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.

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.

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Wollongong 2022, Elite Men's Road Race: Up & Over, Again

The twelve laps around the Wollongong circuit took everyone up and over Mount Pleasant repeatively zapping strength from the legs every time.  The early break was still away with 93 kilometers to go. Each rider followed the other over the top and filed into a long single file line down the other side.  While there are others in the group, this is Pieter Serry (Belgium) following, Pavel Sivakov (France), then Luke Plapp (Australia), Lukasz Owsian (Poland), Pier-Andre Cote (Canada) and just dropping out of sight of the fans is Guy Sagiv (Israel).  They may be doomed in their efforts to stay off the front since the peloton has pulled them back to an under four minute advantage.  Only time will tell if it is all worth the effort for the group.

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 $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

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Strade Bianche: Victims of the Pace & the Gravel

Having done what he could for the team, Pieter Serry (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) drops off the back of the peloton and rides the rest of the way to Sienna off the back of the group.  Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Qazaqstan) had another reason for being off the back.  While we didn't see him crash, Lopez, seemed to have been involved in some sort of crash that left him with a broken rear derailleur.  With no team car in sight, he simply kept walking up the road in hopes of their imminent arrival with another bike.  Given that there was just 23 kilometers to race, it was unlikely he would be able to contest for even a top ten finish now.

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 $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Spring-Classics-/3870318-462-195767/Painting/victims-of-the-pace-the-gravel-sb22-10.html

Tour Down Under Stage 4: Making a Late Break

With several breakaways established and then got by the peloton on the road to Mount Barker, it was these three that tried to go again after the second intermediate sprint.  Maxim Belkov (Katusha) - who had been in the first break away on Stage One, was joined in the late effort by Ruslan Tleubayev (Astana) and Pieter Serry, who is riding for the newly renamed Etixx-Quickstep cycling team.  Belkov was hoping that lightening would strike twice, allowing him to be in another successful break that would stay away until the finishing line.

This is a small original water color and ink painting that is available for purchase 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 are enjoying reading about this Tour, please check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available online world wide.  Google the title to find out where you can purchase your copy without having to pay international shipping charges.

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Giro d'Italia Stage 20: Job Well Done

Both Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Rigobeto Uran (OPQS) can be saying, "Job well done" to their teammates after today.  First for Quintana, his team worked tirelessly to drive the pace of the peloton and to chase down any of the attacks from the top five riders on General Classification.  And Uran will thank Pieter Serry (OPQS) who put in one last push as he was drifting back from the break to pull Uran further away from Fabio Aru (Astana) who is just behind Uran on the GC.  Still hanging tough after throwing something from a fan into the woods, is Serge Pauwels (OPQS) pulling Uran up the incredibly steep Monte Zoncolan.  Perhaps Uran was hoping to gain time on his fellow Colombian who is clad in pink, but he couldn't have realistically thought he would make up three minutes on his compatriot.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  For this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

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