Tour Down Under, Stage 6: No Organization

As the peloton got into the final two kilometers it seemed that all of the sprint teams lost control of the group at once.  All of this Tour and surely all season long at this point it will be two or three teams all lined out with their sprinters tacked onto the end of the train.  Today they was barely a pair of teammates together at the crest of the hill one and a half kilometers from the line.  Cameron Meyer (Mitchelton-Scott) kept pushing on figuring his teammates who regain his wheel.  He needed to deliver Caleb Ewan and his lead out man (and race leader) Daryl Impey onto the finishing straight.  Every other leadout man was jumping around trying to get their men back together.  At this point it was anyone's race, both for the stage and for the entire Tour.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. To purchase this artwork, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3099887-117-194179/PaintingNo-Organization-TDU18-30.html

Tour Down Under Stage 4: Is He Gone

Almost to script Cameron Meyer (UniSA-Australia) launched an attack against his other two break away companions  Jack Bauer (Quickstep) was able to counter and eventually pull back up to the wheel of the Australian rider however Ondrej Cink (Bahrain Merida) wasn't able to hold the wheels of his erstwhile companions.  As Bauer caught up with Meyer the pair had a quick chat and decided to press on in hopes that the peloton would be happy to have Cink back and would let them ride for the stage victory.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20Down%20Under/2907539-116-194179/PaintingIs%20He%20Gone?%20TDU17-18.html#.WIG7__krLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 4: A 10% Chance

The race commentators, Paul Sherwen, Phil Ligget and Robbie McEwan all gave these three break away riders about a ten percent chance of succeeding in staying off the front of the peloton.  Part of the problem is that Ondrej Cink (Bahrain-Merida) is only 57 seconds off of the race lead, so the BMC led peloton wasn't about to let him or Cameron Meyer (UniSA-Australia) nor Jack Bauer (Quickstep) get too much of a gap.  Perhaps if Cink wasn't with them the percentage chance of success might go up

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be 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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20Down%20Under/2907524-115-194179/PaintingA%2010%20%20Chance%20TDU17-17.html#.WIG5xPkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 2: They're Here

Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) had already slipped back to the comfort of the bunch, thus helping to ensure that Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia) would get to keep the leader's Ochre Jersey for another day.  So it was with a small show of defiance that the remaining two soldiered on off the front of the rather serious peloton.  Campbell Flakemore (BMC) looks back over his shoulder to confirm that his and Cameron Meyer's (Orica-GreenEdge) efforts were truly doomed to failure.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

If you are enjoying discovering the story of this race through these paintings, be sure to discover my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available online world wide.  Just google the title to discover where you can order your copy free of international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2499474---194179/Jewelry.html#.VL_Qq005DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 2: Climbing Pass the Fans

The three man break away hit the climb and the beginning of a three lap circuit with almost two and a half minutes on the chasing peloton.  The fans lining what will eventually be the finishing strait were going to be treated to the flashing colors of the fast moving cyclist several times before knowing who would take the stage.  These three, Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), who has one the Tour Down Under before, along with Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) and Campbell Flakemore (BMC) were hoping the GC men were going to make another mistake.  De Gendt, by virtue of his two intermediate sprint wins, was in a good position to take away the Ochre Jersey from Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia).  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com for only $50 USD.  Yes, international shipping is available.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

If you enjoy this kind of visual cycling story telling, check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France"  Ask your local bookseller, or google the title to find out where you can purchase a copy worldwide.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2499470---194179/Painting.html#.VL_OT005DIU

Tour Stage Five: Bag Lunch

In an average stage or single day race, a bike racer will burn roughly 6,000 calories during the race.  If you add in the 1,500-2,000 calories of a normal day for the average person, these racers need to eat a great deal of food, and we are not talking fries, burgers and ice cream cones.  Besides carefully considered breakfasts and dinners, the riders will go through a feed zone on every road stage.  In the feed zone the riders will grab a musette (a canvas bag full of special energy drinks, bars and some tasty treat to make them happy.  The zone can be a very dangerous area with racers concentrating on finding their team worker, grabbing the bag and then rifling through its contents.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours through a visit to my artist web site.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2178281---186227/Painting.html#.UeHzi8vD_IU