The Art of Cycling: watercolors of the Dauphine

Showing posts with label watercolors of the Dauphine. Show all posts

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Dauphine, Final Stage: When You Know, You Know

With one last peek over his shoulder just to make sure, Mark Padun (Bahrain-Victorious) had a whole kilometer to celebrate his second stage victory in a row. He shook his fist in collaborative celebration with his team car behind as he build on his lead of over a minute and a half from the pursuing duo behind. The group containing the Maillot Jaune was a just over two minutes back, so he had no worries about losing time waving to the crowd as he neared the final finish line of this Dauphine in Les Gets. Chapeau! While the stage was his, it was Richie Porte taking first in the race, with Alexey Lutsenko in second and Geraint Thomas taking the third step of the podium.

This is the last painting of the Dauphine. While there are a race or two before the start of the Tour de France, that is the race I will be painitng next. So be sure to come back and see all of the artwork of the 2021 Tour and La Course.

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.

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Dauphine, Final Stage: Giving It Another Shot

Ben O'Connor (Ag2r-Citroen) had tried several times to escape from the group with the Yellow Jersey (and the rest of the top positions on the general classification). Undaunted, he went again with just 3 kilometers to the end of the stage, and the race. This time it worked. While he wasn't going to be able to catch the three up the road, he was going to be able to move himself up a couple of positions finishing the Dauphine in eighth place. In the distance you can see Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Premier Tech), who finished in second, looking back at the Maillot Jaune of Richie Porte (Ineos-Grenadiers), perhaps trying to decide if he should go after O'Connor in hopes of overtaking Porte. Geraint Thomas, Porte's teammate, simply wasn't going to let that happen.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3816654-128-185083/Painting/giving-it-another-shot-cd21-44.html

Dauphine, Final Stage: Trying It Again

This edition of the Criterium du Dauphine seems to have been all about the break away with a solo attack out of the break at the end of the stage. Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious) had been in the break yesterday and attacked the small group on the final climb of the day. The only difference today was that the break was the largest of the race. But off he went again, riding away from everyone else on the Haute Catagorie climb of the Col de Joux Plane. If he was over the top of this climb first, he would take the lead in the King of the Mountains competition. While a worthwhile prize, I think his larger goal was a second stage victory.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3816652-127-185083/Painting/trying-it-again-cd21-43.html

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Dauphine, Final Stage: Rolling Off the Front

Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) was one of those in the rather large break on the final stage of the Criterium du Dauphine. As they neared the final climb of the day (and therefore the race) he injected a little more pace perhaps to try and break up the large group. Or he simply just went a bit too hard and roled away from everyone else. He eased up once realizing no one else was on his wheel.

I am usually the guy rolling off the back.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3816475-126-185083/Painting/rolling-off-the-front-cd21-42.html

Dauphine, Final Stage: Can He Keep It?

Lawson Craddock (EF Education-Nippo) had spent the last two days off the front of the peloton collecting King of the Mountain points so that he could start the final stage in this Maillot a Pois. I seemed to remember the Dauphine using the reverse of the Tour KOM jersey, red spots on a white background. I like the Easter egg quality of the light blue, with the deep blue-purple shorts and the hot pink gloves, helmet accents, and team logo. Just ahead of the American are the two top placed riders on Bora-Hansgrohe, Wilco Kelderman and Patrick Konrad. Without being in the break today, it is unlikely he will hold the jersey at the end of the day or the Criterium du Dauphine. Still to wear a leader's jersey for even one day is something most of those who started the race did not achieve.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3816429-125-185083/Painting/can-he-keep-it-cd21-41.html

Dauphine, Final Stage: Bike Change

Not quite sure why, but Richie Porte (Ineos-Grenadiers) had a quick bike change at 50 kilometers to go. It was just before the climbing got going in ernest. There didn't seem to be a mechanical so it could have been that he wanted to change to a lighter climbing bike with a different gearing then the bike set up for the early part of the stage. Given how calm and fast the change was, it seemed more planned than a mechanical emergency. Porte did a beautiful job defending his Maillot Jaune that he claimed in stage 7. Spoiler alert, he took the overall win at the end of this stage, with his teammate Geraint Thomas taking the final step of the podium. Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Premier Tech) finished second overall, a position he held on the general classication since the stage 3 time trial.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3816426-124-185083/Painting/bike-change-cd21-40.html

