A perfect stage for attackers.
Ending at the top of the short steep Mûr de Bretagne.
But not yet.
Vello stands at the side of the road on a flat bit.
Terence is beside him, on the grass, sorting leg hairs from grains of dried Sea Salt.
Vello watches the teams ride by, absently.
He is thinking of Elie Fréron.
Back there in Quimper. What a clown he was.
Until Elie Fréron hops out of an AG2R team car, which has stopped for some reason.
Greetings! says Elie Fréron.
He is still wearing the clown suit.
It's Froggy. Terence is not alarmed.
Curses! says Vello. I thought you were a native of Quimper!
One needn't remain in Quimper, says Elie Fréron.
That's a fact, says Vello. I'm surprised at you. Facts generally escape you.
Pshaw! says Elie Fréron. How's your team doing? I see you have a German.
What's it to you? asks Vello.
Nothing, says Elie. Just making conversation.
He steps back, knocking over the lunch box.
Bum-hole! You wrecked it! cries Terence. I had all the leg hairs on that side. Now look!
Sorry, young person, it's these awkward long clown shoes, says Elie Fréron.
He moves aside, and looks down at the leg hairs which now lie parallel.
Remarkable, says Vello. Either that is significant, or you have mucked up the readings.
So! says Elie. You DO believe in future knowing. Now I'm surprised at you!
Idiot! hisses Vello.
He does not like to be teased by a scion of the Counter Enlightenment.
How does it work, just out of interest? asks Elie.
Vello refuses to answer.
Richie Porte thunders by.
Eleven, says Terence.
And how did you come by that answer, young man?
Two ones, says Terence. And two more ones and two more ones.
Elie finds this encouraging.
The child is not fluent in maths. Presumably it is Vello's infant. Ha ha. So the mighty are fallen.
When will you be returning to Quimper? asks Vello.
Not until the Tour ends, says Elie. I've signed on to AG2R as team clown. A French team.
Vello grinds his teeth.
This could be most annoying. Unless he's a spy. Then he might well be useful.
He grins at Froggy Fréron.
But that's enough time wasted.
Let's go to the top of Mûr de Bretagne to see what is happening and if it conforms to the leg hair predictions.
The winner: Dan Martin of UAE.
(does not conform)
Second: Pierre Latour of Ag2R La Mondiale
( possible, but unlikely)
Third: Alejandro Valverde of Movistar
(does not conform)
However.....
Richie Porte has clawed his way up to 11th in the General Classification.
Eleven.
Terence said it, as Richie raced by.
It's not a thing to be sneezed at.
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