Tour Down Under Stage 2: All Alone

It was Richie Porte (BMC) who left everyone else behind on the short steep blast up to Paracombe.  Porte has yet to win the Tour Down Under despite multiple attempts.  In the past he has played it a bit to cagey on the climbs, never just going for the win and the bonus seconds.  Today he had the legs to be the attacking rider who left everyone else behind.  Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar) came to the line almost 15 seconds later follow closely by Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott).  So that makes up the top three on GC.  Porte also leads the King of the Mountains and the Sprint Classification as well.  However, I am quite sure it is the Ochre Jersey of race leader that he will want to be wearing when the race is over in Adelaide this coming Sunday.

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/2905781-108-194179/PaintingAll%20Alone%20TDU17-10.html#.WH8NbvkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 2: Leading Them Up

None other than the two time World Champion, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), who hit the bottom of the final climb on the front of the peloton.  Sagan was either riding for himself or for his teammate sitting in third overall, Jay McCarthy.  Trying to hold the wheel of the Slovakian was Nathan Haas (Dimension Data) followed by Richie Porte (BMC).  The climb proved too steep for Sagan, but he was the one to open up the attacks on the final summit.

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/2905775-107-194179/PaintingLeading%20Them%20Up%20TDU17-9.html#.WH8KhvkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 3: Soaring to the Heights

Rohan Dennis (BMC) took perfect advantage of the steep climb and the favorites watching each other.  Dennis jumped from behind as his team leader, Cadel Evans and Richie Porte (Sky) marked each other, slowing before their final assault.  Cadel put in a final surge to give BMC, first and second on the stage, move himself up on his contenders on GC and it will be Dennis going to the starting gate in the Ochre Jersey of overall race leader.  Strategically, it is an ideal situation for the Swiss BMC team.

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, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you enjoy reading about important bike races this way, be sure to check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France."  The book is available world wide, just google the title to find an online store where you won't have to pay international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2500076---194179/Painting.html#.VMCcrk05DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 3: Countering the Move

Everyone expected those that want to win the Tour Down Under to make their move on the short steep ascent up to Paracombe.  The two main front runners, Richie Porte (Sky) and Cadel Evans (BMC) didn't disappoint.  While Evans got to the bottom of the climb first, it was Porte who put in the first acceleration.  A move that was quickly covered by the veteran Cadel.  It was looking like it would be a fight to the top and the Ochre Jersey between the Aussie and the Tasmanian.

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, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you enjoy reading about important bike races this way, be sure to check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France."  The book is available world wide, just google the title to find an online store where you won't have to pay international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2500062---194179/Painting.html#.VMCabU05DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 3: Fighting for Position

The run in to Paracombe included a very fast descent before a sharp right hand bend.  The last two kilometers must have felt like they were straight up a wall.  So if you wanted to have a chance of victory, you had to be at the very front of the peloton at the start of the climb.  I know that the only way I have a chance of being with the group at the top of a hill is for me to go down as fast as I possibly can.  So it was that Michael Schar led his team leader Cadel Evans (BMC) right to the front of the group.  They had just gotten around Peter Kennaugh (Sky), who was doing the same for Richie Porte (Sky).

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, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you enjoy reading about important bike races this way, be sure to check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France."  The book is available world wide, just google the title to find an online store where you won't have to pay international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2500058---194179/Painting.html#.VMCX2k05DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 3: Joining Forces

It took several attempts before a break away stuck on the road to Paracombe today.  The first to make a break stick was William Clarke (Drapac).  Fortunately for Clarke, he was later joined by Lasse Hansen (Cannondale-Garmin), Axel Domont (Ag2r) and Calvin Watson (Trek Factory Racing).  With a full compliment of four riders, the group had a chance to stay away from the peloton as they road through the fire scorched Adelaide hills of South Australia.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The painting is available for only $50 USD from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, and yes, international shipping is available.

If you enjoy reading about important bike races this way, be sure to check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France."  The book is available world wide, just google the title to find an online store where you won't have to pay international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2500046---194179/Painting.html#.VMCSp005DIU