Sunday, June 6, 2021

Dauphine, Stage 7: Celebrating Alone

He did it! Mark Padun (Bahrain-Merida) was able to stay off the front to take the stage up to La Palgne. His win marks the third stage taken by a solo break away with no other riders in sight. If you include Geraint Thomas' (Ineos-Grenadiers) late solo ride to victory with a closing peloton just missing the catch, four out of seven stages of this years Criterium du Dauphine was one by a solo break. That must be some sort of record. Behind Richie Porte (Ineos-Grenadiers) took second which with the gap on the others and a six second time bonus moved him into the overall race lead by 17 seconds over the erstwhile leader, Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Premier Tech). He also jumped back over his teammate Geraint Thomas on the team by just shy of half of a minute. One more mountain top finish to go and there are still 17 riders within two minutes of Porte, so the final stage will be hard fought. But, Porte has the edge over them all.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815714-123-185083/Painting/celebrating-alone-cd21-39.html

Dauphine, Stage 7: Hoping to Go It Alone

With so many stage of this Dauphine being one by a guy going solo to the line, Mark Padun (Bahrain-Victorious) was hoping he would be another to add his name to that tally. He was able to drop the American climber, Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) and every other guy in the race on the 11% gradient of the final climb of the day. The NBC announcers were sure that Kuss would come back, and were equally surprised that Padun was off on his own. But then, the riders know their own legs (and their own will to succeed) better than anyone else.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815712-122-185083/Painting/hoping-to-go-it-alone-cd21-38.html

Dauphine, Stage 7: Who Is Where?

Richie Porte (Ineos-Grenadiers) was the first of the GC riders to go on the offensive on the final climb of the day. Porte's attack was covered by Enric Mas (Movistar), the American Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma), and Mark Padun (Bahrain-Victorious). Porte looked back on a sharp turned to see what was happening behind. His teammate and team leader, Geraint Thomas, wasn't coming along for the ride. I think he, and everyone else, thought this was part one of a two part plan by Ineos. It may have been, but only Porte had the legs to do his part of the plan.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815698-121-185083/Painting/who-is-where-cd21-37.html

Dauphine, Stage 7: We Tried

Pierre Rolland (B&B Hotels) reached out to salute his erstwhile break away companion, Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo). The pair fist bumped as the peloton close in. You may be able to just make out the Movistar lead reduced peloton just around the corner. While in the break alliances are made, and later broken, but this one seems to have stood the test of kilometers. They had managed to stay away until the final eleven kilometers to the summit in La Plagne.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815691-120-185083/Painting/we-tried-cd21-36.html

Dauphine, Stage 7: Job Done

For some team members it is the goal to win the stage, or perhaps the stage race, but for most it is to help others achieve those goals. For the guys who work tirelessly to achieve the wins for others, the title of domestique is theirs. The Costa Rican, Andrey Amado (Ineos-Grenadiers) had done all he could do for the team on the climb of La Plagne. With 15 kilometers left to race, he dropped of the front and rode to the line as best he could. Ahead of him was the neutral support vehicle provided by Shimano with Marco Haller (Bahrain-Victorious) joining others that were sliding off the back of the ever shrinking peloton.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815690-119-185083/Painting/job-done-cd21-35.html

Dauphine, Stage 7: Off Loading

Jorge Arcas (Movistar) used the flat lands to off load his jacket now that he was done the final descent of the day. Ahead his break away companions were getting ready for the final ascent of the day. Two of thos with the Spaniard on the Spanish team were Martijn Tusveld (Team DSM) and Michael Valgren (EF Eduation-Nippo). With just under 25 kilometers to go (although most were uphill) it was looking like these members of the break might have a chance to take the stage. It would be stunning to see yet another stage of this Dauphine go to the break rather than the peloton.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815689-118-185083/Painting/off-loading-cd21-34.html

Friday, June 4, 2021

Dauphine, Stage 6: Still Free

I couldn't resist this title. In stage 5, Lawson Craddock (EF Eduation-Nippo) went on a solo attack. When I painted that effort I titled it, "Going Free" So naturally when the Texan went again today I had to titled it "Still Free" Craddock was looking good up and over the Cote de Frete, but those behind weren't going to let him stay out there unchallenged. With just fifteen seconds and another 6 kilometers to race, most of them uphill, it was unlikely he would succeed in the effort. He did move himself into second in the King of the Mountian competition.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815293-115-185083/Painting/still-free-cd21-31.html

