A Gentleman's Sport
Each multi stage race lines up the holders of the leader's jerseys at the start line of each stage. The Criterium du Dauphine is no different. There was an excellent moment before the roll out when Chris Froome (Team Sky) leaned over and shook the hand of Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo). Contador had successfully taken the Maillot Jeune off of the back of Froome on the penultimate stage after the Brit had worn it from day one of the race. With the hand shake it appeared that it would be a race for hopeful stage winners with the GC to be left alone. I couldn't have been more wrong about how the coming stage to Courchevel was going to play out. Wow, is all I can say about the racing that was about to unfold. This is an original small watercolor and ink painting (4"x6" or 10cm x 15cm) that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.