East End Street Circuit - Potatoes Versus Feelings

Final day for the women. The East End Street Circuit.

Chloe Hosking wins on the day.

But Spratty wins the whole thing. It's the third time she's won it.

Pinky and Kobo watch her on the podium.

That'll be us one day, says Pinky.

Kobo says nothing. She can't imagine them ever beating Spratty.

Well. That's it for the women.

The women head off to the beach.

Now it's time for the Men's Down Under Classic, on the same street circuit.

The men are already milling around, wheeling their bicycles, bumping into one another.

Richie! says Sweezus. How you doing?

Aw... you know, says Richie. Where's Arthur?

Here, says Arthur.

Woah! says Richie. Cut hands!

Helps me to concentrate, says Arthur.

Fuck man! Did you do it on purpose?

No way, says Sweezus. He did it picking up shards of green glass that dropped out of a tree.

You guys, says Richie. Everything you do seems like it's part of some crazy poem.

How's yours going? asks Sweezus. Did you finish the one about the potato?

Nah, says Richie. La Bonotte, round and squat, that's as far as I got.

Yeah, but it's heaps funny, says Sweezus,

Pablo Neruda rocks up. What is heaps funny?

Richie's potato poem, says Sweezus,

I remember that poem, says Pablo Neruda. Have you written anything better?

I'm working on feelings, says Richie. Given up on the vegies.

You will come to regret that, says Peter Sagan, who is just passing.

WRITING about vegies, says Richie Porte.

Apologies, says Peter Sagan.

He trundles away, to find his starting position.

Bang. They are off.

Round and round the circuit in the hot afternoon sunshine.

Near the end, a few crashes and slides.

A tiny bicycle with green fluoroelastane wheels is seen disappearing into East Terrace Continental.

Here comes Caleb Ewan, pocket rocket, who this year is riding for Team Lotto Soudal.

It's going to be him or Peter Sagan.

Peter Sagan who is usually one hundred percent focused.

But today is thinking about a puzzle. Why would Richie Porte give up on writing about vegies?

Caleb has no such puzzle to distract him.

Yippee. He wins. His new team will love him.