The Art of Cycling

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: The Best Two with the Best Time

The last two riders for Visma-Lease a Bike were arguably their two best guys. It was Matteo Jorgenson leading Jonas Vingegaard across the line in Nevers to post the best time when they finished their Team Time Trial. Their effort put them into first and second place respectively. So, after three days Jorgenson will pull on the Maillot Jaune that he is defending from 2024. It also shows that the duo should be ready for the challenge of this year's Tour de France. I'm looking forward to see what they can do in the next two mountain top finishes in the ensuing stages.

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.

"The Best Two with the Best Time PN25-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Happily, this painting has sold!

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: Sprinting with Three

The USA Champion in the time trial discipline, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) was working hard in the final kilometers of the Team Time Trial. He was hoping to move himself and his teammates Jhonatan Narvaez and Joao Almeida up in the general classification. They had a disappointing finish dropping forty-two seconds to the team that won the stage. Not exactly the results we have come to expect from this team.

"Sprinting with Three PN25-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: Finishing Alone

New rules and timing methods mean that the time for the team in the Team Time Trial is taken when the first rider crosses the line. However, each individual rider is given his actual time on the day, not the time of the first of his team. That may be why Tobias Foss (Ineos-Grenadiers) went off alone leaving his last two teammates, Magnus Sheffield and Thymen Arensman being in the closing meters. Sheffield had started the day confident that he could regain the Maillot Blanc of best young rider and even hoped to become the next Maillot Jaune. Instead, the team's performance saw him dropping a place in the young riders' competition and dropping to tenth in the general classification thirty-eight seconds off of the pace of the new race leader. His team leader, Thymen Arensman is another two seconds behind that.

"Finishing Alone PN25-9" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 3: I'm Done!

The third stage of this Paris Nice was the Team Time Trial, a discipline of teamwork mixed with a dash of truth reckoning. That was where Kelland O'Brian (Jayco-Alula) found himself. He has done all he could for his three remaining teammates and looked back to the team car to let them know he was cooked. He had done well to help put his teammates, Michael Matthews, Ben O'Connor, and Mauro Schmid in a position to post the best time at the finish in Nevers. While another team did best them at the line later on, his (and their effort) was enough to move all three into the top ten spots on the general classification.

"I'm Done! PN25-8" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Monday, March 10, 2025

Paris Nice '25, Stage 2: Two in a Row

Clearly neither the crash not the chase back to the peloton didn't dampen the legs of Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step). For the second stage in a row, he showed a clean set of wheels to the rest of the peloton in the sprint finale. He took the time to look back and confirm that he had plenty of space before raising his arms in celebration. He got the better of Emilien Jeanniere (TotalEnergies) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek). Pedersen finished fourth, but the guy in third was relegated for a dangerous sprint. With this second stage win Merlier increases his lead to a fourteen second advantage over the rest of the field. In two days, he as ten and a half minutes over the Lantern Rouge (the rider sitting last on the general classification).

"Two in a Row PN25-7" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 2: Forced to Chase

As the speeding peloton went through a sharp right corner a crash tangled up many and ended the day for one of Arkea-B&B Hotels riders. Many found themselves off the back and forced to chase down the still flying peloton. One of those chasing (and sitting right on the bumper of his team car) was the Maillot Jaune of Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step). He was joined in this chase group by the Australian Champion, Luke Durbridge (Jayco-Alula) as well as, Miles Scotson (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and the two guys from Movistar, Will Barta and Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda. They all caught back on. Unfortunately for Durbridge he went down again in the intermediate sprint in Bellegarde. The second time he didn't get back on the bike, ending his Paris Nice before it had really gotten started.

"Forced to Chase PN25-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 2: Not Giving Up

With the peloton just seconds behind the breakaway changed quickly. First the Polka Dot Jersey of Alexandre Delettre sat up and went back into the field having achieved his objective for the day fifty kilometers ago. Next Samuel Fernandez attacked Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Moblity) in a bid to be the most aggressive rider on the day. He must not have remembered Abrahamsen's exploits in last year's Tour de France. The Norwegian caught and dropped his erstwhile companion and road off on his own with another 51 kilometers to race. The peloton didn't catch him until just two and a half kilometers to go.

"Not Giving Up PN25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '24, Stage 2: It's Flat Now

While we didn't see the climbs (they came before the race came on air), Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies) took maximum points over both of them. He is building on the lead that won him the Maillot a Pois in the opening stage. The title refers to just how flat the stage was now with another 79 kilometers left to race. He was joined in the breakaway by Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Mobility) and Samuel Fernandez (Caja Rural-Seguros). At this point, the trio only has a minute on the chasing peloton, so I am guessing a stage victory is not in the cards for these guys today.

"It's Flat Now PN25-4" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Paris Nice '25, Stage 1: The First to Celebrate

With a perfectly timed surge to the line, Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) took the opening stage of Paris Nice - and the first Yellow Jersey - by several bike lengths. His sprint showed why he wears the European Champion's jersey. Of course, he will be wearing a different jersey at the start of Stage 2. Naturally, he will also be the first owner of the Green Jersey of the best sprinter, but that will be worn by the guy who came second on the stage, Arnaud Demare (Arkea-B&B Hotels).

"The First to Celebrate PN25-3" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice '25, Stage 1: Testing the Legs

The final climb of the opening stage of Paris Nice saw Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) go on his near patented attack. He was quickly covered by the American, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) as the pair got a bit of a gap on the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe led peloton. The move came to naught, so I suspect the Alaphilippe was just testing both his legs, and the legs of the favorites on his rival teams. He may well have learned a bit about Jorgenson.

"Testing the Legs PN25-2" (Original art by Greig Leach)