Stage Five: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill - Uprightness

The morning is full of storm in the heart of the summer
the clouds travel like white handkerchiefs of goodbye.

Yes, today it is cooler, and Pablo has decided to rejoin the Tour Down Under.

Baby B-B strums his last strum. Ping-ka ping.

Marilyn: We came to the fortunate isles
                and lay like fish
                under the net of our kisses

Pablo: I am making my words into an endless necklace
           for your white hands, smooth as grapes.

Marilyn: Will you ever come back?

Pablo: Of course, it's a circuit.

......

McLaren Vale, later that morning.

Ssü-K'ung Shu: Pablo, I am relieved to see you. Here, have your jersey and knicks back.

Pablo: Thanks, Shu! And thank you for taking my place.

Sweezus: Sheise! Shut the fuck up, guys! Everyone will hear you. Go and change in the toilets.

Ssü-K'ung Shu: Is that more appropriate?

Pablo: Apparently, in this country.

.......

Phil Liggett: Pablo Neruda looks a lot better this morning.

Paul Sherwen: Yes, he's been a bit sluggish the last few days.

Phil Liggett: Probably a tummy upset.

Paul Sherwen: But if so, it wouldn't be due to the wonderful South Australian food we've all been enjoying.

Phil Liggett: No, Paul, of course not.

.......

Gaius: Shu! How's the team building going?

Ssü-K'ung Shu: I have been neglectful, but I am about to resume it. Today I shall derive a lesson from the Willunga escarpment.

Gaius: You have an interest in rocks?

Ssü-K'ung Shu: Certainly. There is much of moral value to be learned from rocks. For example their uprightness.

Gaius: But they lack team spirit and the ability to propel themselves forward,

Ssü-K'ung Shu: What? Oh, a joke. Oh, ha ha ha ha!

Gaius: Good man, Shu. Hardly anyone laughs at my jokes.

.......

Baby B-B is at the start line with Terence and Katherine. She has them both tied to her wrist with two stout lengths of string

Baby B-B: And Marilyn and Pablo were kissing.

Terence: Yuck! Lying down kissing?

Katherine jerks hard on the string.

.......

None of which ( the above)  has any effect on the outcome.

......

Bang! The riders pour out of McLaren Vale. They tear through Aldinga and sprint through Snapper Point. Then finish with the hard climb up Willunga Hill, not once but twice. It's gruelling.

The ones who do best are the ones who have not been kissing, but have remained upright, and focussed. Nor have they been making jokes.

Nor have they been jealous, or stopped to fight one another with sticks.

They have probably not composed poetry.

Wait! Yes! But one of them has.

Richie Porte has.

And Richie has won Stage Five two years in a row, already

And Richie Porte wins Stage Five again now.