Tour Down Under Stage 3: Joining Forces

It took several attempts before a break away stuck on the road to Paracombe today.  The first to make a break stick was William Clarke (Drapac).  Fortunately for Clarke, he was later joined by Lasse Hansen (Cannondale-Garmin), Axel Domont (Ag2r) and Calvin Watson (Trek Factory Racing).  With a full compliment of four riders, the group had a chance to stay away from the peloton as they road through the fire scorched Adelaide hills of South Australia.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  The painting is available for only $50 USD from my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post, and yes, international shipping is available.

If you enjoy reading about important bike races this way, be sure to check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France."  The book is available world wide, just google the title to find an online store where you won't have to pay international shipping charges.

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Tour Down Under Stage 2: Time to Celebrate

I was beginning to think that Movistar had decided not to show up in South Australia having not seen their distinctive kit for two days of racing, but as it is with all good sprinters, they only stick their noses into the wind when it really matters.  Juan Jose Lobato (Movistar) jumped from 12 places back to win the stage on the uphill sprint to the line in Stirling.  His margin of victory was so big that he had time to effect a phone call pose for his victory salute.  Behind him, his teammate, Gorka Izaguirre Insausti just missed getting around Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge) to make it a one, two of Movistar.  Bobridge finished with the main group to keep his Ochre Jersey, and Cadel Evans (BMC)was just outside of the bonus seconds, finishing in 4th place on the stage.  Cadel says he will be retiring from racing at the end of the Tour Down Under, his home Tour.  This is a small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

If you love this kind of artistic coverage of cycling, please consider my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available world wide online.  Just google the title to discover where you can order a copy without having to pay international shipping charges.

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Tour Down Under Stage 2: Showing the New Colors

The new team of Cannondale-Garmin hit the front of the peloton in force on the final lap around Stirling showing off their new colors and looking for a stage victory to announce their presence in the 2015 ProTour peloton.  The green is certainly bright enough to ensure they won't be missed in the coming months.  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.  While you are there, why not browse all of the artwork on offer, cycling themed and otherwise. 

If you are enjoying discovering the story of this race through these paintings, be sure to discover my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available online world wide.  Just google the title to discover where you can order your copy free of international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2499484---194179/Painting.html#.VL_S5k05DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 2: They're Here

Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) had already slipped back to the comfort of the bunch, thus helping to ensure that Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia) would get to keep the leader's Ochre Jersey for another day.  So it was with a small show of defiance that the remaining two soldiered on off the front of the rather serious peloton.  Campbell Flakemore (BMC) looks back over his shoulder to confirm that his and Cameron Meyer's (Orica-GreenEdge) efforts were truly doomed to failure.  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 for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

If you are enjoying discovering the story of this race through these paintings, be sure to discover my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available online world wide.  Just google the title to discover where you can order your copy free of international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2499474---194179/Jewelry.html#.VL_Qq005DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 2: Climbing Pass the Fans

The three man break away hit the climb and the beginning of a three lap circuit with almost two and a half minutes on the chasing peloton.  The fans lining what will eventually be the finishing strait were going to be treated to the flashing colors of the fast moving cyclist several times before knowing who would take the stage.  These three, Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), who has one the Tour Down Under before, along with Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge) and Campbell Flakemore (BMC) were hoping the GC men were going to make another mistake.  De Gendt, by virtue of his two intermediate sprint wins, was in a good position to take away the Ochre Jersey from Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia).  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com for only $50 USD.  Yes, international shipping is available.  For this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

If you enjoy this kind of visual cycling story telling, check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France"  Ask your local bookseller, or google the title to find out where you can purchase a copy worldwide.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2499470---194179/Painting.html#.VL_OT005DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 2: Giving Chase

The peloton wasn't about to make the same mistake twice, so stage 2 they were a little more eager to chase down the break away.  Steele Von Hoff of UniSA-Australia joined Roger Kluge (IAM Cycling) along with the boys from Team Sky in the long hard task of pulling bacl the trio up the road.  Von Hoff was on the front representing the team holding the leader's Ochre Jersey, but rather having the whole team do the chase, they left it to others to make sure those up the road didn't gain too much time.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.jackricheson.com.  They are a family run art supply company in the state of Wisconsin, USA.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting for only $50 USD, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  While you are there, why not take the time to browse all of the artwork on offer?

And, if you are enjoying the artwork on this blog, consider getting a copy of my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France", the complete Tour told through word and over 176 paintings.
Just google the title to find an online retailer near you.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2499468---194179/Painting.html#.VL_K3U05DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 1: Punching the Air

It was Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia) who managed to get the jump on his breakaway companions using a small little rise to launch his attack almost in the shadow of the sprint trains of the peloton.  With his win at the line, taking the first intermediate sprint and being the first over the only climb of the day, he will be pulling on at least three leader's jerseys on the podium this evening.  But it will be the Ochre Jersey of race leader on his back at the starting line for Stage 2 of the Tour Down Under.  Not bad for the hometown boy.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase (only $50 USD) 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 the artwork on this blog (and the writings too) please check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France"  You can find the book through most online stores throughout the world, just google the title to learn where you can get your copy.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2499424---194179/Painting.html#.VL8PTk05DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 1: Getting Twitchy

Surprisingly, it appears that the peloton missed the formula that would catch the break away before the line.  Instead the four, that had gone from the very first kilometer of the stage were still away with less the 500 meters to the line.  The more experience Mazim Belkov (Katusha) and Lieuwe Westra (Astana) goofed, ending up on the front of the foursome, snapping their heads around trying to see which Aussie was going to jump first.  For his part, Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia) kept an close eye on the fast approaching peloton.  This game of high speed chess was watched from the back of the motorcycle of the neutral service vehicle, the duo ready to loan a wheel should anyone have a very poorly timed flat tire.  This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  If you would like to get this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

If you are enjoying this cycling art, you may be interested in checking out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France".  Google the title to find where you can get the book near you.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2499420---194179/Painting.html#.VL8MNE05DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 1: Over the Top

With only one categorized climb in the opening stage of the Tour Down Under, whoever got over Checker Hill first would be wearing the King of the Mountains Jersey tomorrow.  With such a coveted prize on offer, the breakaway tabled its cooperative spirit as they neared the top of the climb.  Luke Durbridge (Orica GreenEdge) launched the first attack, but it was his countryman, Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia) that had the legs to get over the crest and under the Subaru banner first.  With nearly twenty kilometers left to go to the line, the pair of Aussies waited for the other two before racing down the other side of the hill.  With the steep descent it was looking like there was a chance that the breakaway may have a chance.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my artist website, www.greigleach.com   To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

If you like the paintings you see here, be sure to look into my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available online and in bookstores around the world.  Just google the title to find in near you.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2499416---194179/Painting.html#.VL8JEk05DIU

Tour Down Under Stage 1: At the Beginning

The Santos Tour Down Under and the 2015 ProTour Road Racing season is now underway.  Stage One was lit up from the drop of the flag with a three man break away that included, Lieuwe Westra (Astana), Maxim Belkov (Katusha) and Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia).  The trio was quickly joined by the Australian on the other Australian team, Luke Durbridge (Orica-GreenEdge).  The now quartet never build up more than a minute and a half on the peloton, so it looks to be a mass mad dash down to the finish line off of the only categorized climb of the day.  This is an original small (4"x6") watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition this painting and many other pieces of original cycling art 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. 

If this appeals to you, be sure to take a look at my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available world wide.  Just Google it to find out where you can buy a copy.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2499294-31-30-194179/Painting.html#.VL7Ymk05DIU