Tour '24, Stage 9: The Dash to the Line

Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) was the first to open up his sprint followed quickly by Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers).  The pair got beat to the line by Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies).  Turgis' win makes the third stage won by a Frenchman this Tour.  It is also the fifth first time Tour win this year.  Or sixth if you want to count the one guy, Biniam Girmay, who has won two stages, but they were the first he has ever won in the Tour.  This has been a Tour of first, for riders, for teams with the notable exception of Mark Cavendish's 35th Tour stage win earlier this week.  Just off the podium, and barely in the frame of this artwork, is Alex Aranburu, the Spanish Champion on Movistar.  His team had three men in the break for most of the day, so it is even more frustrating for him that he couldn't finish it off at the line in Troyes.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The Dash to the Line TdF24-51" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Dauphine, Stage 5: Did I Do It?

The answer to Geraint Thomas' (Ineos-Grenadiers) implied question is "yes."  He had gotten enough of an advantage leading to the final meters of the stage that he had just enough to stay ahead of the fast closing sprinters.  His move left Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) to take his fourth mass sprint, but yet again the sprint was for second place.  Rounding out the top five were Alex Aranburu (Astana-Premier Tech) - who was third for yet another stage-, Carlos Bargero (Qhubeka-ASSOS), and Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Israel Start Up Nation).  The current Maillot Jaune, Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) owes a debt of gratitude to these sprinters their closing of the gap to Thomas meant that he gained no more than the bonus seconds for finishing first.  Had he kept the gap he opened up and 500 meters he most likely have been the next leader of the Dauphine.  As it was the 10 second time bonus moved him up to 6th place in the general classification, just 16 seconds behind Postlberger.  And it moved him to the highest ranking amongst his teammates as well, but only by two seconds.

I'm sure the climbing to come will open up much larger gaps on the general classification.

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/3815110-110-185083/Painting/did-i-do-it-cd21-26.html

Dauphine, Stage 3: Finally!

 "Finally!"  That had to be on the lips of Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) as he took his third mass sprint in a row.  However, this time it was for stage honors.  The last two sprints had been after a sole rider had already crossed the line seconds ahead of the closing peloton.  Unable to get around the Italian were Alex Aranburu (Astana-Premier Tech), Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek Segafredo).  McNulty was smart to grab some bonus seconds towards his general classification aspirations.  Stuyven may have been left wondering how he could have fared had he not been forced to chase back to the peloton earlier.  And then while relieved, Colbrelli fell just two seconds shy of claiming the Maillot Jaune with this victory, but he did increase his lead in the Maillot Vert competition.

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/3814735-98-185083/Painting/finally-cd21-14.html