Tour Down Under: Adding Another, Final Stage and final painting

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) had told Paul Sherwen that he had a plan for the final sprint of the Tour Down Under and apparently it was the right plan.  So he was the one to raise his arms in a victory salute on the streets of Adelaide (for the stage).  A few more bikes back it was Simon Gerrans pumping his fists in the air as he claimed the over all win of the Santos Tour Down Under.  Both riders set new records with Gerrans clinging his third win of the overall (a new record) and Greipel won his 16th stage the most stage wins of any rider in the Santos Tour Down Under.  I have enjoyed this race and I hope that you have enjoyed my paintings of this wonderful battle on two wheels.  And thank you to www.cycling.tv for access to the race and to Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwen for their entertaining, insightful and informative commentary.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist web site at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2299329---194179/Painting.html#.UuXS7cso7IU

Tour Down Under: Bringing Home the Jersey, Final Stage

With all but the final sprint to contest Orica-Greenedge and Simon Gerrans could begin to believe that they had secured the Ochre Jersey and the over all win of the Tour Down Under.  At this point they are only about 5 kilometers away from the magical point in the rules were even with a crash all of the riders will be given the same time as those they were with at the finish line.  Orica-Greenedge knows that the sprinters will be able to best any of the other GC contenders that are in need of the seconds on offer at the finale.  So, Chapeau, Orica-Greenedge and Simon Gerrans!  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the Santos Tour Down Under.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2299321---194179/Painting.html#.UuXPcMso7IU

Tour Down Under: Full On

Once the break had been caught it was time for some full on racing as the sprinter and their teams began fighting for position.  With all of the effort going into getting their lead out trains organized the speeds started to reach 50 kph, it got to be real hard to hold onto the back of the peloton.  The peloton moves almost like a flock of birds and the shape can tell you the story of what is happening at anytime in the race.  And when it is stretched out in a long line like this, the speed is full on.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2299313---194179/Painting.html#.UuXLW8so7IU

Tour Down Under: Adjustments on the Fly, Final Stage

The unsung heroes of the pro tour are the race mechanics, these men and women are called upon to fix most anything at anytime often times at high speeds.  I wonder how often they fall out of car while trying to reach just a little too far.  This takes amazing coordination between the driver of the team car, the racer and the mechanic and then there is the problem solving that must be done quickly and successfully under a great deal of pressure.  Here the AG2R team mechanic is tending to the rear brakes of Maxime Daniel at the back of the peloton on the streets of Adelaide.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2299311---194179/Painting.html#.UuXI-Mso7IU

Tour Down Under: The Chase Is On, Final Stage

Team Sky decided it was time to go get the three man break away before they grabbed the bonus seconds from the first intermediate sprint.  Their man, Richie Porte, started the day in 4th place needing to gain only four seconds to get on to the final podium.  Surprisingly, after two laps they hadn't put anytime into the trio up the road so they threw in the towel.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist web site at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2299299---194179/Painting.html#.UuXGm8so7IU

Tour Down Under: Minding the Gap, Final Stage

Today's circuit race was an 18 lap rip through downtown Adelaide with two intermediate sprints with time bonuses in addition to those at the finale.  With only one second separating first and second and a total of ten seconds between first and fourth position, it was sure to be hotly contested all the way through town.  However, a three man break got away and as a special favor to Simon Gerrans and his Orica-Greenedge team, they sucked up all of the sprint bonuses ensuring the overall for Gerrans. William Clarke (Drapac) finished the race the way he started the Tour by getting himself into his third breakaway of the six stage Tour Down Under. He was joined in the effort by Julien Berard (AG2R) and Maxime Belkov (Katusha).  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that was created using cake watercolors from www.richesonart.com  and it can be yours by visiting my artist web site at www.greigleach.com   Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2299295---194179/Painting.html#.UuXEcsso7IU

Tour Down Under: What Do You Think Now? Stage 5

After Cadel Evans rode everyone off of his wheel on Corkscrew Hill, including the Team Sky leader, Richie Porte, it was time for a little revenge.  As I showed in the previous painting, Cadel attacked first and then Porte was able to counter the move and then exact his revenge and ride Cadel and the rest of the contenders off of his wheel.  With most thinking that the Willunga Hill stage would be the decisive stage of the Tour Down Under it actually narrowed the gaps and set up a very competitive final stage of the Tour.  As I said, Cadel's attack didn't give him the results he wished for leaving the door open for Simon Gerrans counter move that was enough to take back the leader's Ochre Jersey by one second.  So as the peloton lines up for the start of the final stage only 5 seconds separate the top three place riders on GC, Simon Gerrans (Orica-Greenedge), Cadel Evans (BMC) and Diego Ulissi (Lampre).  Richie Porte's win of stage 5 moved him up to fourth place trailing by just 10 seconds.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2298911---194179/Painting.html#.UuSkfcso7IU

Tour Down Under: Why Defend? Attack! Stage 5

At the base of the final climb up Old Willunga Hill and the lead of the Tour Down Under up for grabs, Team BMC and Cadel Evans decided to surprise the peloton, the contenders and even the commentators by attacking rather than just defending his position and sticking to the wheels of his two closes adversaries in the overall general classification.  Unfortunately the bold move wasn't to pay the dividends he hoped for.  At least this should dispel the belief that Cadel never attacks and lnly races defensively.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2298905---194179/Painting.html#.UuShDM8o7IU

Tour Down Under: Where Are They? Stage 5

With three out of the four from the original break surprising the peloton by getting over the Old Willunga Hill climb without getting caught.  As they started back down the other side hitting speeds of 100 kph, Matteo Trentin (OPQS) kept looking over his should trying to find the peloton charging up behind.  Jens Voight, on the front, just kept stomping out the rhythm letting the catch come when it may.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of Jens' last season.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2298903---194179/Painting.html#.UuSeXM8o7IU

Tour Down Under: Checking the Time, Stage 5

Even with race radio and two way communication between the riders and their team cars, there is still two people on a motorcycle going from group to group on the road showing the time splits on a chalkboard (or in this case a wipe board).  Today's break was comprised of the old man of the peloton, Jens Voight (Trek) as well as, Mikhail Ignatyev (Katusha), Juan Jose Lobato (Moviestar) and Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma Quickstep) who managed to build up an advantage of nearly 10 minutes before the teams of the contenders decided it was far enough.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of Voight's final season.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20Down%20Under%202014/2298899---194179/Painting.html#.UuScG88o7IU