York to Sheffield: Musettes and Bad Management

Another fine day in Yorkshire. Schopenhauer is somewhere ahead, chasing Sweezus. Gaius and Vello are in the main peloton, grumbling about David.

Gaius: Someone should tell him.

Vello: Belle was going to have a word.

Gaius: Good. We can't be expected to compete on empty stomachs every day.

Vello: I should say not.

They come up to a feeding station.

David is standing in the middle of the road, holding out two musettes.

They grab them.

Thanks David! says Gaius.

Good man! says Vello, opening his bag of yummy snacks.

Belle et Bonne stands in the road beside David, with musettes for Unni and Arthur.

See how easy that was? says Belle et Bonne.

Yes, says David doubtfully.

What is it? asks Belle et Bonne. Do you wish you were riding?

Yes, says David. I do.

Alberto Contador rides by flanked by his henchmen.

David waves. Alberto ignores him.

Schopenhauer's doing all right though, says Belle et Bonne. I didn't expect it.

He's riding like a man driven, says David.

He's trying to catch up with Sweezie, says Belle et Bonne. But he hasn't the legs.

Why Sweezus particularly? asks David.

Don't you know? says Belle et Bonne. He wants to grill him about where he got his ideas from.

Sweezus? says David. He doesn't have any ideas. He's a creative writer.

He ghosted that article, says Belle et Bonne.

Their conversation is interrupted by the passing of Team Crustacean.

Ageless is looking left and right. Louttit is steady. Louis-Claude bobs in the saddle.

Where's Freud? says David. He's their manager. He should be here with their food.

Oh, Freud! says Belle et Bonne. He's being so naughty. Did you know he's been reprimanded for firing indiscriminate paintballs? Indiscriminate my eye!

David's eyes widen. So someone is a worse manager than he is. That's something.

Woosh! who was that riding by, with little spots of paint on his clothing?

Vincent Nibali, going like the clappers. But he slows down to grab a musette. Yum! A Power Bar!

Ageless, Louttit and Louis-Claude watch the Power Bar speed past them, diminishing.

If only Freud had been there, with some nibbles.

But Freud is not there. Tour de France has sprung  into action. Freud is in the officials' tent doing an enforced mini-course in team management training.