Stage Eight: Dole to Station des Rousses - Bravo

Dole is the birthplace of Louis Pasteur.

We may see him, in a field somewhere, waving his top hat at the riders.

The Tour departs from Dole.

It's a day for the attackers.

Anyone feel like attacking? asks Vello

Not yet surely, says David.

I'll do it, says Jacobi.

Good man, says Vello. Mind how you go.

Jacobi is feeling good this morning. He had Franche-Comté pork for breakfast, and a sausage. His pocket is full of Baby Bel cheeses, which are manufactured nearby.

He passes Sweezus who is making an attempt to join the first breakaway, with Sylvain Chavanel.

Sweezus follows Jacobi, in the slipstream.

Get away! says Jacobi.

Sweezus doesn't answer.

No free rides behind me! says Jacobi.

Sweezus keeps on coasting.

Jacobi slows down. Sweezus rides past him.

Now Sweezus should have a good chance to join the first breakaway,

But the first breakaway has failed, and been absorbed by the main peloton.

Jacobi rejoins his team mates.

What went wrong? asks David.

Nothing, says Jacobi. Who'd like a cheese?

He hands them a Baby Bel cheese each.

These things taste like plastic, says David.

He discards the cheese.

It is picked up almost at once by a French infant, and pocketed.

Thus the afternoon rolls on, up and down various mountains.

Attackers attacking.

Arthur has caught up with Richie.

Arthur, says Richie, looking up. How's it going?

Okay, says Arthur. Gaius is pretty reliable. But I miss Pablo.

Yeah, Pablo, says Richie. Good rider, good poet. Hey, wanna hear my new poem?

Go ahead, says Arthur. Is it Chinese?

Kind of, says Richie. I'm trying to get a new sort of hybrid voice going. This is the first line:

Demons exult in human failure.

That's good says Arthur. Sounds like Du Fu.

It is Du Fu, says Richie. Now I have to, kind of, you know, develop it.

So that's all you've got, says Arthur.

So far, says Richie. But I've got heaps of ideas.

Great, says Arthur. Let's talk about them later.

Sure, says Richie,

He pedals away, not wanting to lose fifth position in the GC.

......

At the Station de Rousses, the clowns are talking, like normal people.

Grimaldi: There's a woodwork museum somewhere near here.

Pickelherring. What do they exhibit?

Grimaldi. Woodwork.

Pickelherring: What kind?

Grimaldi: Local fabrications. Clocks, cheese boxes and skis, if I'm not mistaken.

Pickelhering. We might go.

Grimaldi: We might. There is also an historical fortress, the Fort des Rousses, which was used for commando training until 1997, and has an underground labyrinth which is open to the public.

Pickelherring: We must go! Would you like that Terence?

Terence: NO!

They bend down to try and persuade him, and miss seeing the finish.

Lilian Calmejane soloes to victory, a Frenchman.

Bravo!