The Art of Cycling: April 2025

Monday, April 14, 2025

Paris Roubaix '25: Sprinting for Third

Had it not been for an ill-timed flat tire, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) may well have been sprinting for the win with Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel. Instead, he led out the sprint (and took it) in the Roubaix velodrome for third place. Try as he might, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), couldn't get around the Dane. Claiming fifth was Pogacar's teammate Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates). Both van Aert and Vermeersch had crashes over the 259 kilometers of the Hell of the North. So, all of the top six finishers had either crashes, mechanicals, or both, proving again that it takes both luck and strength to win this iconic Spring Classic.

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.

"Sprinting for Third PR25-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: Three in a Row

As he let us know in his victory salute, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won his third Paris Roubaix in a row! He joins a very short list of now three men who have achieved this very, very, difficult feat. He pulled away from those chasing behind putting in a minute and eighteen seconds into the second-place finish of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and another fifty-three seconds into the sprint for third.

"Three in a Row PR25-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: Losing Ground

I confess that I was surprised that Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) wasn't able to pull back the twenty seconds he lost on pave sector 9. Admittedly, he was chasing the two-time winner of Paris Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel. Both are known for winning races with long solo breakaways. Apparently the crash took the spirit out of the World Champion or the constant pounding of the cobbles. He did hold off the chasers to take second place in Roubaix, not a bad debut appearance at the Hell of the North.

"Losing Ground PR25-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: Overcooking It

On pave sector 9 Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) attacked his sole rival Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Perhaps it was a lack of course knowledge or over confidence, but Tadej Pogacar went into a sharp right hand turn a little too hot. He lost control of the bike as van der Poel just held it together. The mistake caused the World Champion about ten seconds since he needed another bike from his team car. Fortunately, his car was right behind him given the advantage the duo had over the rest of the race strewn over tens of kilometers back down the road.

"Overcooking It PR25-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: A Tactical Advantage

As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers. That was definitely the case for the closing kilometers of Paris Roubiax. After a great chase back by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceunick) to catch back up to his teammate Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) found himself in a tough spot having two guys from the same team working against him. Just the fact that Philipsen could drop back to the team car, leaving van der Poel free to keep applying the pressure. It is no small factor that the Alpecin-Deceuninck duo have finished first and second for the past two years. Would Pogacar be able to thwart that record?

"A Tactical Advantage PR25-12" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: Caught in the Middle

Once Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) had his flat and the other three went forward, Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) found himself caught in the middle of the main groups on the road. As he entered pave sector 14, he decided to just wait for those behind to catch him up. Not ideal, but he had a better chance of catching the leaders with the help of the six or so men chasing behind.

"Caught in the Middle PR25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: An Elite Duo

A combination of strong legs and good luck found Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) off the front alone. As they sped through pave sector 15, Mads Pedersen had a flat tire just as Pogacar made his move. It took a second for van der Poel to get around the slowing Pedersen and chase down the fleeing rainbow jersey. Despite the rain that fell between Paris Roubaix Femmes and today's race, only a few puddles lingered on an otherwise dry racecourse. The women had to contend with dust, but the men had near perfect road conditions. Conversely, the women had beautiful sunny skies, and the men raced under heavy grey clouds.

"An Elite Duo PR25-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: Into the Woods

Just because everyone knew that the move would come when they entered the Trouvee d'Arenberg, that didn't mean everyone could do anything about it. As they rode into the infamous Forest of Arenberg, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) went on his long-expected attack. He was quickly covered by the trio of favorites led by Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). All three have raced the cobbles to Roubaix before, with van Aert having won one, and van der Poel having won the last two editions. Pogacar is a neophyte to the Hell of the North.

"Into the Woods PR25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix '25: Looking for the Peloton

The early breakaway built up over three minutes on the peloton before they hit the cobblestones of Paris Roubaix. With another 106 kilometers to race Ben Turner (Ineos-Grenadiers) looked back over his shoulder in search of the chasing peloton. At this point, his advantage, along with Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Pro Cycling), Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Abram Stockman (Unibet-Tietma-Rockets) was down to just fifty seconds. There are two others in this group, but since their kilometers out front are coming to a close, I'll leave you to figure out who they are.

"Looking for the Peloton PR25-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Prevailing

The title was taken from the announcer on Peacock, Anthony McCrossan, attempting to make a pun out of the winner's name, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike). She came to the line after a lap and a half of the Roubaix Velodrome with just a butterfly to accompany her to the line. It was a brilliant attack that she was able to make stick through the closing kilometers with no one getting any closer once she had established her break. She becomes the first Frenchwoman to win Paris Roubiax Femmes in its now five-year history. I became a fan back in 2014 when she won the UCI Women's Road World Championships, and am thrilled to see her come back to road cycling after conquering almost every other cycling discipline. I think even the insect world was thrilled for her today.

"Prevailing PR25-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Almost a Minute

With the marquee riders all watching each other in the closing kilometers, it was the Frenchwoman Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) who jumped clear of the leading group. The reigning Olympic Mountain Biking Gold Medalist quickly built up a lead of almost a minute on those chasing behind. She flew over the cobbles of the final hard sector with just eight kilometers left to go in the fifth edition of the Paris Roubiax Femmes avec Zwift. It was looking like she may have a serious chance of being the first Frenchwoman to win in Roubaix.

"Almost a Minute PR25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Alone on Sector 6

It was Emma Norsgaard (Lidl-Trek) who hit the three-star sector six alone. The Norwegian has built up a twenty second lead on the chasing favorites (although she can count herself as one of those favorites as well). With her time trialing capabilities, she would prove a difficult woman to track down from behind. She has just another twenty-four kilometers to go. Will she have the stamina to race alone over the cobbles to come solo onto the velodrome in Roubaix?

