They call it the queen stage.
This stage is the hardest, says Sweezus. So stay focussed and support me.
What else would we do? says Arthur.
What do you need? asks Ranger Roger.
Food, water, says Sweezus. And leadouts and... keep your eyes open.
Done, says Ranger Roger.
They are fifteen kilometres out from the start.
They are not far behind Tadej Pogacar.
Watch out! says Ranger Roger.
Corks! Tadej Pogacar has crashed!
A rider in front has braked suddenly, clipping his wheel.
Tadej has injured his knee, his leg is bleeding.
He gets back on his bike and continues.
Phew! says Sweezus.
Not for Tadej Pogacar, but for himself.
Thanks for the heads up, Ranger Roger.
The race continues.
Ranger Roger is pleased with himself for protecting his team leader.
It makes him feel better after the embarrassment with the sleeve.
It seemed perfectly reasonable that an egg might vanish into an upside-down pocket sewn into a sleeve.
But not so, apparently.
Terence had tried to make him feel better.
What was it he said?
I wore a sleeve for a costume, in a play once. It was red. Belle made it. I was an otter.
Nice little fellow. Pity he fell off the monkey bridge on the rest day and got nasty cracks.
Let us leave Ranger Roger to his musings.
How is Tadej?
Ooh! Not so good.
He feels hot, and his jersey is flapping wide open.
He pedals after his rival, but his rival is disappearing, like an egg up a sleeve...
I'm dead, thinks Tadej.
He is not dead of course, but it feels that way. Today is the worst!
And Vingegaard now has 7 minutes 35 seconds up his sleeve.
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