims for the final Ochre Jersey come tomorrow. The first to truly go on the offensive was no surprise. At the steepest part of the climb it was Simon Yates (Jayco-Alula) who dug deep to get away from the peloton. He was joined in the effort first by Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers), followed by Bart Lemmon (Visma-Lease a Bike) rides side by side with Oscar Onley (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL). I (and many other cycling fans) was thrilled to see Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) matching the acceleration pedal stroke for pedal stroke.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996143-199-194179/Painting/time-to-climb.-tdu24-22.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 5: Crowning Himself King

First, I am not a fan of this “polka dot jersey.” I can’t even see any polka dots, can you? Nevertheless, Luke Burns (Australia) went over the summit of Willunga Hill, and claimed the maximum King of the Mountain points on offer. Just behind him is Jardi Christian Van Der Lee (EF Edcuation-EasyPost) who is second in the competition, but now has now chance of taking over the lead by the end of the Tour Down Under. It seems appropriate to paint him becoming this year’s Tour Down Under’s King of the Mountians as he rides over the street art crown at the summit of the climb. All he has left to do is finish both today’s and tomorrow’s stages inside of the time limit. Alas, in cycling as in life, there are no guarantees.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996141-198-194179/Painting/crowning-himself-king.-tdu24-21.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 5: Riding Away

Casper Pedersen (Soudal-Quick Step) had been the first to leave the peloton, so it seemed fitting for him to decide that he would be the last to be caught. As he neared the outskirts of the town of Willunga, he simple road away from his erstwhile break away companions. Known as a sprinter, he may well have been giving himself as big of a head start up the climb as possible. With 32 kilometers to race, 12 of which would be going up the Willunga Hill, it is truly unlikely that he will stay off the front alone. The climbers have been letting the sprinters show their stuff for the last four days, they are about to hold back when the terrain falls into their comfort zone.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996133-197-194179/Painting/riding-away.-tdu24-20.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 5: First Ones to the Beach

When I titled this painting of the early break away, I forgot that the stage had started at the beach at Christie’s Beach. So I guess this painting of Samuele Battistella (Astana-Qazaqstan), Johan Jacobs (Movistar), Liam Walsh (Australia), and Casper Pedersen (Soudal-Quick Step) should have been titled the “First Ones Back to the Beach.” The break was started by Pedersen about ten kilometers into the stage. By the time they came back to Snapper Point the foursome had built up a two and a half minute gap on the peloton with another 93 kilometers to race. With the sting in the tail of the stage, they may have just been trying to get to the back to back climbs of Willunga Hill to finish the stage.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996114-196-194179/Painting/first-ones-to-the-beach.-tdu24-19.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 4: His Third!

Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe) wearing the blue sprinter’s jersey claimed his third stage of this year’s Tour Down Under. And he did it on his 28th birthday. Not a bad present to give himself. Most likely, all he has to do is finish the next two stages inside of the time limit, he will be claim the title of best sprinter in the 2024 Tour Down Under. The only one who could upset that plan is the guy who finished second today, Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty). The Eritrean is a much better climber that the average sprinter, so he does have a slim chance of closing the points gap to Welsford in the finals two stages of the Tour.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996044-195-194179/Painting/his-third-tdu24-18.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 4: We Tried

After 120 kilometers Jackson Medway (Team Australia) and Vinicius Rangel (Movistar) could see the peloton in the distance closing down their break away attempt. The pair shook hands to celebrate the effort and collaboration in what was a doomed effort for a stage victory. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996043-194-194179/Painting/we-tried.-tdu24-17.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 4: Bringing the Jersey Back

I had watched the leader pull off the front of the peloton for what appeared to be a “nature break.” Moments later I noticed Isaac Del Toro’s (UAE Team Emirates) teammate, Antonio Morgado pulled off to wait for the Ochre Jersey that demarks the leader of the Tour Down Under. Morgado suddenly zoomed back into frame with Del Toro tucked on to his wheel as the camera filmed the tail end of the peloton. Piet Allegaert (Cofidis) - who had crashed earlier - was struggling to hold onto the wheel of Baumé Mollema (Lidl-Trek). Max Kanter (Astana-Qazaqstan) was another that was finding the pace of the peloton just a bit to fast for their liking. Perhaps they were just trying to do as little as possible to be fresh for the two final tough days of the Tour.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996038-193-194179/Painting/bringing-the-jersey-back.-tdu24-16.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 4: No Contest

