Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Stage Ten: Périgueux to Bergerac - Spinning

Marcel Kittel feels good.

Peter Sagan is history, for now.

Arnaud Démare is out of contention.

Furthermore, on the rest day, Marcel Kittel ate sensibly. He did not stuff himself with rich cheese, truffles and foie gras, or drink too much Ugni, or even waste his time watching a small snake spin coloured plates on bamboo sticks.

Marcel's main threat now is Michael Matthews, who is 52 points down in the race for the green jersey.

.........

Team Philosphe is keeping to the back of the peloton, having done what Marcel has not done.

Ooh, says David, easing himself up on his bicycle seat discreetly.

You could have warned me, says Jacobi, behind him.

Ha ha, laughs Vello. That was the warning. Plenty more where that came from.

Jacobi speeds up, but finds he has little motivation.

He catches up to Sweezus and Arthur, who are nursing sore heads from the Ugni.

Hi, says Sweezus. Cool picnic yesterday. That goat cheese was pretty amazing.

Cabécou, says Jacobi. Not my favourite.

Belle's got heaps more, says Sweezus. We're getting it for snacks later on.

Hm, says Jacobi. Someone else can have mine.

Third Sister, says Sweezus. Belle gives her the leftovers.

She won't have to now, says Jacobi.

How come? says Sweezus.

Her brother is out of the suitcase, says Jacobi. You were there. You saw it.

Sweezus looks at Arthur.

Arthur looks at Sweezus.

Man! Did we really see that?

It did happen. Tiny had come out of the sixth suitcase spinning coloured plates on bamboo sticks.  He had it down to perfection.

Everyone had been stunned, and thought they were dreaming. Terence had wanted to learn it.

Only Grimaldi had expected Tiny be so good at the spinning.

......

At the feeding station, Terence waits with Tiny, for Third Sister to come by.

Tiny spins coloured plates, to attract her attention.

Terence is licking a strawberry

That's for Third Sister, says Tiny.

She won't mind, says Terence.

This is good, says Tiny. No clowns.

Where are they? asks Terence.

Visiting their old Mime and Gesture professor, in Périgueux, says Tiny.

Terence nearly swallows the strawberry.

Third Sister comes by.

Terence spits out the strawberry.

If that's for ME, says Third Sister, you can STICK it! I saw what you did.

She speeds by without stopping, just like Marcel Kittel would do.

She is so mad about the strawberry that she even passes Marcel Kittel.

She doesn't notice the breathtaking landscape through which she is passing.

She rides like a demon and catches up to Gesbert and Offredo, who have been in front all day.

She passes Gesbert and Offredo.

Only a headwind prevents her from winning the stage.

A good effort from Third Sister.

But Marcel Kittel is today the most powerful sprinter.

He wins his fourth stage in the tour.

Chris Froome retains yellow. It makes a total of fifty yellow jerseys that Chris Froome has worn.

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