Stage Six: Vesoul to Troyes - As Usual

A new day. Anything is possible.

The riders ride out of Vesoul.

Vello is humming a fast jiggy tune by Jacques Brel.

Vesoul! says David. By Jacques Brel!

That's it, says Vello.

They ride on together, humming.

Do you know the words? asks Vello.

Just the first verse, says David.

He sings (in French):

You have wished to see Vierzon
And you have seen Vierzon
You have wished to see Vesoul
And you have seen Vesoul
You have wished to see Honfleur
And you have seen Honfleur.

An appropriate song for the Tour, says Jacobi.

It's not finished, says David.

Ha ha, laughs Vello. Neither is the Tour.

David sings the last few lines loudly:

You have wished to see my sister
And you have seen my mother
As usual.

That's a puzzle, says Jacobi. What does it mean?

Perhaps something naughty, perhaps not, but it has helped to pass the time to the intermediate sprint in Columbey-les-deux-églises.

Columbey is the village of Charles de Gaulle.

The story goes that in 1960, the peloton stopped at Columbey so that de Gaulle could meet the riders, and a rider who had stopped for a minor repair and was trying to catch up with the peloton saw them all stopped and sailed past them, winning the stage. Hah!

A fact that has not been forgotten by those who remember.

And here comes Frederick Backaert powering through to win intermediate sprint points.

The clowns watch Frederick Backaerts.

They are not watching the suitcase.

Terence is trying to edge the suitcase onto the road.

Perhaps one of the riders will crash into it.

And out will burst Tiny.

But no.

Oops! says Grimaldi. That's an obstruction. Call a policeman!

Pickelherring produces a baton, from inside his trousers.

Terence gives up.

He watches Team Condor ride by.

Sweezus doesn't even see him. Nor does Arthur. Gaius is sweating.

Baby Pierre zooms past, weaving in and out of the wheels of the riders.

Ouvert follows, spots Terence and stops.

Woo! says Ouvert. Are we winning?

Yes, says Terence. You're winning. I wish I was.

What's up? says Ouvert.

Clowns, says Terence, indicating.

Ouvert would look sympathetic, if he understood the problem. But he doesn't.

He gets back on his bike. See you at the finish!

Let's head to the finish, in Troyes. It's been a good day for the sprinters who are not Cavendish or Sagan, and therefore still in it.

Marcel Kittel has wished to come first
And he has come first
Arnaud Démare has wished to come first
And he has come second
André Greipel has wished to come first
And he has come third.

As usual