US Pro Challenge Final Stage: Passing the Bottle

With the temperature at race time at just under 100 degrees, and I will assume much hotter at street level with the heat rising off of the sunbaked pavement, it is most important that the racers stay hydrated.  Tyler Wren has slipped to the back of the break away to get a cold one from his team car.  He will have to save having a traditional cold one until after the eight trip around downtown Denver.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Final Stage: Zipping Through the Park

The final stage of the US Pro Challenge was an 8 lap circuit through downtown Denver that included a run through City Park, designed by the same man who designed Central Park in New York City.  The break formed from the moment the neutral flag was pulled in to start the race.  Seven guys from six teams formed a solid effort that the sprinter's teams weren't going to have anything to do with it succeeding.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors, brushes and paper from www.richesonart.com excellent products from an excellent company.  This work is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the final day of the US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Closing the Deal

True to his word, TeJay did not challenge Aceverdo for the victory and after Aceverdo's victory salute the two reached out to shake hands to celebrate their mutual success.  TeJay gained enough time on all of the chasers to pull on the Yellow Jersey of race leader and put another 40 seconds into his biggest rival, Tom Danielson.  Behind these two, Mathias Frank was finally able to jump away from Danielson to strengthen his second place in the GC, he couldn't attack Danielson for fear of helping the Garmin Sharp rider bridge back up to his team leader, Van Garderen.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Making Deals

TeJay Van Garderen and Janier Aceverdo dropped Danielson and Frank on the wet technical descent of Bachelor's Gulch and made a deal to work together to gain time on the chasers.  TeJay needed Janier's help to gain as much time on his rivals and most likely agreed to let the Jamis rider take the stage and the time gained would put TeJay in yellow.  All of this was decided on the short climb up to Beaver's Creek in the pouring rain.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 4: For the Stage and the Jersey

Once the break had been caught and the Yellow Jersey had popped getting his GC man forward, it was time to race hard and climb fast.  Tom Danielson leads a very select group of TeJay Van Garderen, Janier Aceverdo and Mathias Frank up the high climb of Bachelor's Gulch.  The best placed in the overall is Frank, only eleven seconds down, so while he is the virtual yellow on the road he is there to help his team leader, Van Garderen.  By this time the riders were in a down pour of the cold rains of the high mountains as they climbed by the quaking Aspen trees of Colorado.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the third US Pro Challenge.

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US Pro Challenge Stage 4: Moving Forward

With the break over two minutes up the road and Garmin Sharp not doing more than pegging the escapees, it was up to Team Jamis and BMC to move to the front and whip up the chase.  The three teams had different objectives at this point.  Garmin Sharp was defending their Yellow Jersey and improving the placing of their GC man, Tom Danielson, Team Jamis was racing for the stage victory with their Colombian climber, Aceverdo and BMC hoped to put JeJay Van Garderen in a better GC position or into yellow ahead of tomorrow's time trial.  The scenery of the Colorado high desert was a stark contrast to the lush climbs of the European Alps with the red sandstone outcroppings and the sparse sagebrush and scrub trees.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by bidding in a short three day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the US Pro Challenge.

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