Stage 4 : Seraing to Cambrai - Nervous

The longest stage, with several sections of cobblestones.

The teams stream out of Seraing.

Team Philosophe is directly behind Team Condor.

This continues until:

Surfing-With-Whales in Astana colours passes them by on the cobbles.

Oi! calls Sweezus.

Surfing-With-Whales drops back, looking slightly embarrassed.

Escaped from the Border Force? says Sweezus.

Let me off, says Surfing-With-Whales.

How come you're riding  for Team Astana? asks Sweezus.

...mumblemumble.... says Surfing-With-Whales.

Sweezus doesn't hear the answer, for the noise of the cobblestones.

........

Surfing-With-Whales rides up alongside his team leader, Vincenzo Nibali, and his team mate Lars Boom.

I am nervous of these cobbles, says Nibali. I long for the help of the Dog.

What dog? asks Surfing-With-Whales.

The Foreseeing Dog of Team Condor, says Nibali.

Everyone has heard of this dog, says Lars Boom. It's how Froomey won yesterday.

What Foreseeing Dog? says Surfing-With-Whales. You don't mean Farky?

Yes, Farky, says Lars Boom. If we could harness this Farky.....

He's MY dog, says Surfing-With-Whales.

Is he? says Tony Martin riding up behind them. Your dog?

Yeah, says Surfing-With-Whales. I only gave him to Sweezus because of the vet bill.

Ah, the vet bill, says Vincenzo Nibali.

Dental work, says Surfing-With-Whales.

Tell me about it, says Tony Martin. Dental work is always expensive.

More cobbles.

No one can hear anyone.

Now they can.

Tony Martin: I've been told that today is my day, guys. See you all at the finish.

Did you hear that? says Vincenzo Nibali.

Tony Martin speeds off over the cobbles, passing Alberto Contador who is having rim trouble, and being helped by Peter Sagan.

Swap bikes, Alberto? asks Peter Sagan.

No, says Alberto, the rim is bent and scraping the brakes, but I shall go on. I feel lucky.

And Alberto is lucky. He loses no time.

Froomey is nervous. He doesn't want to stuff up on the cobbles.

Tony Martin rumbles past Froomey. Well, let him.

Tony Martin wins the day.

John Dekengolb comes in second.

Farky gets most of the the credit.