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: 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: 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: 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)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 4: Taking His Shot

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) had been covering each attack on the climb of La Loge des Gardes theoretically in aide of his team leader and the Maillot Jaune, Matteo Jorgenson.  He then decided he should go ahead and press on his own.  Either Jorgenson had let him and the team know that he didn't have the legs today, or Vingegaard wanted to shine on this climb after basically losing the Tour de France on this hill last year.  Regardless, he has about seven seconds on the ragtag remnants of the peloton with about seven hundred meters left to climb.

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 His Shot PN25-16" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 4: Attacking on the Final Climb

With everyone warmed back up, the sun back out, and most of the breakaway caught, it was time for the general classification guys to fight it out on the final climb.  The first to attack on La Loge des Gardes was the current Maillot Blanc (although you can't see it for the rain gear), Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).  He was quickly covered by the guy in second place in the young rider's competion, Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek).  Of course, both Matteo Jorgenson (hidden) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) weren't about to let the move go, either.

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.

"Attacking on the Final Climb PN25-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 4: Preparing to Start Again

Once the race had reached the valley, the weather had improved enough to restart the race.  The difficulty was gathering everyone back together. Many had ridden the descent very slowly, so that needed to get everyone massed together in order to restart the race.  The other issue was recreating the gaps that had existed between the three main groups when the race was neutralized.  Now, the break had restarted, with the next to go being the two guys in red, Tobias Foss and Josh Tarling (Ineos-Grenadiers) about a minute and a half minutes later.  Standing with them were two riders from EF Education-EasyPost who would have to wait another minute or so to restart with the rest of the peloton.  It was a mess, but no one was hurt in the icy conditions.

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.

"Preparing to Start Again PN25-14" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 4: Neutralized

While watching an inset interview, I started to notice wet snow falling on the riders in the coverage of the race.  When the broadcasting team of Christian VandeVelde and Bob Roll came back on air, they notice the weather and started to worry for the riders' safety.  They weren't the only ones.  With slush building on the road surface, it became too dangerous for the peloton to face the looming descent in just a few kilometers from now.  The decision was made to pause the racing and let the peloton ride slowly down the mountain and into warmer temperatures.  In the pouring ice, snow, and rain, the commissare went to the front of the peloton and let them know.  Naturally, that built in quite a bit of confusion, that took some time to sort.  At this point, it was snowing rather heavily on the finishing line at the top of the final climb.  I should know that one of the Gendarme crashed his motorcycle on the descent as well as one of the team cars for Decathlon-Ag2r-La Mondiale.  Clearly, the neutralization was the correct decision.

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.

"Neutralized PN25-13" (Original art by Greig Leach)