Stage Nine: Saint Etienne to Brioude - Times Gone By

Another hilly stage.

Once again, Team Condor does not have a man in the breakaway.

Nor does Team Philosophe.

Vello rides steadily, his eye on his wrist.

The new lucky bracelet. Delightful.

David fiddles with his own bracelet. It's loose. But he does not falter.

Gaius has his in his pocket, not liking any form of flamboyance.

Nietzsche eyes his with suspicion.

Where have these lucky bracelets come from?

Wait. Up ahead the breakaway is approaching the summit of the Mur d'Aurac.

The crowds are cheering and getting too close to the riders.

Clowns toot and laugh.

Tiesj Benoot gets the King of the Mountain!

Now where were we?

Back here near the bottom.

The lucky bracelets are not just any lucky bracelets.

Belle bought them from the Musée d'Art et Industrie in Saint Etienne.

They weren't cheap, as you may well imagine.

They are woven in traditional patterns, and are tiny bright reminders of gentle times gone by.

How nice of Belle to slip one into each lunch bag yesterday.

Onward and upward! says Vello.

Nietzsche stares at his lucky bracelet. It is pink with red zigzags. A series of white squares tracks through the centre.

The lucky bracelet stares back at him.

A sweaty man.

Not the owner it might have expected.

It sees Sweezus ride by. And Arthur and Sprocket.

It sees Richie Porte and Roman Bardet.

And Julian Alaphillipe.

They all need some kind of luck today.

Except maybe Arthur.

And yet, thinks the bracelet, I would rather be wrapped round the wrist of Arthur than the others.

And what is happening up ahead now, at the finish?

It's between Daryl Impey and Tiesj Benoot who have dropped Nicolas Roche and are battling it out together.

Impey, Benoot, Impey, Benoot, Impey........

Impey!