The Art of Cycling: May 2021

Monday, May 31, 2021

Dauphine, Stage 2: One Last Peek

Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) allowed himself one more peek over his shoulder as he came within meters of the line in Saugues. Postlberger had dropped each and everyone of his break away companions and kept the peloton at bay. For the second day in a row, it was a solo attack from the break the won the stage. And like yesterday, the leader's Maillot Jaune was the prize along with stage honors at the end of the day. And again it was Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) who took second place leading the rest of the peloton home for the second day running. At least he now has the Maillot Vert outright.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since ti is an original work of art, it is a first come first seved reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburth watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814599-93-185083/Painting/one-last-peek-cd21-9.html

Dauphine, Stage 2: A Day in Yellow

Yesterday, Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) surprised the peloton and soloed to a stage win. I had titled the painting of his victory salute, "The Stage and Two Jerseys", alas, I was wrong. He had actually won all four leaders' jerseys of the Dauphine. He became the overall leader, the best young rider, the sprint points leader, and the King of the Mountain. Sadly, it looks like he will be surrendering all of those jersey today. It is the Cote de la foret de Porcheresse that seems to be his undoing. His teammate (and team leader) Tim Wellens is doing his best to encourage his young charge. Jeremy Bellicaud (Intermache-Wanty Gobert Materiaux) was happy to have a wheel to hold on the penultimate climb of the day.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814447-92-185083/Painting/a-day-in-yellow-cd21-8.html

Dauphine, Stage 2: And then There Were Two

Using a small climb before the final two cotes of the day, Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) got the jump on his erstwhile break away companions. The long haired Shane Archbold (Deceuninck-Quick Step) was the only one of the others with the legs to go with the Austrian. The two build up a two minute and forty nine second gap on the following peloton with just 23.5 kilometers to the finish in Saugues. It was a doable thing, yet I can't imagine the peloton getting it wrong two days in a row.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814446-91-185083/Painting/and-then-there-were-two-cd21-7.html

Dauphine, Stage 2: Looking for More

After the exploits of his teammate yesterday, Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) didn't want to let the team down. With Holmes in the break it was ensured that the polka dot jersey would stay in the team even if it wasn't going to stay with the current race leader, Brent Van Moer. As the break neared the top of the Cote d'Auvers, it was Holmes going for the maximum points with only Anthony Delaplace (Arkea Samsic) keeping the Brit honest. It looked like both Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Shane Archbold (Deceuninck-Quick Step) were going to save their energy and keep the fight going for staying off the front.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814415-90-185083/Painting/looking-for-more-cd21-6.html

Dauphine, Stage 2: Letting Them Go

Robert Power (Qhubeka-ASSOS) had done well to get himself into the early break, particularly with a Cat 1 climb to start of the stage. However, a little over half way through the stage he just found the pace a bit too much and let his now former break away companions go on up the road without him. Shane Archbold (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal), Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Anthony Delaplace (Arkea Samsic) didn't even seem to take a look back over their shoulders as they got on with the task at hand. Power dropped back to the peloton and then out the back of that group too. About twenty kilometers later he was the first to drop out of this year's Criterium du Dauphine. I hope his problems aren't too serious.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814414-89-185083/Painting/letting-them-go-cd21-5.html

Sunday, May 30, 2021

Dauphine, Stage 1: The Stage and Two Jerseys

Brent Van Horn (Lotto Soudal) had gone in the early break looking to claim the first King of the Mountains Jersey of this year's Criterium du Dauphine. Instead, he came away with considerably more. It is a rare thing for the break away to stay off the front all of the way to win the stage, but that is what Van Horn managed to do (those with him were absorbed by the peloton within the final 15 kilometers of the stage.) Van Horn not only took is first victory in a pro tour race, but because he did so he is now the first to wear the yellow jersey of race leader. Ironically, his success on the stage means he will not be wearing the polka dot jersey of the king of the mountains, because the yellow jersey of race leader takes precedence. Not a bad day out on the bike.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814172-88-185083/Painting/the-stage-and-two-jerseys-cd21-4.html

Dauphine, Stage 1: In With a Chance

At the base of the penultimate climb of the day, the Cote du Chateau de Buron, Brent Van Moer attacked his now former break away companions. He may have been just hoping to add to his king of the mountain points having crested every previous climb of the day first. Or perhaps he felt that his former companions just didn't have the legs to hold off the chasing peloton. Nevertheless, he was off on his own at 13 kilometers to go. With some luck, he may just have enough of a gap on those behind to take it all of the way to the finish in Issoire.

It is good to see cycling fans lining the roads of France again. And good to see that many are still wearing masks, although not this family with their cell phones in hand.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814167-87-185083/Painting/in-with-a-chance-cd21-3.html

Dauphine, Stage 1: Just Getting Back

The American Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) seemed to have a mechanical off camera. The first time we saw him from the helicopter shot, he was chasing back to the peloton through the caravan of team cars. With just 17 kilometers (and two categorized climbs) to go, he just had to get around the race director's car to re-attach to the tail of the peloton. Apparently the chase back cost him too much energy, as the road went up again, he dropped off the tail of the group after all of the effort to catch back on. Bike racing is hard and can be cruel when passing out the luck for the day.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814164-86-185083/Painting/just-getting-back-cd21-2.html

Dauphine, Stage 1: You're Doing Great

Just like many of the Tour de France hopefuls, I like to use the Criterium du Dauphine to test my form as I prepare for the Tour. Many of the marquee riders will come to this race to see how their preparations are going ahead of the most popular of the three grand tours. Today it was a four man break that soon became this trio of riders. Brent Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) drops back from is companions, Cyril Gautier (B&B Hotels) and Patrick Gamper (Bora-Hansgrohe), for a few words of encouragement from his sports director. Since I paint these works in real time, I had little idea just how prophetic this title might be (but more on that later).

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3814155-85-185083/Painting/youre-doing-great-cd21-1.html