Dauphine Stage 2: Sprinting for Polka Dots

To clarify this title, the leader of the King of the Mountains competition in the Dauphine wears a red jersey with white polka dots (the reverse of the Tour de France).  So the five man break knows that one of their group will win the right to wear the jersey at the end of the stage.  Today, it was Kevin Reza (Europcar) had the legs to summit the first five climbs of the day first.  Each time he was followed over the top by Thomas Damuseau (Giant Shimano).  Damuseau did have an advantage of knowing these roads, the peloton road past his house at 37 kilometers into the stage.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that measures 4 inches by 6 inches and is available at my artist website, www.greigleach.com  To purchase this particular painting follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Do hurry though, you wouldn't want to miss out on this piece of art of the 66th Criterium du Dauphine.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2386084---199476/Painting.html#.U6Btes_D_IU

Dauphine Stage 2: Cresting a Small Climb

The first open road stage of the Criterium du Dauphine feature six categorized climbs, a rude awakening to the legs to be sure.  With a lot to ride for, these five attacked on the first climb of the day with a Polka Dot Jersey and maybe more at the end of the stage, Thomas Damuseau (Giant Shimano), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R), Kevin Reza (Europcar), Matthias Brandle (IAM Cycling) and Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale), were all opening for a great result at the end of the day.  This is an original 4"x6" ink and watercolor painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  Also 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.  But do hurry you wouldn't want to miss your chance to have a piece of the 66th Criterium du Dauphine.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2386070---199476/Painting.html#.U6BsUs_D_IU

Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Climbing at the Back

Every climb along the entire 263 kilometers of the 100th running of Liege-Bastogne-Liege are lined with thousands of screaming cycling fans (and a number of Belgium beer enthusiasts).  This is the view from the back of the peloton, where the suffering is happening.  Either because the kilometers are getting into the legs, or the riders have had a mechanical, a nature break, or some other reason that they are at the back trying to work their way back up to the business end of the peloton.  Here it is Pieter Velits (BMC) who has done a lot of the work bringing back the break away and Thomas Damseau (Giant-Shimano) climbing under the waving Belgium flag.  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/Spring%20Classics%202014/2354477---195767/Painting.html#.U13OxsvD_IU

Dauphine Stage Seven: Saying Thank You

Damuseau of Argos-Shimano wearing the Polka Dot Jersey, pats his teammate on the back to thank him for all of the hard work thus far in the stage.  I am guessing his teammate has just blown and can't keep the pace anymore and imagine he is getting a "don't worry about it" hug.  Or maybe Damuseau is just a touchy-feely guy, I did see him with his hand on the back of an Astana rider just a few minutes later.  The Europcar rider right behind these two is David Veilleaux, the first wearer of the Malliot Jeune.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2162029---185083/Painting.html#.UbvCfc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage Two: Here They Come

Today's break wasn't given much of a gap and now the peloton is catching all but the Cofidis rider who jumped away from the break, even though he just prolong his agony.  I always enjoy the image of the riders looking behind them to gauge what is happening, either as they are caught by the peloton or to see how much of a gap they have gained by their attack.  Either way it makes for an encaging image.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website,  just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Criterium%20du%20Dauphine/2161065---185083/Painting.html#.UbkylM_D_IU