Tour Down Under: Where Are They? Stage 5

With three out of the four from the original break surprising the peloton by getting over the Old Willunga Hill climb without getting caught.  As they started back down the other side hitting speeds of 100 kph, Matteo Trentin (OPQS) kept looking over his should trying to find the peloton charging up behind.  Jens Voight, on the front, just kept stomping out the rhythm letting the catch come when it may.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of Jens' last season.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2298903---194179/Painting.html#.UuSeXM8o7IU

Tour Down Under: Checking the Time, Stage 5

Even with race radio and two way communication between the riders and their team cars, there is still two people on a motorcycle going from group to group on the road showing the time splits on a chalkboard (or in this case a wipe board).  Today's break was comprised of the old man of the peloton, Jens Voight (Trek) as well as, Mikhail Ignatyev (Katusha), Juan Jose Lobato (Moviestar) and Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma Quickstep) who managed to build up an advantage of nearly 10 minutes before the teams of the contenders decided it was far enough.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of Voight's final season.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2298899---194179/Painting.html#.UuScG88o7IU

Tour Down Under: Can I Get a Drink?, Stage 3

With temperatures in the nineties it is important for the riders to keep their fluids high, without it they risk cramps, bonking and losing the ability to recover before racing the next day.  While the riders have two way radios to keep in touch with their Director Sportif, it is still tradition for the racer to raise his arm to call the team car forward.  The break as already dropped Jerome Cousin, who coming from winter in Europe, had not acclimated to the heat of the Australian summer.  So now the break is down to Grivko (Astana), Voight (Trek) and Meyer (Drapac).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2297191---194179/Painting.html#.UuHbT88o7IU

Tour Down Under: Rolling Along, Stage 3

With a steep climb of Corkscrew Hill facing the peloton at the end of a longer day in the saddle, it took some strong riders to hope to stay away to the finish.  The big guy at the back is one of the strongest, Jens Voight (Trek) along with the Astana rider, Andriy Grivko.  They were joined (actually they joined) Travis Meyer (Drapac) who got the break started and Jerome Cousin (Europcar), but it was the two veterans that weren't caught until the wind up to the final climb.  The peloton and the breaks are escorted by their team cars (complete with spare bikes and wheels) and a race referee.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors from www.richesonart.com   In addition it can be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2297147---194179/Painting.html#.UuHXtM8o7IU

Tour Stage Three: Sweeping Down Together

Radio Shack Leopard, spent most of the day on the front of the peloton doing the job of pacing the peloton, even if a BMC rider has slip out to the front on the steep corners.  It falls on the team that has the Malliot Jaune to lead the peloton, until another team's objectives bring them forward to set the pace of the pack.  The narrow cliff side roads made for some scary riding, and while there were some minor crashes, even one into the wall, no one faced the serious injuries that everyone feared.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours in a short 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to bid on your piece of the 100th Tour de France, but hurry, the auction starts as soon as this post is published.

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