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)

Koksijde, Men's Cyclo-Cross: Surfing the Sand

Every sport has its own jargon, and cyclo-cross is no different.  Today I learned that there is such a thing as 'surfing the sand.'  It means to ride relaxed when in the deep sand.  The trick (apparently) is to keep one's speed up and to not fight the bike too much.  Today in the early laps, Tibor del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was giving a master class to the master of sand behind him, Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon).  However, Sweeck soon came back and eventually won today's race in Koksijde, with del Grosso finishing the day in second place.  I believe each man had their best finish thus far this season.

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.

"Surfing the Sand CX-K25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Koksijde, Men's Cyclo-Cross: A Slight Advantage

The young Dutchman Tibor del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was having an incredible race against one of the masters in the sand, Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Cortendon).  While they were only into the second lap, he had built up a ten second lead over the man nicknamed "the Sandman."  Surprisingly, not only was he putting time into the more experienced Belgium in the sand, he was also doing it on the harder mud packed surfaces of the course.  

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 Slight Advantage CX-K25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)