Tour '25, Stage 19: That Should Seal It

Lidl-Trek hit the front as soon as Prudhome waved the flag at kilometer zero.  They were off with one sole purpose today and that was to get the maximum sprint points for their man Jonathan Milan.  With this intermediate sprint he should now have enough points to carry the Maillot Vert all of the way to Paris.  Should Tadej Pogacar not win the stage that should make it mathematically impossible for the yellow jersey to win the green one too.  So yet again, Milan out sprinted everyone within his group at the intermediate sprint out gunning Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) and Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies).  His team has been so strong that the USA Champion Quinn Simmons who is on his team took fourth in the sprint.  Even he had the legs to outsprint Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Mobility).  Although, I discovered moments later that Abrahamsen was preparing for the post sprint counter move to start the breakaway.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"That Should Seal It TdF25-125" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 17: Continuing His Streak

Every time the peloton approaches an intermediate sprint regardless of a break being off the front or not, it is Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) who takes the sprint over the group he is within.  So the four-man break took the maximum points, but Milan sucked up the most that were left towards solidifying his lead in the Maillot Vert.  The continual also ran, Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) took the next placing holding strong to his third place in the competition, or we could say second amongst the sprinters.  I talk about why that is in my YouTube post I filmed while painting this watercolor.  You will be able to click through to that video below... eventually.  While you are there, it would be lovely if you would subscribe to the channel.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Continuing His Streak TdF25-112" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 16: Well, That Didn't Work

Both of the two top sprinters still in the Tour de France, had missed the early breakaway of thirty-one guys.  With that many up the road neither would score any points towards the Maillot Vert of most consistent sprinter of the Tour.  Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) has the lead in that competition with Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) just a bit behind him.  Unfortunately for the sprinters the combination of Tadej Pogacar sitting in second in the competition and the "Monster of Provence," Mont Ventoux facing the peloton at the end of the stage Milan was in danger of losing that spiffy Green Jersey.  Naturally, if Milan goes on the attack, Girmay is going to follow.  It was nice to see them exchange a kind word after their failed effort to bridge up to the breakaway.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Well, That Didn't Work TdF25-103" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 8: Grabbing Lunch

Even us casual cyclists burn a lot of calories while out on the bike, but the pro is way off the charts burning 6,000 calories per stage.  It is the soigneurs (and team cars) that keep them fueled up.  Out on course there are designated 'Feed Zones' where the riders can grab musettes (lunch bags) from their soigneurs on the side of the road.  After a successful grab, they will rifle through them stuffing whatever they want into their jersey's back pockets.  Once emptied the musettes are tossed to eager fans along the side of the road.  The musettes are a coveted souvenir along with the bidons for the thousands of fans that line the roads of France every day.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Grabbing Lunch TdF25-50" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

This painting has sold!

Tour '25, Stage 8: Adding to His Collection

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) has been perfect at sprinting against the bunch in every intermediate sprint in this Tour thus far.  Today, he was able to sprint for the maximum of twenty points in Vitre. I keep thinking this is close to the French word for 'fast.'  Milan was certainly fast.  Try as the might, the trio of Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quickstep), Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) and Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) couldn't get within a half a bike length of the guy wearing the Maillot Vert.  At this point he sits in second place in the sprinters' competition, but this addition to his collection of points will set him up to retake the lead at the stage's finale.  Milan just missed getting his first Tour de France stage win when Merlier beat him in a photo finish.  I'm worried about Girmay, he just doesn't have the pop that won him that same green jersey last year.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Adding to His Collection TdF25-49" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 7: Racing Back

With thirty-three kilometers to race, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) was being paced back into the peloton after a nature break by his teammate Pascal Eenkhoorn.  The pair streaked pass Jonas Rutsch (Intermarche-Wanty) who may have been looking for his team car.  Evenepoel is wearing a white jersey since he is currently the best young rider of this Tour.  Evenepoel won the Maillot Blanc in 2024 and finished third taking the final step of that Tour's podium.  He seemed to be having a bit of trouble regaining the peloton as the speed continued to increase as the race flew to the conclusion of the day.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Racing Back TdF25-43" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 7: Consistently, the Best of the Rest

The peloton found itself coming to the intermediate sprint with a five-man break up the road yet again.  For the third time (I think) Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) was sprinting to be the 'best of the rest' in Pledran.  He was easily able to come around last year's winner of the final Maillot Vert, Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty).  I can't decide if Milan is just that much better, or Girmay just doesn't have the punch he had in 2024.  Still, bringing Milan over Mads Pedersen seems to have been the correct decision for Lidl-Trek.  

Normally I have been seeing Eritrean flags at the sprint points, but today the only flag flying was of Slovenia for the erstwhile Maillot Jaune of Tadej Pogacar.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Consistently, the Best of the Rest TdF25-42 " (Original art by Greig Leach)

 

Tour '25, Stage 4: Increasing His Advantage

Just like the intermediate sprint yesterday there were four guys still off the front from the early breakaway.  And just like yesterday, it was Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) taking out the best of the rest sprint from the peloton.  Unlike yesterday, it was a clean sprint without a big crash.  Milan clearly got the better of Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) is closest competitor for the final Maillot Vert.  He increased his lead over Grimay by a single point as he sped through Saint Adrien.

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Staying Hydrated TdF25-19" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 2: Pissed Off

Despite having won the intermediate sprint behind the four-man breakaway, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) was pissed off at Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) over some perceived infraction.  For the life of me I couldn't see what made him go full Italian waving his hands all over the place.  If anything, Grimay should have been the one with the complaint as the Italian had tried to push the Eritrean off of his lead-out man's wheel.  While they were arguing, Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) - the European Champion - had taken the spot in-between the two.  And the Maillot Jaune on the shoulders of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was the fourth across the intermediate sprint line of the peloton in  Enocq.  

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 $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Pissed Off TdF25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!