Tour Down Under Stage 5: Getting Established

From the drop of the flag that got the Queen stage of the Tour Down Under underway, it was Will Clarke (Cannondale-Drapac) who went on the attack.  Perhaps he wanted to counter his bad luck from yesterday's stage.  Bridging across to the Australian was Julien Berard (Ag2r La Mondiale).  The duo were hoping to establish the break away that would leave the peloton behind.

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/2908146-120-194179/PaintingGetting%20Established%20TDU17-22.html#.WIOTFfkrLIU

Milano Sanremo: Thinning Down

As the breakaway hit the Cape Berta, one of the short step climbs ahead of the two bigger and infamous climbs that come with just a few kilometers to the line, it was Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani CSF) whose pace thinned out the break.  Seven members of the break were already dropped and it appears that Serge Pauwels (MTN-Qhubeka) and Julien Berard (AG2R) will shortly join the others.  It was only Pirazzi's countryman, Matteo Bono (Lampre Merida) that could hold the Italian's wheel.  It would be a tall order for these two to stay away, but now it is only about 40 kilometers left to race.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting is 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.  The painting is only $50 USD and international shipping is available.

If you are enjoying reading about bike racing this way with the accompanying artwork please check out my recently published Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  The book is available through virtually every online bookseller.  So google the title to discover where you can get a copy and avoid international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2531038---195767/Painting.html#.VRDPKvnF-xU

Tour Down Under: Minding the Gap, Final Stage

Today's circuit race was an 18 lap rip through downtown Adelaide with two intermediate sprints with time bonuses in addition to those at the finale.  With only one second separating first and second and a total of ten seconds between first and fourth position, it was sure to be hotly contested all the way through town.  However, a three man break got away and as a special favor to Simon Gerrans and his Orica-Greenedge team, they sucked up all of the sprint bonuses ensuring the overall for Gerrans. William Clarke (Drapac) finished the race the way he started the Tour by getting himself into his third breakaway of the six stage Tour Down Under. He was joined in the effort by Julien Berard (AG2R) and Maxime Belkov (Katusha).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors from www.richesonart.com  and it can be yours by visiting my artist web site at 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%202014/2299295---194179/Painting.html#.UuXEcsso7IU