Gent-Wevelgem '25: Capturing the Moment

I was confident that Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) would make his long solo effort stick.  In his post-race interview, he revealed that he wasn't so sure.  He pointed out that he was well aware just how fast the peloton can close in the final kilometers of a race.  It wasn't until he looked back at four-hundred meters and saw no one that he finally felt that he would win Gent-Wevelgem for the second time in a row.  He has now won a total of three times, tying a record held by Cippolini, Sagan, Boonen and Merckx.  That is some seriously big names in the annals of professional cycling.  No man has won Gent-Wevelgem four times.... yet.

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.

"Capturing the Moment GW25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gent-Wevelgem '25: No Progress

Despite the combine efforts of Timo Kielich (Alpecin-Deceuninck), both Jonas Abrahamson and Rasmus Tiller (Uno X-Mobility) and Yves Lambert (Soudal-Quick Step) the peloton wasn't making any real progress towards catching Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek). Lidl-Trek did have two of Pedersen's teammates, Alex Kirsch and Toms Skujins, doing their best to disrupt the chase of their defending champion.  With eight and a half kilometers to go, they were still a minute and twenty seconds behind the flying Dane.  They did manage to catch the other three that were also unsuccessful in their chase of the leader as well.  Now it looks like Pedersen has a very strong chance of winning his third Gent-Wevelgem.

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.

"No Progress GW25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gent-Wevelgem '25: Losing Ground

Despite their best efforts, the trio of Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike), Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Arjen Livyns (Lotto) kept losing time to the flying Mads Pedersen.  Haller was the sole survivor of the early breakaway.  Both Campenaerts and Livyns had bridge up to Haller in the last twenty kilometers or so.  With thirty-two kilometers to race, they were now a minute and a half behind the lone leader and roughly a minute ahead of the reduced chasing peloton.  It did want to do this piece since I so enjoyed the inflatable of the sun created by Eneco.

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.

"Losing Ground GW25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gent-Wevelgem '25: Going on the Kemmelberg

After having bridged up to the early breakaway, it was Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) who used the final climb of the Kemmelberg to drop them.  You know by his bib #1 that he is the defending champion of Gent-Wevelgem.  He clearly had the legs to stage a great defense of that title with another fifty-six kilometers to race.  It is a bit of a tall order to go solo from this far out, but he has shown the form to make me believe it may just be possible.

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.

"Going on the Kemmelberg GW25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gent-Wevelgem '25: With a Slight Advantage

As with most of the Classics, the day started with a group eight guys getting of the front together.  Today was no different. Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis), Jasha Suttelin (Jayco-Alula), Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Samuel Leroux and Alex Coleman (TotalEnergies), and Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling) build up a four-minute lead over the peloton at one point.  By the time Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) joined the escapees, they had just under a minute's advantage with seventy-four kilometers yet to go.  It wasn't looking like it would be a day for the breakaway.  But then, it rarely is.

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.  

"With a Slight Advantage GW25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Gent-Wevelgem '25: Chasing the Leaders

With the early breakaway within reach, first Johan Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ) and then Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) go off the front of the peloton in hopes of joining the leaders with 100 kilometers to go.  Campenaerts was successful in the effort, but Jacobs didn't quite have the legs to stay on the Belgium's wheel.  

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.

"Chasing the Leaders" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 8: A Collaborative Effort

Once Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) had gone through the intermediate sprint on the Col d'Eze, thus winning the final Maillot Vert, he then collaborated with Magnus Sheffield (Ineos-Grenadiers) on the way into the finale in Nice.  The two were hoping to vie for stage honors in another thirteen kilometers whilst holding off a chasing Matteo Jorgenson.  It worked out that Sheffield dropped the spent Pedersen shortly after this moment.  It is perhaps what Pedersen was telling the American on the British team.  I don't have much left; but I'll give you one more pull before I pull the plug.  Pedersen was the twentieth guy to come across the line, but no matter he had kept the green points jersey.  Whereas Sheffield went on to take the stage by twenty-nine seconds over Jorgenson, finally giving his team the stage win they had hoped for all week long.

Sheffield moved himself into fourth overall, just behind his teammate (and team leader) Thymen Arensman. Again, there just wasn't a good enough image of Sheffield winning along the marina on the Boulevard des Anglais, so this will have to function as his winning painting.

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.

"A Collaborative Effort PN25-36" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 8: Come and Take It

After multiple attacks from the rest of the reduced peloton, it was the Maillot Jaune himself, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) who went off the front on the Col d'Eze.  As he looked back over his shoulder, he seemed to say to those who would challenge his lead, just try and catch me.  With twenty-five kilometers left in Paris Nice, there were just two guys up the road that might spoil his perfect day.  Despite leading the race by at least thirty-seven seconds on those five seconds or more behind him, he has yet to win a stage in this year's edition of the Race to the Sun.  

He didn't manage to catch both leaders, but he did take second on the stage sealing his second victory in a row of Paris Nice.  There wasn't a great image of his victory salute as he crossed the line twenty-nine seconds behind the stage winner.

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.

"Come and Take It PN25-35" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Happily, this painting has sold!

Paris Nice '25, Stage 8: Covering Everything

After the first climb, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) found himself without any of his teammates to help cover the attacks from those nearest his lead in the general classification.  One who tried to escape from the Maillot Jaune was the Maillot Blanc, Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) on the climb up the Cote de Peille.  Jorgenson was able to cover this move, and every other move that mattered on the way to Nice.  Lipowitz had to go for two reasons, one in hopes of taking over the overall, and two he needed to chase down one of the two guys up the road, Magnus Sheffield, who sat third in the Maillot Blanc competition of the best young rider in Paris Nice.

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.

"Covering Everything PN25-34" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Happily, this painting has sold!

Paris Nice '25, Stage 8: Flying Off the Mountain

After going over the top of the Col de la Porte in fifth place, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) went on the offensive.  He opened up a one-minute gap on the peloton just by his superior descending skills.  It should be noted that Pedersen is wearing the Maillot Vert of the points leader, oft referred to as the sprinter's jersey.  Of equal importance is that sprinters are exactly known for their climbing prowess.  The guy closes to Pedersen in this competition was the leader of the overall race, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike).  Pedersen could sew up the overall Maillot Vert should he be able to reach the intermediate sprint point over the top of the Col d'Eze.  Should he get maximum points there, Jorgenson will not be able to earn enough points even if he should win the stage to take the green jersey off of this great Dane.

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.

"Flying Off the Mountain PN25-33" (Original art by Greig Leach)