It is not uncommon for those in a small break away to share the prizes available out on course, but this duo of Vinicius Rangel (Movistar) and Jackson Medway (Team Australia) didn’t even feign interest in the first intermediate sprint, nor again when they came to the second sprint in Strathalbyn. In fact that seemed only too willing to work hard together in hope of the peloton getting the chase wrong.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996035-192-194179/Painting/no-contest.-tdu24-15.html

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Tour Down Under, Stage 4: And Now There Are Three

After launching an early break away, Jackson Medway (Australia) was quickly joined by Pieter Sherry (Soudal-Quick Step). About ten kilometers into that duo’s effort, Medway looked back to find that they had been joined by the Brazilian Vinicius Rangel (Movistar). Making it a group of three off the front of the peloton by less than half of a minute. As soon as Sorry welcomed Rangel into the group he radio his team car. Whether he was told to drop out of the break, or was telling his team director that he was going to, Serry sat up, and went to the side of the road for a “nature break.” I suspect that the seasoned pro didn’t see the point in a huge effort that was doomed to fail on such a day clearly marked as the last day for the sprinters. What ever the reason, the break away went back down to two riders just as quickly as it had become three. I never did see Sorry for the rest of the stage.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3996034-191-194179/Painting/and-now-there-are-three.-tdu24-14.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 3: Time to Celebrate

Long time followers of my cycling art will know that I love to go for puns and multiple interpretations in the titles of my paintings. This is just such an example. It can be read as having won the stage, Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe) had enough time to celebrate his second stage victory in this edition of the Tour Down Under, or now that he has crossed the line ahead of Elia Viviani (Ineos-Grenadiers) it is time to celebrate another stage victory. Unlike his win on the first day of the Tour, he won’t be pulling on the Ochre Jersey of race leader this time. However, he will be pulling on the Blue Jersey of the best sprinter in the race (sometimes referred to as the points jersey).

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995929-190-194179/Painting/time-to-celebrate.-tdu24-13.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 3: Pile Up

I don’t normally paint crashes, but this pile up caught my eye. As the peloton flew down the Gorge Road back into Campbelltown, someone touched wheels and down went most of the Astana Qazaqstan team. Christian Scaroni was the first of the team to get back up on his bike. He watched and waited for his teammates, Michele Gazzoli and Samuele Battistella, to get untangled hoping none were seriously injured. They weren’t. Some where under under the pile is the Australian Champion, Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula). Everyone was able to get back up and finish the stage, but with just ten kilometers to the line and the peloton flying to the finish, they weren’t going to be coming in with the pack. If fact, three of them finished almost ten minutes behind the winner of the stage.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995923-189-194179/Painting/pile-up.-tdu24-12.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 3: What’s the Plan?

Once Tristan Saunders’ teammate claimed the max points on offer for the King of the Mountains in the stage, it was Axel Marrault (Cofidis) asking what the plan was for the rest of the trio left off the front of the peloton. Stefan De Bod (EF Education-EasyPost) was just getting on with the business at hand despite the conversation behind. The group had over three minutes on the peloton, but over another 100 kilometers to race on a stage designed for the sprinters seem to indicate that these three didn’t have much hope of caring there break away all of the way to victory in Campbelltown.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995894-188-194179/Painting/whats-the-plan-tdu24-11.html

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Tour Down Under, Stage 2: Surprising You All

The twenty year old Mexican member of United Team Emirates, Issac Del Toro, jumped out of peloton and around the duo of Quinn Simmons and Bastien Tronchon. He quickly built a fifteen second gap, leaving him time to look back as the sprinters did all they could to catch him. His move ruined the plan of Israel Premier Tech that had tried to give the stage to their sprinter, Corbin Strong. Corbin’s teammate Stephen Williams was just behind his sprinter claiming third on the day. Behind the Israel Premier Tech duo, it was Ruben Guerrero (Movistar) was unable to get around the marquee sprinters that were able to hold onto the peloton. With the dropping of the Ochre Jersey, Del Toro’s win, he now moves into the lead of the Tour Down Under. Likewise, Strong’s second place moved him into second place on the general classification.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995732-186-194179/Painting/weve-got-a-gap.-tdu24-9.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 2: We’ve Got a Gap

Once the first attempt at a an escape was reeled back in, it was the American Champion, Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) went on the offensive. He was joined by Bastien Tronchon in the new kit of Decathlon-Ag2r-Mondiale. I must admit that I already miss the brown shorts. Much to Simmons’ frustration, Tronchon seemed unwilling to help in the escape, perhaps fearing the closing speed of the guy in the Stars and Stripes. With four kilometers to go, the peloton was a mere 50 meters behind them, so without cooperation their efforts would likely be in vain.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995732-186-194179/Painting/weve-got-a-gap.-tdu24-9.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 2: Ramping It Up

