Tour Down Under, Stage 4: Over the Top

Today was the first day I have seen Team BMC on the front of the peloton.  They hit the front on the base of the climb up to Norton Summit with Miles Scotson.  At the top it was Richie Porte jumping out to grab the KOM points after the work of Simon Gerrans.  However, he just missed getting around his teammate, so it was Gerrans with maximum points, and Porte taking second over the top.  Niether gained enough points to take over the lead in the King of the Mountains competition so perhaps "no harm, no foul."  Now it was just seven kilometers of rollers for the stage victory.

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.

My website is down for matainence, so I will post links later.  In the mean time, if you really want this painting, just email me at greigsart@gmail.com.

Tour Down Under: Grabbing Another

The big debate as the riders road up the climb out of Port Elliot was whether or not the sprinters would be able to contest for the win in Port Victor.  They were there, but didn't have the legs to stop Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge) from claiming his second victory in a row in the Tour Down Under.  Just behind the man in the Ochre Jersey of race leader was Ben Swift (Team Sky) and Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo), both sprinters.  Just missing out of collecting bonus seconds was Jay McCarthy (Tinkoff) who held second overall but lost time to the victorious Gerrans.  It is begining to look like Gerrans will claim yet another overall victory in his home tour.  Only Willunga Hill and the final stage stand in his way.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created using watercolors from www.richesonart.com and 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.  In addition, be sure to check out my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" available now at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20Down%20Under/2679739-86-194179/Painting.html#.VqKW4vkrLIU

Tour Down Under: Photo Finish

With experience comes skill.  Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge) and Rohan Dennis (BMC) were able to catch the escapees on the descent.  A descent that reached speads in excess of 105 kilometers per hour.  The duo fought all of the way to the line.  So close was their finish that it had to go to the photo finished where it was learned that it was Gerrnas who came from behind to beat last year's winner at the line.  With Gerrans win and the bonus seconds, he will be taking the Ochre Jersey back for the home team.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created using watercolors from www.richesonart.com and 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.  In addition, be sure to check out my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" available now at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20Down%20Under/2678358-80-194179/Painting.html#.VqHLjfkrLIU

Tour Down Under: Swapping Wheels

As a team rider, one has to be ready to aid your protected rider at all times.  Here Mathew Hayman (Orica-GreenEdge) stops to give his man, Simon Gerrans, his back wheel in order to keep Gerrans in contention for the overall.  With the wheel, Gerrans saved the time it would have taken for his team car to get up to him with the replacement for his punctured rear tire.  Hayman then waited for the his mechanic and rode in with the follow caravan leaving Gerrans able to finish with the same time as the winner of the stage.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting created using watercolors from www.richesonart.com and 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.  In addition, be sure to check out my new book, "Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships" available now at www.artofcycling.bike.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20Down%20Under/2673664-65-194179/Painting.html#.Vp6FGfkrLIU

Liege Bastogne Liege: Down Again

Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge), wearing bib # 1 as the last winner of the race, crashed a second time inside of the last 40 kilometers of the race.  Gerrans had been one of a huge pile up just a few kilometers earlier that ended the race for many of the big name contenders.  While Gerrans did manage to get back on the road from that, this crash was the one that made him hang up his cleats and any hope of repeating his race victory.  Some of the others to end their day included the home town boy, Philippe Gilbert (BMC), Nicolas Roche (Sky) and Dan Martin (Cannondale Garmin).  Poor Martin and Gilbert just can't catch a break, both have had crashes in their last two outings.  Gerrans is being aided by one of the many police officers that help close the roads, control the crowds and protect the riders along the route.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2546758---195767/Painting.html#.VT44jCHBzGc

