The Art of Cycling: Women's Tour Down Under

Showing posts with label Women's Tour Down Under. Show all posts

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 3: Third Is Enough

It may not have been absolutely necessary, but finishing third in Stirling gave Noemi Ruegg (EF Education-Oatley) three extra bonus seconds ensuring her final victory of the 25th Women's Tour Down Under. Her nearest competitor, Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco) was trying to sprint for the win on the stage, but came second. While that position gave her six bonus seconds and she managed to finish one second ahead of this sprinting trio, it still allowed Ruegg to win the race by thirteen seconds. Ruegg proved she could climb yesterday with the win on Willunga Hill, but she put up a fierce sprint to best Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) and Sarah Van Dam (Ceratizit) to get third on the day.

It was a great three days of racing! I'll be back in a couple of days to paint the six days of the men's Tour Down Under.

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 work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Third Is Enough TDU25-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 3: A Sterling Sprint

I couldn't resist the pun for the title of this painting. First off, it was truly a sterling solo attack that carried Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-Zondacrypto) to the stage victory in Stirling. But I had to go for the play with the name of the town that the peloton began and ended the final stage of the 25th Women's Tour Down Under, Stirling. Dygert was chased by the woman sitting second in the general classification, Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco), but showed a clean set of wheels by the time she crossed the line. Smulders was hoping to score enough bonus seconds and real seconds to take over the Ochre Jersey, but it didn't quite work out. She did pull within thirteen seconds of the Tour Down Under Victory but will have to content herself with second place.

"A Sterling Sprint TDU25-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 3: Once and Final Queen

Having lost her Queen of the Mountains Jersey in stage two when she was out sprinted by Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ), Alyssa Polites (ARA Australian Cycling) made sure she had the legs to get over the Stirling Climb first. With that sprint, she has two points over the Polish Champion to claim the final polka dot jersey of this Tour Down Under. Wlodarczyk now changes her focus on trying move up one placing in the general classification to grab the final step of the final podium. Spoiler, she didn't make it.

"Once and Final Queen TDU25-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 3: One Has to Try

Ella Simpson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 93) was the next one to take on the death grip of the peloton. They seemed a bit less threatened by this Australian on the French team. Simpson built up almost two minutes before the peloton stormed into the intermediate sprint in Stirling. She did pull the gap back out a bit before things got serious behind. The peloton wasn't likely to repeat the mistake of the opening stage of this edition of the women's Tour Down Under.

"One Has to Try TDU25-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '24, Stage 3: Getting Something Started

With 77 kilometers left of the Women's Tour Down Under, Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) decided it was time to enliven the final stage. Her move was quickly covered by a rider from Canyon/SRAM, Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) and someone from UAE Team ADQ. A few others tacked onto their wheels as they escaped the clutches of the peloton. Like other escape attempts, this one was chased down. It was to risky to led Fisher-Black go given that she sits in ninth place at the start of the day.

"Getting Something Started TDU25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Alone at the Top

While on the climb it seemed to me that Noemi Reugg (EF Education-Oatley) was about to be dropped any moment. She was pushing a big gear and looked to be using her shoulders to push her pedals over. But once an attack was made by Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco) the Swiss Champion went on the offensive. She dropped the Dutch woman and went on to win atop Willunga Hill by ten seconds. Winning the stage moves out of her national champion's jersey and into the Ochre Jersey of race leader. She also now sits third in the Queen of the Mountains competition, and she leads the Sprint Points competition as well. Not a bad day out on the bike, at all.

"Alone at the Top TDU25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: The Leading Four

As the peloton sped through Willunga at the base of the final climb, it was Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) who attacked first in hopes of climbing to the summit of Willunga Hill alone. However, she was soon caught by Neve Bradbury (Canyon/SRAM-Zondacrypto), the Swiss Champion Noemi Reugg (EF Education-Oatley) and Silke Smulders (Liv-Alula-Jayco). The foursome shadow boxed up the two and a half kilometer climb, letting those behind catch back up. Regardless of the delay, two of these women took the top to steps of the podium at the summit, all of them were in the top nine of the day.

"The Leading Four TDU25-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: We Can Do This!

Despite having only about two or three seconds on the chasing peloton, Ella Simpson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) yells encouragement to Sarah Van Dam (Ceratizit) in hopes that the two could slip away at the foot of the final climb of Willunga Hill. Naturally, the peloton and the overall contenders weren't going to let these two spoil their party. They were caught (and dropped) by the peloton mere moments after I painted this. With only seven kilometers until the end of the stage, there was no time for messing about.

