Dauphine Stage 2: All Up to the Team Leaders

Once Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) swung off the front, it was up to his team leader, Chris Froome (Team Sky) to do what he could to win the stage and hold the Maillot Jeune.  Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) was ready for the attack he knew was coming from the African born Brit.  The first attack, easily covered by the Spaniard, proved to put Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) into difficulty.  The rest of the peloton did not fare much better against the aggressiveness the purer climbers.  However, those that just kept pushing were able to catch the wheel of the wearers of the Yellow and Green jerseys.  This is an original small (4"x6") watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting of Stage 2 just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Good luck and don't delay.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2387174---199476/Painting.html#.U6IrMc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage 2: Too Many Kilometers

While he is not the only one in the race, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp) has just finished the Giro d'Italia and found that the kilometers he already has in his legs added to the final climb of today's stage were just a little bit too much.  At his point he can still see the peloton up the road, but try has he might, he just can't get back on their wheels.  His only comfort was that those who had been riding tempo for their leaders were sliding back faster than he was.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com  To purchase this painting from the 66th Criterium du Dauphine just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Good luck but don't delay, you wouldn't want to miss your chance.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2387172---199476/Painting.html#.U6Iogs_D_IU

Dauphine Stage 2: Climbing at Their Pace

Team Sky has learned that the way to get and hold the Malliot Jaune, is to hit the climbs and set a hard, fast tempo.  A pace fast enough to prevent attacks and hard enough to shed the pretenders.  The team has spent a lot of time training with power meters developing the ability to ride the rest of the peloton off of their wheels.  Chris Froome (Team Sky) is using his teammates one after the other to reduce his competition, unfortunately, the team put their own, Richie Porte into trouble along with most of the domestiques of their competitors.  It was Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) would led most of the way up the Col du Beal, until he swung off and Froome attacked.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting, 4"x6", that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.   To buy this particular painting of the 66th Criterium du Dauphine just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2386088---199476/Painting.html#.U6Byls_D_IU

Dauphine Stage 2: Getting It Right

Rein Taarame (Cofidis) had the dubious distinction of being the first to leave some skin on the roads of France.  After his fortunately minor crash, he needed an adjustment to his bike, shortly after this he ended up changing bikes, unfortunately, the crash happen just as the peloton ramp up the speed before hitting the final ascent of the day.  With the contenders' teams trying to position their leaders for the assault on Col du Beal, Taarame was facing a hard chase back, a chase that would burn some of the energy he would need for the climb.  Taarame is wearing the colors of Estonia National Road Champion rather than the bright red kit of Cofidis.  This is an original small watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  The painting is only $50 USD and I do ship internationally.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2386086---199476/Painting.html#.U6ButM_D_IU

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

Dauphine Stage 1: Starting His Defense

Chris Froome (Team Sky) by virtue of winning the Dauphine last year, was the last cyclist to roll down the start ramp to speed through the streets and tunnel of Lyon in search of a Yellow Jersey, the Malliot Jaune of race leader.  Through the course, he appeared to be staying even with Alberto Contrador (Tinkoff Saxo) who has the current race lead and riding just ahead of Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), but it is the time at the finishing line that matters.  Froome's time was three seconds better than Contrador giving him the first leader's jersey of the 66th Criterium du Dauphine.  This is an original small 4"x6" watercolor and ink painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  This original art is only $50 USD and I do ship internationally.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2386054---199476/Painting.html#.U6Bqos_D_IU

Dauphine Stage 1: Turning for Home

Under the watchful eyes of the Gendarme and the thousands of cycling fans along the streets of Lyon, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) makes a sharp right turn after crossing the river and heads into the final kilometer of this race of truth.  Nibali has faced some harsh criticism, most notably from his Director Sportif, Alexander Vinokurov (the retired racer that Astana was original built around) for failing to deliver the results his salary merits.  Nibali is the winner of the 2013 Giro d'Italia, but hasn't had a single race or stage victory so far in 2014.  Today didn't change the stage win stats, but he did put himself in the top ten going into a mountain top finishing stage 2.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard measuring 4"x6" that is available at my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  To buy this piece of art from the 66th Criterium du Dauphine just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And I do ship internationally, cheaply.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2386052---199476/Painting.html#.U6BpRc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage 1: New Best Time

Alberto Contrador (Tinkoff Saxo) came to the Dauphine with a purpose.  He is riding to test his form for the coming Tour de France, seeing how he will measure up against the 2013 winner of both the Tour and the Dauphine, along with the winner of the 2013 Giro d'Italia.  He was the first of the three big name contenders to cross the line in the opening salvo in Lyon, and he laid down the new best time for the 10 kilometer course.  This is an original 4"x6" watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website, www.greigleach.com   For this original work of cycling art, just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 66th Criterium du Dauphine.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2386048---199476/Painting.html#.U6BoAc_D_IU

Dauphine Stage 1: Tunnel Vision

Today's Time Trial through the heart of Lyon included a multi use tunnel under a hill side in the center of town.  The tunnel includes bike lanes (trust the Europeans to include this in their design) and to keep the cyclists visually entertained, the walls are used as video projection surfaces with a wide variety of light shows, video animation and changing colored lighting to amuse even the slowest moving cyclist.  David Miller (Garmin Sharp) had a different sort of tunnel vision has he focused on the task of hand, getting around the 10 kilometer course in as short of a time as humanly possible.  I doubt he even registered the visual entertainment as he speed through the tunnel at 40 kph.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available in a quick 3 day auction on ebay.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to bid on your piece of the 66th Criterium du Dauphine.  Do hurry, it is a very quick auction.

This painting is sold.