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)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 7: Winning in the Snow

Despite the miserable conditions, Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling) was thrilled to raise his arms in the wet snow as he celebrated his victory.  It is the first win for his team in Paris Nice - it is a new team.  Hopefully, his win and the presence of Julian Alaphilippe on the team will go a long way to Tudor Pro Cycling a wild card invitation to this year's Tour de France.  Both this race, and the Tour are organized by ASO, so this will surely be a positive influence on that decision.  At least no one has to race back down this mountain today.

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.

"Winning in the Snow PN25-32" (Original art by Greig Leach) 

Paris Nice '25, Stage 7: On His Own

After a very hard pull by his teammate Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) pulled off the front of the breakaway, it was Michael Storer's chance to lay a hard attack.  Once inside the final two kilometers, Storer looked back across the snow-covered corner to make sure no one was bridging back up to him.  Since there is no racing descent off of this climb, the organizers weren't worry that it may well start snowing again.  As he peered back, he wouldn't have seen any of the main chase group, he has almost a minute and a half on them.  I was struck by his choice to just wear a speed suit for this final ascent up to the Auron ski slopes.

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. 

"On His Own PN25-31" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 7: Some Big Names Out Front

It was a large group of fifteen riders that got off of the front of the peloton today.  It was a shorten stage due to the foul weather.  With only 110 kilometers to race, these guys building an over three-minute lead on the peloton containing the Maillot Jaune was significant.  To names that I was surprised to see let lose were Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost).  The former was here riding for his teammate Michael Storer, but Powless was hoping to make up for suffering so much in the cold these past two stages.  Joining these two are Josh Tarling (Ineos-Grenadiers), Fred Wrightk (Bahrain-Victorious) and Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale) amongst others.  With just thirteen kilometers of climbing left, it was looking likely that one of these fifteen would be vying for stage honors in the Queen Stage of 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. 

"Some Big Names Out Front PN25-30" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 7: Forming the Grupetto

Due to the threat of snow on the higher elevations, the race organizers took out two of the climbs that were originally part of today's stage.  However, they left in the long slough up the valley to the climb up the Auron.  The thirty-kilometer climb in the cold rain, particularly after the last two days, was proving to much for the fast men of the peloton.  As they approached the twenty kilometers to go signage, guys like Tibor del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck), John Degenkolb (Picnic-PostNL), Max Walscheid (Jayco-Alula), and Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) grouped together to get to the finish as best they could.  The Grupetto is what the large group of sprinters and others who suffer on the climbs is called.  They work together to beat the time limit on any given stage.  Oft times there is safety in numbers since the organizers are redescent to kick a large group of riders out of the race even if they do miss the time cut-off.  It should be noted that Walscheid stepped off of his bike before the end of the stage finding the weather and the climb just too, too much.

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. 

"Forming the Grupetto PN25-29" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 7: Falling Hard

I am breaking one of my own rules here, but this crash meant something in the overall general classification.  Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) started the day in third place just under a minute behind the race leader.  And he was a mere nineteen seconds off of the race for the Maillot Blanc.  But an unseen traffic island in the middle of an S curve caught the young Dane off guard.  Riders on the front gave a warning of the danger, but his teammate just ahead was so occupied avoiding the danger himself, that he didn't give a warning to the guy right on his wheel.  His teammate, Mads Pedersen, and one of the Gendarmes escorting the peloton were the first to check on his condition.  He had come down hard smacking his helmet against the road.  Pedersen stayed with him until the team car and the doctor arrived and then had to press on with the race.  You can just see the green shorts that go with his Maillot Vert peeking out under his rain gear.  In order to carry that sprinter's jersey to Nice, Pedersen had to keep going.

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.

"Falling Hard PN25-28" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 6: It Was a Close One

Out of the seventeen that came together into Berre l'Etang, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) was the clear favorite for the sprint finale.  What I didn't see coming was just how hard Josh Tarling (Ineos-Grenadiers) pushed the Danish former World Champion for the win.  I suspect that had there been another 100 meters it would have gone to Tarling.  Tarling's teammate Sam Watson was able to just get by a fading Axel Zingle (Visma-Lease a Bike) to take third.  Everyone in the group moved themselves up in the general classification.  With these results, Matteo Jorgenson (Zingle's teammate) now has a forty second advantage over Florian Lipowitz who was in this group as well.

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.

"It Was a Close One PN25-27" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 6: Every Opportunity

Not only did Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) come to Paris Nice on form, he also brought his race brain along, too.  Seeing an opportunity to add bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint in Lancon-Provence, he jumped free of the leading group to add a ten second time bonus.  Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) went for a bonus as well in hopes of retaking the Maillot Blanc that he lost yesterday.  While he did add four bonus seconds, his rival in the competition for best young rider, Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) got the last remaining bonus of two seconds, thus holding onto his white jersey for now.

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.

"Every Opportunity PN25-26" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Happily, this painting has sold!

Paris Nice '25, Stage 6: Taking Full Advantage

As I said earlier, I don't know which team started the move that blew the peloton apart, but these seventeen guys on five different teams were taking full advantage of the move.  Now that they have caught the last member of the morning breakaway, they have built a minute and twenty seconds on the next group on the road.  Ineos-Grenadiers have the entire team here minus Ben Swift, and Visma-Lease a Bike have everyone on their team still in the race.  Jonas Vingegaard didn't start today due to his injuries in his crash in stage 5.  Max Schachman (Soudal-Quick Step) is the only member of his team to make it into the group.  Both Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have their best young rider Florian Lipowitz in the group along with Matteo Sobrero.  Lidl-Trek was the other team to get their best young rider Mattias Skjelmose along with his teammate and power sprinter Mads Pedersen.  With just twenty-one kilometers to go, it seems most likely that the stage winner is in this group.  And since the Maillot Jaune on the shoulders of Matteo Jorgenson is here, it is equally unlikely that there will be a new race leader tomorrow.  The other steps of the podium will certainly alter, however.

