Tour Down Under, Stage 3: Full Gas

It appeared that Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) and his team out smarted themselves.  As their train came to the line, Ewan and his leadout man, Alexander Edmondson, had opened a gap on the rest of the field.  It appeared that Ewan decided that the gap was enough that he could let Edmondson take the victory (a thank you to his hard work for the team and himself).  What he didn't see when he looked both left and right, was the fast closing Elia Vivianni (Quick Step).  Once Ewan saw is error, he just wasn't able to wind his sprint up, to the full gas Viviani was applying.  Out of the edge of this painting, Phil Bauhaus (Sunweb) got aroung the Ochre Jersey of Ewan as well.  Viviani played it perfectly, and got to salute the crowd in true sprinter fashion. 

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3099400-108-194179/PaintingFull-Gas-TDU18-15.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 3: Right Hander

Mitchelton-Scott seemed to have it all in hand as they hit the right and then left turns that led into the final meters of the race into Victor Harbour.  As we have seen, it was Daryl Impey playing pilot fish for the Australian national champion, Alexander Edmondson and the Ochre Jersey clad Caleb Ewan.  Behind the Mitchelton-Scott train, all ot the other sprinter's and teams were trying to see if they had a chance of disrupting the seemingly inevitable second stage win by Ewan.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3099389-107-194179/PaintingRight-Hander-TDU18-14.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 3: Worth a Try

Tiago Machado (Katusha-Alpecin) put in a strong attack on the final lap around Victor Harbor.  The race had been shortened by 26 kilometers (2 circuit laps) due to the excessive heat - temperatures were in the 115 degree range.  Machado was doing his best to keep cool, pouring water over his body in a vain effort to chill himself down.  The late break away was an equally vain effort.  Often when a rider goes on the attack, he is hoping that others will jump onto his wheel.  When no one comes along, the lone attacker is faced with the hard decision of pressing on, or just sitting up.  Machado decided to press on despite the odds of success.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3099378-106-194179/PaintingWorth-a-Try-TDU18-13.html

Tour Down Under Stage 3: Claiming Another

Although it was the sponsor of Peter Sagan's team Hansgrohe, who sponsored the third stage of the Tour Down Under, it was the wee but fierce Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) who raised his arms in victory at the line.  Sagan looked to have the sprint in hand but then got boxed out of the best line, although the World Champion did hold on for second on the stage.  Ewan added to his point total in the Sprint competition securing the Red Jersey outright (off of the shoulders of Richie Porte - BMC).  Rounding out the top three was the sprinter from another new Pro Tour team, Niccolo Bonifazio riding for Bahrain-Merida.  So Ewan has now won two of the three stages of the 2017 Tour Down Under.

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/2906703-114-194179/PaintingClaiming%20Another%20TDU17-16.html#.WIDygPkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 3: Hoping to Stay Away

Vegard Laengen (UAE-Abu Dhabi) must have felt the combined sensations of his break away companions loosing steam and the approaching peloton about to swallow them up  He used a small rise on the finishing circuit to jump clear of his erstwhile companions in a potentially vain attempt to take a solo victory ahead of the sprinters.  It certainly falls into the 'nothing ventured nothing gained' category, but it was a long shot to be sure (12 kilometers long to be exact).  Behind the Norwegian you can see the race director standing up (and popping out of the sun roof) keeping a close eye on all of the motos around the rider.  He is just making sure that the motorcycles don't provide a slipstream to help Laengen (or the peloton) gain an unfair advantage.

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/2906684-113-194179/PaintingHoping%20to%20Stay%20Away%20TDU17-15.html#.WIDvl_krLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 3: Your Turn

The peloton's chase of the four man break was starting to make real progress particularly because the teams of the sprinters have joined the chase as the finish line draws ever closer.  Gregor Nuhlberger (Bora Hansgrohe) looks back over his shoulder as he swings off the front seemingly telling Miles Scotson (BMC) that it is his turned to pull everyone along.  Not that Scotson would have any trouble figuring that out on his own after all he has been out there most of the day already.  Joining in the effort is Damien Howson (Orica-Scott) and just peeking into the frame is the Ochre Jersey on the back of Richie Porte (BMC).

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/2906666-112-194179/PaintingYour%20Turn%20TDU17-14.html#.WIDtKfkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 3: Little Help?

The Frenchman, Jeremy Maison (FDJ) holds out his arm to call his team car forward.  He does have radio, but it is just easier to talk directly to the team director through the window, plus you can get a bidon and a bite to eat at the same time  On Clement's wheel is Vegard Laengen riding for one of the new teams on the Pro Tour, UAE-Abu Dhabi.  They are joined in the break away by Clement Chevrier (Ag2r) and Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal).  De Gendt went out in search of KOM points in hopes of pulling on the Polka Dot jersey at the end of the day.  He achieved that goal by tying the score of race leader, Richie Porte (BMC) who will still be in the Ochre Jersey of race leader tomorrow (should nothing unexpected happen on the run in to the finish).

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/2906654-111-194179/PaintingLittle%20Help?%20TDU17-13.html#.WIDqkvkrLIU