Using the final ascent of the Fox Creek climb the trio of Luke Plapp (Jayco-Alula), Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) and Jonathan Narvaez (Ineos-Grenadiers) jumped off the front of the peloton all in hopes of stealing the sprinters thunder in just another eight and a half kilometers. Moments after I painted this, Alaphilippe swung off unable to hold the pace of the Australian Champion.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995731-185-194179/Painting/ramping-it-up.-tdu24-8.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 2: Last Call

It might be that I work as a bartender, but I couldn’t resist the urge to title this painting as though it was the last chance for Jardi Christian Van Der Lee (EF Educationi-EasyPost) to get a drink from his team car. It may have been the last chance for his team car to get up to him in the break away, since the peloton had closed within a minute and a half of the early two man break. The official last chance for riders to get a drink from the team is normally twenty kilometers left to ride. At this point Van Der Lee had another 30 kilometers to try and hold off those chasing behind.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995729-184-194179/Painting/last-call.-tdu24-7.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 2: Attacking the Climb

This duo of Jardi Christian Van Der Lee (EF Education-EasyPost) and Luke Burns (Team Australia) had gotten away almost from the very start of the 141 kilometer stage. With another 78 K to ride, Luke Burns jumped away from his break away companion to go over the top of the Fox Creek Climb in first. In so doing, he claimed the virtual King of the Mountains jersey. Later, he went over again, thus ensuring that he will be wearing the polka dots for at least two days. Van Der Lee did take the intermediate sprints. I’ll have to wait and see if he is wearing the red numbers of most aggressive rider in today’s stage tomorrow. The pair had built up a six minute advantage over the peloton, but with 78 to go, their gapped had dropped to just under three and a half minutes.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995711-183-194179/Painting/attacking-the-climb.-tdu24-6.html

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Tour Down Under, Stage 1: It Takes a Team

It was Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe) that took the first stage of the Tour Down Under, and the first Ochre Jersey of race leader, but his celebration was joined by his lead out man Danny Van Poppel. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) just held off the fast closing Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Victorious) for second on the stage and the general classification. The Australian sprinter, Caleb Ewan (Jayco-Alula) faded to fourth, perhaps due to the lingering effects of an earlier stomach virus. Having just gotten over one myself, I tip my hat to him finishing so high up after 144+ kilometers.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995522-182-194179/Painting/it-takes-a-team.-tdu24-5.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 1: Getting Ready

With just five kilometers left to race, it was time to get the teams’ sprinters into position. Two of whom were keeping a close eye on each other. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) was riding just behind Caleb Ewan (Jayco-Alula) whom he saw as his biggest competition in the sprint finale in Tanuda. Ahead of the sprinting duo was on of the domestics for Soudal-Quick Step, Antoine Huby, and behind another for Intermache-Wanty, Dion Smith (not the American football star of years gone by).

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995520-181-194179/Painting/getting-ready.-tdu24-4.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 1: First Pro Tour, First Jersey

As I have already mentioned, this is Louis Barre’s (Arkea-B&B Hotels) first Pro Tour race. Today, he honored his debut by getting into the break away that stuck for most of the final kilometers of the opening stage of the Tour Down Under. With his effort, he has now done enough to claim the first King of the Mountains Jersey in the 2024 TDU. After getting over Mengler Hill first for the second time, he is congratulated by his break away companion, Georg Zimmerman (Intermache-Wanty). Both are debutantes to the opening Tour of the season, and both made a mark on their first day in South Australia.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995482-180-194179/Painting/first-pro-tour-first-jersey.-tdu24-3.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 1: No Time to Stop

After multiple break aways, and multiple attempts by Louis Barre (Arkea-B&B Hotels) finally got into a break with Georg Zimmerman (Intermache-Wanty) that actually was able to open up a good side gap on the rather relaxed peloton behind. The pair seemed to be willing to but in the effort to stay away, and to share the prizes out on the road. It is the first time in the Tour Down Under for both men, and the very first Pro Tour race for the Frenchman, Barre. Not a bad debut for either rider.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995481-179-194179/Painting/no-time-to-stop.-tdu24-2.html

Tour Down Under 24, Stage 1: Worth a Shot

The Pro Tour starts with the Tour Down Under, as riders flee the freezing temperatures of Europe for the heat of the Australian Summer. With most of the the 140 plus kilometer stage yet to race, it was a bit early for Jardi Christian Van Der Lee (EF Education-EasyPost) to attempt a solo break away, but then it could have worked out should others have joined him in the effort. Still, I and the rest of us, know he is in this year’s Tour Down Under.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995480-178-194179/Painting/worth-a-shot.-tdu24-1.html