Tour '25, Stage 17: Making It Two!

In the last left turn before the peloton lined up for the sprint a large bunch crashed after someone (or two) slide out on the wet road.  Since the wreck happened at the front of the peloton a number of sprinters went down or were held up too long to vie for the stage victory.  I doubt any would have had the legs to get around Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) who claimed his second stage victory of his career and this Tour.  One of those caught out by the crash was Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) who is the only sprinter to beat Milan to the line, twice.  Today it was Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) with Pavel Bittner (Picnic-PostNL) taking the third step of the podium.  Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) sprinted to fourth today.  For Milan, his win today may mean he has done what he needed to keep the Maillot Vert all of the way to Paris.  It really depends on the coming intermediate sprints, and how the new course on the final day in Paris will be raced.

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.

"Making It Two TdF25-116" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 9: For the Second Time

Unfortunately for the early breakaway of Mathieu Van Der Poel and Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck) Van Der Poel was caught by the charging peloton with roughly 900 meters left to race.  It was a very long shot that may have started as a lark almost came to fruition.  Instead, it was the sprinters who vied to win on the streets of Chateauroux.  The town has given itself the nickname of Cavendish City, since the record holding sprinter had won all three of the sprint stages that ended here.  Without Cavendish still racing, it would be someone new to claim stage honors today.  That honor went to Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) who edged out Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), again! This time it was about a half of a bike length rather than a half inch like Stage 3.  It was Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) getting his sprinting legs turning over taking third followed by Pavel Bittner (Picnic-PostNL).  Sadly, my pick for the stage, Biniam Girmay, could only sprint to sixth not even making into the frame.

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.

"For the Second Time TdF25-57" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour '25, Stage 3: Photo Finish!

I, nor the race commentators on NBC, could tell who had won stage three between Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) and Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek).  However, Merlier was sure it was him as he raised his arms in victory after his lunge to the line.  He was right.  Behind the two who were separated by the width of a tire, it was Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) taking the third step of the podium in Dunkirk.  Just off of the podium were Soren Werenskjold (Uno X-Mobility), Pavel Bittner (Picnic-PostNL), Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in turn.  It would have been poetic if Groves could have taken the stage given the loss of his team's main sprinter, but it was not to be.  Milan will become the new owner of the Maillot Vert vacated by the unlucky Jasper Philipsen. 

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.

"Photo Finish! TdF25-17" (Original art by Greig Leach)

This painting has sold!