Tour Down Under Stage 5: Way Off the Front

The early break of the day, started by Jordan Kirby (Drapac), went as soon as the start flag dropped at the end of the neutral roll out.  Even though the participants were facing the longest stage in the 2015 Tour Down Under, Gregory Henderson (Lotto Soudal) and new home town hero, Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia) quickly joined Kirby in the small break away.  Bobridge was hoping to get to the top of the first trip up Willunga Hill first ensuring his hold on the King of the Mountains Jersey all the way to the end of the Tour.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you enjoy reading about bike racing with the accompanying watercolors, please check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France".  It is available world wide and can be ordered from the publisher's website, http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.

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Tour Down Under Stage 5: Chatting by the Sea

The longest and penultimate stage of the Tour Down Under started innocently enough with a couple of laps that ran along the beautiful coastline of Southern Australia.  Michael Schar, Danilo Wyss and Peter Stetina (BMC) chatted amiably as they road tempo pass the beach in defensive of their man, Rohan Dennis, wearing the Ochre Jersey of race leader.  It is usually the job of the team with the leader's jersey to ride tempo at the front of the peloton, often in pursuit of the early break away.

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.  They are a wonderful family run art supply company based in the northern mid-west of the United States.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  If you enjoy reading about bike racing with the accompanying watercolors, please check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France".  It is available world wide and can be ordered from the publisher's website, http://www.dementimilestonepublishing.com/#!book-de-tour/c1nth.

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Tour Down UnderStage 4: Home Town Boy

The Australian riders in the Tour Down Under have now won three out of the four stages and have been the only racers to wear the Ochre Jersey of race leader.  Today it was Steele Von Hoff (UniSA-Australia) who was able to raise his arms in victory, taking the stage ahead of Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge) and Wooter Wippert (Drapac).  Incidently, the top three finishers all ride for Australian teams, so it really has been a Tour for the local boys!

This is a small original water color and ink painting that is available for purchase 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 reading about this Tour, please check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available online world wide.  Google the title to find out where you can purchase your copy without having to pay international shipping charges.

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Tour Down Under Stage 4: Making a Late Break

With several breakaways established and then got by the peloton on the road to Mount Barker, it was these three that tried to go again after the second intermediate sprint.  Maxim Belkov (Katusha) - who had been in the first break away on Stage One, was joined in the late effort by Ruslan Tleubayev (Astana) and Pieter Serry, who is riding for the newly renamed Etixx-Quickstep cycling team.  Belkov was hoping that lightening would strike twice, allowing him to be in another successful break that would stay away until the finishing line.

This is a small original water color and ink painting that is available for purchase 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 reading about this Tour, please check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available online world wide.  Google the title to find out where you can purchase your copy without having to pay international shipping charges.

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Tour Down Under Stage 4: A Change at the Front

With a new three man break up the road, Matteo Bono (Lampre-Merida) came to the front of the peloton along with a teammate to drive the pace in hopes catching the men up the road and of softening up the group for their sprinter, Niccolo Bonifazio.  Lampre-Merida always brings a little color to the race with their bright pink sleeves, shocking green accents and purply blue shorts.  Leave it to the Italians to bring some style to their kit.

This is a small original water color and ink painting that is available for purchase 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 reading about this Tour, please check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available online world wide.  Google the title to find out where you can purchase your copy without having to pay international shipping charges.

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Tour Down Under Stage 4: Coming Back to the Fold

Each stage of this year's Tour Down Under has been progressively tougher for a break away to get away or to succeed.  Today, it took quite a bit to get a four man break going.  One of those in the break was the first wearer of the Ochre Jersey, Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Australia).  Here, Bobridge is dropping back to the peloton having gained his objective for the day.  By being the first over the only categorized climb of the day, he is now the leader of the King of the Mountains competition on the road.  Since there are no more rated climbs on the road to Mount Barker, he will be pulling on the KOM jersey on the podium this evening. 

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.  In addition, this painting is available for purchase 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 reading about this Tour, please check out my new book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France" available online world wide.  Google the title to find out where you can purchase your copy without having to pay international shipping charges.

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Tour Down Under Stage 3: Soaring to the Heights

Rohan Dennis (BMC) took perfect advantage of the steep climb and the favorites watching each other.  Dennis jumped from behind as his team leader, Cadel Evans and Richie Porte (Sky) marked each other, slowing before their final assault.  Cadel put in a final surge to give BMC, first and second on the stage, move himself up on his contenders on GC and it will be Dennis going to the starting gate in the Ochre Jersey of overall race leader.  Strategically, it is an ideal situation for the Swiss BMC team.

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.  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 3: Countering the Move

Everyone expected those that want to win the Tour Down Under to make their move on the short steep ascent up to Paracombe.  The two main front runners, Richie Porte (Sky) and Cadel Evans (BMC) didn't disappoint.  While Evans got to the bottom of the climb first, it was Porte who put in the first acceleration.  A move that was quickly covered by the veteran Cadel.  It was looking like it would be a fight to the top and the Ochre Jersey between the Aussie and the Tasmanian.

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.  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 3: Fighting for Position

The run in to Paracombe included a very fast descent before a sharp right hand bend.  The last two kilometers must have felt like they were straight up a wall.  So if you wanted to have a chance of victory, you had to be at the very front of the peloton at the start of the climb.  I know that the only way I have a chance of being with the group at the top of a hill is for me to go down as fast as I possibly can.  So it was that Michael Schar led his team leader Cadel Evans (BMC) right to the front of the group.  They had just gotten around Peter Kennaugh (Sky), who was doing the same for Richie Porte (Sky).

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.  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 3: Keeping Up the Pace

Jack Bobridge (UniSA-Austalia) has been very attentive at the business end of the peloton in his Ochre Leader's Jersey.  He is being shepherded by a teammate as he mixes it with Team Sky and Astana.  Bobridge has enjoyed his days in Ochre, but with a very sharp rise right at the finishing line to end the stage, he may be hard pressed to not pass it to the shoulders of another competitor. 

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.  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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2500056---194179/Painting.html#.VMCVMk05DIU