Highly Suspicious

It's the second day of the women's race. Nuriootpa to Menglers Hill.

A hot day and the women are sweating.

You must really concentrate on what you are doing.

No time to look around at what else might be happening.

But we have the time.

What is that tiny pink thing?

There on the side of the road.

No wait! It's a yellow thing.

Or a pink thing emerging from inside a yellow thing.

And now something else eases it way out of the pink thing.

A fossilised clam. And from behind a tall palm tree a lobster and a prawn appear, claws akimbo.

Ageless (the lobster): Satisfied now?

Kobo (the clam): No, it was awful!

Blue Claw (the prawn): And you, Pinky?

Pinky (the pink rubber glove): I'm never wearing a yellow rubber outfit again!

Ageless: You won't have to, in the men's race.

Kobo: We may not go in it. Our bicycle sucks.

Pinky: Yes it sucks. Stupid pasta wheels.

Ageless: It's not like you, beloved, to say sucks,,,, sucks,,,, swerp,,,, it gives me a frisson,,,,clik,,,,

Kobo: Stop that and get me a water!

Blue Claw: I think I saw someone lurking behind the last tree with a bottle of water.

He goes to ask for water.

Behind the last tree is the Vellogram, waiting.

The main peloton of women's race has already passed.

Amanda Spratt of Team Michelton Scott is winning.

But others are coming.

And they don't look like women.

Would you believe it? says David. We're at the tail end of the women's race!

I should have checked the route, says Vello.

I thought you did, says David.

I did, says Vello. But it was too late for my plan to be aborted. There's the palm tree!

Going for a pee? asks Humboldt.

Yes, behind this palm tree, says Vello.

This is highly suspicious, says Gaius.

Vello stops cycling and ducks behind the palm tree.

He pops out again, looking fresher.

Anyone got a spare water? he asks.

No, says David. You should carry your own.

You didn't have time to pee, says Humboldt.

What's going on? asks Gaius.

Confusion! cries the new fresh version of Vello.

The old less fresh Vello comes out from behind the palm tree.

NOT very streamlined I must say, says old less fresh Vello.