Tour Down Under Stage 2: All Alone

It was Richie Porte (BMC) who left everyone else behind on the short steep blast up to Paracombe.  Porte has yet to win the Tour Down Under despite multiple attempts.  In the past he has played it a bit to cagey on the climbs, never just going for the win and the bonus seconds.  Today he had the legs to be the attacking rider who left everyone else behind.  Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar) came to the line almost 15 seconds later follow closely by Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott).  So that makes up the top three on GC.  Porte also leads the King of the Mountains and the Sprint Classification as well.  However, I am quite sure it is the Ochre Jersey of race leader that he will want to be wearing when the race is over in Adelaide this coming Sunday.

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/2905781-108-194179/PaintingAll%20Alone%20TDU17-10.html#.WH8NbvkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 2: Leading Them Up

None other than the two time World Champion, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), who hit the bottom of the final climb on the front of the peloton.  Sagan was either riding for himself or for his teammate sitting in third overall, Jay McCarthy.  Trying to hold the wheel of the Slovakian was Nathan Haas (Dimension Data) followed by Richie Porte (BMC).  The climb proved too steep for Sagan, but he was the one to open up the attacks on the final summit.

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/2905775-107-194179/PaintingLeading%20Them%20Up%20TDU17-9.html#.WH8KhvkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 2: Trying to Come Back

Flying down from the town of Stirling was this group containing one of the GC contenders for Team Sky, Sergio Henao.  Henao either crashed or had a mechanical, so he was being paced back on the descent by his brother Sebastien Henao and another teammate.who was a last minute replacement to the team roster.  Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) and Ben Bastauer (Ag2r La Mondiale) were more than happy to let the Sky boys do all of the work.  Sergio Henao did make it back to the peloton before the final climb, but most likely spent far too much energy in the effort.

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/2905773-106-194179/PaintingTrying%20to%20Come%20Back%20TDU17-8.html#.WH8H2fkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 2: Stretching Their Legs

With the breaks pulled back into the fold, it was time for a few flurries of attacks to go off the front before the final climb of the day.  Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) launched a move that was quickly covered by Amael Moinard (BMC).  The two opened a gap that stretched a bit, but was ultimately pulled back by the Team Sky led peloton.  As the peloton approached the drop down across the valley floor, each team was trying to get their leaders into the best possible position for the final ascent.

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/2905767-105-194179/PaintingStretching%20Their%20Legs%20TDU17-7.html#.WH8FS_krLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 2: Setting a Good Rhythm

Stage two featured another long solo effort, this time be Jasha Sutterlin (Movistar).  It ended with the same rather predictable results after a nearly 100 kilometer effort.  With the stage ending with a climb up to Paracombe all of the GC contenders would be looking to put time into their rivals.  Their teams weren't about to let a single rider spoil the party.

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/2905763-104-194179/PaintingSetting%20a%20Good%20Rhythm%20TDU17-6.html#.WH8DB_krLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 1: The Final Dash

Some times lightening does strike twice.  It did today for the Aussie, Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott).  The diminutive sprinter on the Australian Pro Tour team one the opening stage of the 2016 Tour Down Under, and he has now won the opener of 2017.  With the win, Ewan will be starting tomorrow in the Ochre Jersey of race leader.  Ewan was able to get around Danny Van Poppel (Sky) who claimed second on the stage.  Making it into this painting but not onto the podium was the Ethiopian Tsgabu Grmay riding for another newly named Pro Tour Team, Bahrain-Merida.

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/2905256-103-194179/PaintingThe%20Final%20Dash%20TDU17-5.html#.WH276vkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 1: A Cheeky Move

Getting away from the peloton takes both legs and brains.  Jan Bakelants (Ag2r La Mondiale) has plenty of both.  The Belgium rider on the French team made is move just after the effort of the final intermediate sprint.  Those who had sprinted for the victory sit up and wait for the peloton to rejoin them, so there is a general slowing down and a lack of attention.  It only takes a few moments to get a gap and a little luck that others don't cover the move.  Bakelants has made a move like this stick in his career, a move that put him in the Maillot Jaune for a couple of days in the Tour de France.  Adam Hansen (Lotto Soudal) tried to bridge across, but Bakelants proved just too strong.

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/2905255-102-194179/PaintingA%20Cheeky%20Move%20TDU17-4.html#.WH25ZPkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 1: Bonus Seconds

With the lone break back in the fold, there was more at stake when the peloton reached the second sprint in Cockatoo Valley.  Not only would the first three riders collect points in the sprint competition, but the winner of the sprint would get a three second bonus, with two and one seconds going to the other placings.  Historically, the Tour Down Under is one by just a handful of seconds after the six stages have been raced, therefore riders need to fight for every second out on the road.  Jose Goncalves (Katusha) opened up the sprint but was nipped at the line by Jay McCarthy (Bora-Hansgrohe).  The Tour Down Under is the first chance to see the new kits, and teams of the coming season, Bora-Hangrohe is one of the new teams taking to the roads of South Australia.

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/2905254-101-194179/PaintingBonus%20Seconds%20TDU17-3.html#.WH22VvkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 1: Here's the Catch

Even the shorten stage didn't give Laurens de Vreese (Astana) enough road to stay away from the peloton.  With just about 35 kilometers left to race, his 100 kilometer attempt came to an end.  His efforts did win him the first King of the Mountain jersey of the 2017 Tour Down Under and some points in the sprint competition.

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/2905251-100-194179/PaintingHere's%20the%20Catch%20TDU17-2.html#.WH2zkvkrLIU

Tour Down Under Stage 1: Someone Needs to Start the Season

Here we go!  The 2017 road cycling season gets underway today in Adelaide, South Australia.  As per usual, the opening stage was opened with a break away, unfortunately for Laurens de Vreese (Astana) no one else was willing to go on the attack with him.  The peloton faced rather severely high temperatures, so much so that the stage was eventually shorten by about 35 kilometers.  De Vreese went from the very start of the stage building up almost five minutes on the 134 riders behind.  With a solo effort, the changes of success are basically nil.  Today was no different than the odds would indicate.

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/2905248-99-194179/PaintingSomeone%20Needs%20to%20Start%20the%20Season%20TDU17-1.html#.WH2wHvkrLIU