Bang. The teams roll out of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.
No one knows what is ahead of them.
Except John the Baptist.
Three of his fingers are in Saint-Jean-de Maurienne, in a golden casket.
They have been (at some point) cut off.
You could call it an omen.
At the beginning the weather is fine.
John the Baptists's fingers: ^ FOR NOW ^
Nibali, Bilbao, Martin and Herrada ride away.
John the Baptist's fingers: ^ MUCH GOOD WILL IT DO THEM ^
They are caught early at 35k.
At 36k Thibaut Pinaut is forced to abandon.
John the Baptist's fingers: ^ A TORN MUSCLE ^
Twenty nine riders form the front group.
John the Baptist's fingers: ^ WEATHER ALERT! ^
But no one heeds the fingers. It's too early.
The fingers are now out of range.
Sprocket is feeling combative.
I might go for it, says Sprocket. Should I?
You go for it, says Sweezus.
I will. I feel super confident, says Sprocket. Not sure why.
Schopenhauer's bicycle, says Arthur. What thoughts are you having?
The eight-fold path, says Sprocket. Right understanding, right thought, right action....lobster thermidor pie.
That's only four, says Sweezus.
Three, says Arthur. You can't count the pie.
Sprocket speeds up, the pie notwithstanding.
Everyone rides hard.
Col de St André, monteé d'Aussois, col de la Madeleine, col de l'Iseran ....
Egan Bernal crests the col d'Iseran first.
Now for the descending.
Did he but know it, he could stop right here.
John the Baptist's fingers were right, although light on the detail.
A freak hailstorm hits the road down ahead.
The road is covered in rain, hail and muddy landslides. Impassable
The race is abandoned for reasons of safety.
Egan Bernal will wear yellow tomorrow.
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1 comment:
Every journey even on a bike is enjoyable when you describe it.
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