Dauphine, Stage 6: Showing Their Colors

After Astana-Premier Tech pushed the pace on the way up the Col du Porte, it was Movistar hitting the front on the way back down the other side. Carlos Verona took the team over the top, down the other side, and on up the penultimate climb of the day. Stuck to his teammate's wheel was the designated team leader, Miguel Angel Lopez. On the wheel of Movistar was the guy sitting second overall, Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Premier Tech). He just needed to stay on the front to guarantee he would be the next to pull on the Maillot Jaune.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815290-114-185083/Painting/showing-their-colors-cd21-30.html

Dauphine, Stage 6: It Was Great While It Lasted

Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) had held the Maillot Jaune for much longer than many expected, including the announcers on NBC Sports. But today was the day the legs just couldn't keep turning over. It seemed that once the elastic snapped, he basically sat up and pedaled squares for the rest of the stage. Conversely, his teammates were still high on the general classification, so he may be saving himself to return the help that the team has given him these last couple of stages. Just ahead of the Austrian, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) was finding the going a bit too tough. With the Yellow Jersey off the back, Astana-Premier Tech, with the Maillot Jaune Virtuale on their team, hit the front and dramatically increased the pace.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815283-113-185083/Painting/it-was-great-while-it-lasted-cd21-29.html

Dauphine, Stage 6: Letting Them Know

It may be old school, but the chalkboard is still used to let the riders know what the time gaps are between the groups on the road. The peloton has been chasing the large break away since the start of the day. With 30 kilometers left to race it is useful to know just how close the escapees are. And, yes, the team cars, the race radios, and GPS kind of make this relic unnecessary. But I doubt it will disappear anytime soon.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815280-111-185083/Painting/letting-them-know-cd21-27.html

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Dauphine, Stage 5: Surprising the Peloton

It takes more than power and fitness to win a stage race, not that Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers) doesn't have plenty of both. It also takes strategy. Thomas made sure he was on the front of the peloton as they came off of the final climb. He (and his team) knew there was a sharp u-turn at the base of the climb at just about one kilometer to the finish. He had a his teammate Michal Kwiatkowski on his wheel. That allowed his teammate to leave a gap and to disrupt the inital response to the Brit's move. That left Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) to use his last lead out man to try and catch the former winner of the Tour de France. Swinging on to the chase is Lawson Craddock (EF Education-Nippo) still having the legs to chase after his attack on the other side of the Cote.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815107-109-185083/Painting/surprising-the-peloton-cd21-25.html

Dauphine, Stage 5: Going Free

Lawson Craddock (EF Education-Nippo) used the final climb of the day, the Cote du Montrebut to launch an attack on the peloton. As he left the peloton I was reminded of another bike racer from Texas. Craddock opened up a half minute pretty quickly, but then a combination of GC teams and sprinters teams decided they didn't want to let the stage victory get away from them. Craddock took them over the climb but was caught at the bottom of the descent. Still, it was worth the effort.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815084-108-185083/Painting/going-free-cd21-24.html

Dauphine, Stage 5: Gaps Are Forming

With the peloton at full cry and a section of open road exposed the crosswinds, gaps started to form. This group found that a gap had formed and were doing all they could to chase back. The quartet of Laurent Pichon (Arkea-Samsic), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Sebastien Grignard (Lotto Soudal) and Will Barta (EF Education-Nippo) seemed to content to let those on the front do the chasing, while they stayed on the wheels for a relatively free ride back to the peloton. It did work. And it only took a couple of kilometers to rejoin.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815078-107-185083/Painting/gaps-are-forming-cd21-23.html

Dauphine, Stage 5: Exploiting the Situation

With all of the early break aways safely tucked back into the peloton, there was an easing of the pace. It was Sven Erik Bystrom (UAE Team Emirates) who decided to exploit that situation. He jumped clear of the leading peloton and went off on his own. Byrstom has a good reputation in the time trial but a solo 28 kilometers might be a tall order. He would have to climb both the Cold de Barbe Bleue and the Cote du Montrebut and make two blistering descents if he had any hope of taking the stage win in Saint Vallier. It has already been done twice this Dauphine, I doubt it will succeed with so many riders within a minute on the general classification.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Criterium-du-Dauphine/3815075-106-185083/Painting/exploiting-the-situation-cd21-22.html