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.

"Taking Full Advantage PN25-25" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 6: Blown Apart

When the Peacock stream of the race came on air today, the peloton had already been blown apart.  So, I am not super sure if it was the wind, the plans of the combinations of  Ineos-Grenadiers and Visma-Lease a bike, or a combination of the two, but the effects were the same regardless.  With the front group going hard, riding at upwards of forty miles per hour, those behind or caught off guard struggled to get their chase organized.  It became confusing as to who was were, but if you weren't in the group driving the pace or in the second group chasing hard, you were never going to see the front of the race again.  And if you had hopes of placing well in the general classification, you hopes were just blown apart by the weather and riding style today.

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.

"Blown Apart PN25-24" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Happily, this painting has sold!

Paris Nice '25, Stage 6: Still of the Front

With 51 kilometers left in a cold fast stage, it was just Remi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ) left off the front from the original breakaway.  Even with all of the echelons forming behind Cavagna was still holding onto a two and three quarters of a minutes advantage.  No small feet with the drama happening behind him in the splintered peloton.

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.

"Still of the Front PN25-23" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 5: Victorious Martinez

Despite sitting eighth as the leaders came into the final 600 meters of the climb, it was Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) who had the legs to out sprint all of the others to take his team's first win in this Paris Nice.  He had a three second advantage over the next three that included the once and new Maillot Jaune, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike).  I apologize for using the team's name to create a pun in this title.  It seems I can't help myself.  I also enjoy that though he sounds like a Spaniard, he is a Frenchman winning a stage in one of France's more important stage races.  Chapeau!

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.

"Victorious Martinez PN25-22" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 5: Three Americans

It is a rare sight in pro cycling to see three Americans (as in citizens of the United States) leading the peloton in Europe.  It is particularly rare for those three to be vying for both stage and race honors.  But here we are, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) and Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) ride shoulder to shoulder inside of the final kilometer of the summit finish.  On their right is Magnus Sheffield (Ineos-Grenadiers).  They are followed up the climb by Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal-Quick Step), Harold Tejada (XDS-Astana), and Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor).  Who will it be taking out the stage, and perhaps pulling on the Maillot Juane on the podium.

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.

"Three Americans PN25-21" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Happily, this painting has sold.

Paris Nice '25, Stage 5: You Coming?

Despite the lone leader taking the maximum points (and bonus seconds) at the intermediate sprint just meters ahead, it would help those behind to gain what bonuses were still available.  Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) attempts to lead out his teammate Mattias Skjelmose - currently in the Maillot Blanc - to gain important time on the guy just behind Skjelmose in that competition.  Instead, as he looked back and found Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) on his wheel instead.  The problem is that is the very man chasing his teammate for that white jersey.  Since Skjelmose couldn't make the move, Pedersen kept sprinting thus limiting the seconds Lipowitz could gain.  It didn't really matter, Skjelmose was about to lose big time on the final climb anyway.  Watching it all in the catbird seat is Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) mildly disappointed not to gain anytime himself.  But then he is chasing his own teammate to retake the Maillot Jaune.

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.

"You Coming? PN25-20" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 5: Alone, Again

As I mentioned in my previous post, Tobias Foss (Ineos-Grenadiers) jumped free of the peloton to join his teammate Ben Swift and Swift's breakaway companion.  When the trio hit the base of the penultimate climb of the day, Foss went off on a long solo run to the finish.  So, for the second day in a row, this former Norwegian champion was making a brave effort to win on his own ahead of a chasing peloton.  Alas, just like yesterday, he was caught (and dropped) on the final climb up to a summit finish.  He ended up finishing around 35th on the stage, a minute and three-quarters behind the stage winner.  Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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.

"Alone, Again PN25-19" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 5: A Bit of an Advantage

Apparently, I dropped a word when I wrote out the title, it should read "A Bit of an Advantage."  Ah, the downside of painting live and in the moment.  The duo of Ben Swift (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Thibaud Gruel (Groupama-FDJ) continued to hold a small advantage in the closing kilometers of stage five.  The two swapped going over the ensuing summits with this one going to the Frenchman.  Shortly after I painted this, Swift's teammate Tobias Foss jumped free of the peloton in his efforts to bridge to these two.

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 Bit of an Advantage PN25-18" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 4: Getting Some Back

Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) jumped out of the chasers to claim victory atop La Loge des Gardes becoming the next member of his team to beat Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) on this climb.  For his part, Vingegaard's second place on the stage was enough for him to take the Maillot Jaune off of the shoulders of his teammate, dropping Matteo Jorgenson into second place by a mere five seconds.  Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) claiming third and a few bonus seconds moved him into the Maillot Blanc of the best young rider.  Just behind Skjelmose is Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Martinez).  The title comes from the fact the Almeida and his team didn't have a great team time trial, so this victory moves him back into contention for the final yellow jersey, since he moved up thirteen places on the GC. He now sits thrity-seven seconds off of the lead in fifth place.

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.

"Getting Some Back PN25-17" (Original art by Greig Leach)