A very hot day.
This is the part of the Tour when boredom kicks in.
Arthur and Pablo amuse themselves as best they can.
Tell me your favourite thing, says Pablo Neruda.
Water, says Arthur Rimbaud.
What's your best line about water? asks Pablo.
O let me go into the sea, says Arthur.
They pedal, thinking of water.
What's yours? asks Arthur.
Grass, says Pablo.
Best line? says Arthur.
'and the poem falls to the soul as dew to grass', says Pablo.
Nice one, says Arthur.
If Richie Porte was here, what would he answer? asks Pablo.
It is part of the game.
Arthur looks across at the fields of dried corn. A group of farmers is making a bicycle out of tractors.
A helicopter flies over.
His favourite thing is Middle Tang Poetry, says Arthur, remembering.
His best line? says Pablo.
Arthur hasn't read much of Richie's poetry. He makes something up.
'How wide the world was, how close the trees to heaven', says Arthur
Very elegaic, says Pablo. Bravo!
Along comes Jean-Christophe Péraud.
Bleeding and injured. He has crashed at 137 km, and bravely got back on his bike.
He passes without much acknowledgement.
It is possible he has broken his little finger.
He is not thinking of poetry. He is sending stern messages to his extremities.
His favourite thing is: the end of the day and an ice bath.
Bravo Jean-Christophe Péraud.
Sweezus rides up behind Arthur and Pablo.
Sheise! says Sweezus. It's beyond hot. Got any drinks?
No, says Arthur, We're taking our minds off it.
How? asks Sweezus. I can't.
What's your favourite thing? says Pablo.
Fucking flipballs! says Sweezus.
And your best line? asks Pablo, not picking up on the vibe.
I'll give you best line! says Sweezus. Get back there and pick up some drinks. Then you guys lead me out so I can have some chance of winning GC points or I'll have your balls for ice cubes.
That, says Pablo, is the best line I've heard all day.
He drops back before anything happens.
As for the others, well, it's a long hot day for everyone.
But someone must win.
Greg van Avermaet (BMC) wins this one, ahead of Peter Sagan.
They didn't play games.
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