Friday, July 21, 2023

Stage 19: Moirans to Poligny - Cockroach

A hilly stage, no hard mountains. 

Another chance for the sprinters.

The riders pour out from Moirans.

Terence is standing with Marcel, watching.

How are your cracks? asks Marcel.

They need glueing, says Terence, but Gaius is too busy.

I might have some clown glue, says Marcel. Let me see....

I'm not having clown glue, says Terence.

Ribbons? asks Marcel. At least you'd look festive

No, says Terence. What's festive?

Marcel feels playful.

When a crack becomers nasty, says Marcel. It festers.

Like ribbons, says Terence, trying to picture it.

Nasty ribbons of festive.

Ha ha, laughs Marcel. It was only a joke. Festive means fun!

Oh, says Terence. When is Belle coming back?

Shortly, says Marcel. 

Belle is at the Musée de Jouet in Moirans.

She is buying Terence a wooden toy from the gift shop.

She looks at the toys. Is there a parrot?

But we digress.

How is the race going? 

Campanaerts is going strongly, after yesterday's efforts. Asgreen is too.

But so are O'Connor and Mahoric.

Politt has broken a chain. There it is, trailing behind him, like grey metal innards

Clarke is cramping.

A few in the peloton are occupied with a competition for rhyming couplets.

An example from Jai Hindley: I'm not here to look like a cockroach in socks/ I'm here to beat clocks.

Good one, Jai Hindley.

But that's enough. He has no hope of winning.

Who does? 

O'Connor launches with 500 metres to go. He's overhauled by Asgreen. 

Go Asgreen. But no! Mohoric is with him. 

Oof! A photo finish.

It's Mohoric, by a whisker.


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