"We Can Do This! TDU25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Teaming Up

True to form for ARA Australian Cycling, they put a rider into the early break. It didn't work the first time for Alli Anderson, but rather than give up, she went again. She built up over a minute and a half lead on her own. With another 35 kilometers to race, Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez) bridged up to her wearing the blue Sprinter's Jersey. It may since for Wollaston to put in the effort to join Anderson now, there is an intermediate sprint just nine kilometers away in Willunga. Wollaston is wearing the sprinter's jersey on loan and was hoping to take the lead in the sprint competition today. Spoiler, it didn't quite work out for her today. But hey, there is always tomorrow.

"Teaming Up TDU25-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Who Do We Have Here?

With another 77 kilometers to race, 10 women escape the clutches of the peloton. As they built up a 21 second advantage, Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) dropped back along the line checking out who had managed to join in the effort. She found Rachel Barbieri (Picnic-PostNL) at the rear. The Italian was led in turn by Greta Marturano (UAE Team ADQ), Babette van der Wolf (EF Education-Oatley), Kristyna Burlova (Ceratizit) and Katia Ragusa (Human Powered Health) amongst some others. The group was hoping to get a head start for the two trips up Willunga Hill that awaits them in the last twenty kilometers of the stage. Footnote, it didn't work.

"Who Do We Have Here? TDU24-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 2: Points to Be Had

Today's stage started with a climb just ten kilometers in. As the peloton neared the top of Windy Point, Alyssa Polites (ARA Australian Cycling) jumped free chased by the Polish Champion Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ). Unfortunately for Polites in her Polka Dot Jersey, Wlodarczyk was able to get around the young Australian to claim maximum points. Her effort allowed her to pull even in points with Polites. Later in the stage, the Polish Champion gained one more Queen of the Mountain points on the fabled Willunga Hill climb. So it was brief tenure in the mint polka dots for Polites as Wlodarczyk will trade in her national jersey for the Queen of the Mountains Jersey tomorrow.

"Points to Be Had TDU25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Friday, January 17, 2025

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 1: Disorganized

Frustrated with the lack of help with the chase of the lone break away, Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-Zondacrypto) rode off the front of the peloton with less than five kilometers to race. She was chased by Anya Louw (AG Insurance-Soudal) amongst others. Regardless of the American's efforts, she (nor the rest of the peloton) caught Danieka Hengeveld who claims the first Ochre Jersey of the 2025 Tour Down Under.

"Disorganized TDU25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 1: Rolling Adjustments

After getting both wheels changed, Megan Armitage (EF Education-Oatley) rode alongside her team car as the mechanic tried to make some further adjustments. As they speed along the roads on the way back down to Snapper's Point, her mechanic leaned dangerously out of the car working on her gearing. At one point, he snapped his hand back most likely having hit his knuckles in the spokes of her rear wheel. It seems that with both the wheel change and the time spent with the mechanic trying to make adjustments, it would have been better to just give her her repalcement bike to begin with.

"Rolling Adjustments TDU25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 1: Another to Roll the Dice

Shortly after the peloton went over the only catagorized climb of Stage One of the Tour Down Under, it was Daniek Hengeveld (Ceratizit) who went off on a solo attack. At first, the peloton only gave her a few seconds so her effort looked to be in vain. However, they seemed to have underestimated her strength and resolve. At this point she has two minutes on the rest of the Tour. With another twenty-seven kilometers left to ride it was a bit of a roll of the dice whether this effort would pay dividends. Spoiler, the peloton never saw the Dutch woman again. Hengeveld will be starting stage two in the Ochre Jersey of race leader with about thirty seconds in hand.

"Another to Roll the Dice TDU25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 1: The First Queen Down Under

Alyssa Polites (ARA Australian Cycling) was able to hold of the peloton as she began the climb up Heatherdale Hill and the first points in the Queen of the Mountains Competition. While the peloton chased hard behind, she was able to keep them at bay to claim the first Polka Dot Jersey of this edition of the women's Tour Down Under. Once over the top of the category one climb, she sat up and was quickly swallowed up by the peloton behind. No matter, she will start Stage 2 in one of the four leader's jerseys tomorrow.

"The First Queen Down Under TDU25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Women's Tour Down Under '25, Stage 1: Leading the Way

Team ARA Australian Cycling Team can always be counted on to light up the Tour Down Under. It took a bit for the peloton to get remotely interested in racing, so it was Alyssa Polites (ARA) who went off the front before the first intermediate sprint of the day. I am sure she hoped to have some company but found herself on her own with another seventy kilometers left to race. It would be a tall order to hold off the entire peloton all of the way back to Aldiaga. However, there is the first sprint jersey and the first Queen of the Mountains jersey to be had should she not win the stage.

"Leading the Way TDU25-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)