Tour Stage 7: Too Close to Call

The final throw for the line between Matteo Trentin (OPQS) and the Green Jersey clad Peter Sagan (Cannondale) was way to close to call.  The announcers first said it went to Trentin, backed up by race radio, then changed their minds, and said it was Sagan who took the stage, again backed up by race radio.  Trentin was convinced that he didn't get the win and reached out an patted Sagan's back in congratulations.  The TV showed the photo finish and I couldn't tell who had it either.  The final decision was to give the stage to Trentin leaving Sagan still looking for his first stage of the 101st Tour de France.  He can console himself with the fact that he increased his lead in the points competition.  He is already looking like he can wear the Jersey all of the way to Paris.  Remember he is also leading in the White Jersey, too.  He just can't wear two at once.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com. This painting, and all of my work of the 2014 Tour de France, will appear in a soon to be self published, "Book de Tour".  To learn more about the book project, to pre order your copy and to discover how to become involved in bringing the 101st Tour de France to print, please visit, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1335072134/book-de-tour  If you would like to purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202014/2401020---199992/Painting.html

Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Timed Perfectly

Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge) and Australian National Champion, had the legs and the good fortune to be the one to raise his arms in a victorious celebration as victor of the 100th edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege!  Although you can't see him from this angle, Michal Kwiatkowski (OPQS) claimed third and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) added a second place to his dramatic victory four days earlier at Fleche-Wallone.  Alas, Dan Martin (Garmin Sharp), winner of the 99th running, while chasing down Caruso, had his rear wheel slide out from under him on the final corner within site of the finishing straight.  Most likely, he would have added his second victory of this race in a row.  I guess the luck of the Irish did not favor Dan today.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are there, why not browse around at all of the cycling art and other paintings on offer?  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2354509---195767/Painting.html#.U13fX8vD_IU

Tour Down Under: Bringing Home the Jersey, Final Stage

With all but the final sprint to contest Orica-Greenedge and Simon Gerrans could begin to believe that they had secured the Ochre Jersey and the over all win of the Tour Down Under.  At this point they are only about 5 kilometers away from the magical point in the rules were even with a crash all of the riders will be given the same time as those they were with at the finish line.  Orica-Greenedge knows that the sprinters will be able to best any of the other GC contenders that are in need of the seconds on offer at the finale.  So, Chapeau, Orica-Greenedge and Simon Gerrans!  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 the Santos Tour Down Under.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2299321---194179/Painting.html#.UuXPcMso7IU

Tour Down Under: Sprinting for Seconds, Stage 4

Wearing the Blue Jersey of Sprint Leader but hoping to pull back on the Ochre Jersey of race leader, Simon Gerrans contested every sprint in Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under grabbing 3 seconds at the first sprint, and 1 more in this sprint.  Nathan Haas (Garmin Sharp) and Elia Viviani (Lampre) laid in wait and showed their sprinter's legs to beat him to the sprint point.  Cadel Evans (BMC) wearing the Ochre Leader's Jersey kept a watchful eye on the proceedings, however it seems that he may have had a mechanical just as he tried to accelerate to challenge in the sprint.  He changed bikes shortly after the sprint point.  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 the Santos Tour Down Under.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2297981---194179/Painting.html#.UuM-388o7IU

Tour Down Under: Flying Across the Line, Stage 2

With Greipel out of the picture due to a puncture and the GC men trying to gain seconds in real time and bonus seconds, Diego Ulissi was able to get the jump on everyone.  He even had enough time to throw out his arms in a victory salute as he glided across the line.  Hidden by this view is Cadel Evans slidding in ahead of the Ochre Jersey of race leader, worn by Simon Gerrans.  Gerrans' third place was enough to keep in the leader's jersey.  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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2296423---194179/Painting.html#.UuCslc8o7IU

Tour Down Under: Showing the Home Colors, Stage One

Wearing the Australian National Champion Jersey that he had won just two weeks earlier, Simon Gerrans takes the sprint ahead of the powerful Andre Greipel (Lotto) and Steele Van Hoff (Garmin) with Diego Ulissi (Lampre) pulling fourth in the finale of the first stage of the Tour Down Under.  I think the Gerrans surprised even himself by getting around Greipel who had a great lead out and the early jump.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that you could call your own by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2295961---194179/Painting.html#.UuAZqc8o7IU