"Alone on Sector 6 PR25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: They Caught Us

After the attack by Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and her teammate Lorena Wiebes were caught by the quartet containing Jelena Eric (Movistar), Chloe Dygert (Canyon/SRAM-zondacrypto), Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatley) and Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) the sextet didn't really seem to want to keep riding. With a motivate group behind, it wasn't too long before Kopecky looked back to see the chasers almost on their wheels. For the SD Worx-Protime duo and Eric, no help was arriving, but the rest found they now had reinforcements to help in their bids to win the fifth Paris Roubaix Femmes. With just another thirty-three kilometers to race, I was a little surprised that they let themselves be caught by a group of another eight women.

"They Caught Us PR24-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Going Together

With just one woman up the road, it was Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and her teammate Lorena Wiebes going on the attack. The duo of champions used the four-star pave sector 12 to attack the vastly reduced peloton of favorites to go on the offensive. Working together, they quickly built up a twenty second advantage. It was hard to tell who was working for whom between the World Champion and the European Champion. However, it was easy to tell that it was working either way.

"Going Together PR25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: Needing Help

Before painting this I kept seeing Pfeiffer Georgi (Picnic-PostNL) gesture that she needed help from her team car. After the end of each pave section, teams place soigneurs loaded with bottles and wheels to help out their riders. After painting and titling this artwork, I discovered that she had already swapped her race bike for her spare from her following team car. At this point the British Champion is trying to catch back up with the leading peloton. Side note, she did get back there, making the final selection vying for the podium in Roubaix.

"Needing Help PR25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Roubaix Femmes '25: First to the Cobbles

The duo of Quinty Ton (Liv-Alula-Jayco) and Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal) were the first to hit Sector 17 of Paris Roubaix Femmes. The had built up about a two and a half minute advantage over the smoother roads of the first sixty-four kilometers of the race. But we all know, the racing doesn't really start until the cobbles are under the wheels. With another eighty-two kilometers to go, they were facing just shy of forty kilometers of cobbles.

"First to the Cobbles PR25-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Ronde van Vlaanderen '25: On His Own, Now

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) use the last time up the Oude Kwaremont to rid himself of all of his competitors. While he has gone from much further out to win a race, he still found himself racing to victory in another Monument with fourteen kilometers to go. With a twenty-six second gap (and growing) to the four behind, it was clear this race was going to be his. In fact, the strength of this painting and the lack of a really good image at the finish, I let this symbolize his victory today.

"On His Own, Now RVV25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Ronde van Vlaanderen '25: Visma Chases

Having missed being able to go with the attack on the Oude Kwaremont, Visma-Lease a Bike was forced to chase. They had the numbers to bring back the leading trio, so it was Wout van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson, and Tiesj Benoot riding hard together. They were joined in the effort by two of the former attackers, Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) and Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek). Despite their collective best efforts, only van Aert was able to rejoin the front of the race, with the others remaing the second group on the road.

Another spoiler, while he did rejoin the leaders, van Aert finished fourth on the day, just off of the podium. I should point out that his teammates Benoot and Jorgenson finished sixth and 47th respectively. Kung ended up seventh and Stuyven was fifth.

"Visma Chases RVV25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Ronde van Vlaanderen '25: I See You

As the favorites went over the top of cobbled climb of the Oude Kwaremont they hit the cement slab roads of Flanders. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) had chased down the attacking Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) with Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) who was quick to get back on terms. Van der Poel looks back into the eyes of Pogacar perhaps trying to assess the Slovenians condition. I am quite sure he wanted to make sure that he saw that van der Poel was right back in the race. At this point Pedersen was just happy to be on the wheels.

Spoiler, Pedersen was able to win the sprint for second place - I'll tell you more about who won later.

"I See You RVV25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Ronde van Vlaanderen '25: Off He Goes!

As I am sure everyone expected, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) went on the attack just as the cobbles began on the Oude Kwaremont. Both Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) watched him launch the attack but didn't have the acceleration to go with the move. Planckaert's teammate Mathieu van der Poel found himself out of position, but was able to weave through to get back to the World Champion's wheel. The crowds on both sides of the road were loving their front row 'seats' to the Slovenian's display of power. With another 56 kilometers to race, there was plenty of time to set things right. Conversely, there were plenty of more climbs for Pogacar to go again.

"Off He Goes! RVV25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Ronde van Vlaanderen '25: Swapping Back

The first half of the Ronde van Vlaanderen wasn't the best for the defending champion, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). After a bike crash, and mechanical, and now a swap back to his preferred race bike, he was spending a lot of time chasing. At least this bike change was planned and done a good ten kilometers before the next cobbled climb. We quickly saw him rejoined the peloton and dive through the riders to get back on the front of the race.

It is always nice to get a bit of a push from your mechanic and the team.

"Swapping Back RVV25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Ronde van Vlaanderen '25: Counter Move

With the early breakaway still up the road, these four decided it was time for a counter move. I believe it was Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) who set things off. He was joined by Vito Braet (Intermache-Wanty), Davide Ballerini (XDS-Astana) and the ever watchful Tiesj Benoot (Visma-Lease a Bike). Benoot knew that if this group could join the leaders, it would put his team at an advantage when it came to the closing kilometers of the race. With 101 kilometers yet to race, they were a little over a minute behind the lead group and they had about three quarters of a minute on the rather large peloton behind.

"Counter Move RVV25-1" (Original art by Greig Leach)