Stage Twenty One: Rambouillet to Paris Champs-Elysées - Belief

Why are they going so SLOWLY? asks Terence.

Because it doesn't matter, says Belle.

Then they should go FAST, says Terence.

Mouldy exits the champagne-sipping procession and stops in front of Terence.

Get GOING! says Terence. You can win this!

Egan Bernal has already won it, says Mouldy.

Tell him he could still win the sprint, says Belle.

Is he actually registered? asks Grace Swan.

He's too short, says Terence.

Mouldy did not know that.

So it's all been for nothing.

He goes though a series of fast evolving emotions.

Depair, fury, desire for revenge...

He remembers his weekend as a thrombolite during which he learned acceptance.

Look at the other riders. They are drinking champagne. Only the sprinters are still plotting....

Mouldy remounts and joins the riders.

But no one gives him champagne.

There are no small glasses.

Sweezus, Arthur and Sprocket have already downed several glasses.

Sweezus has become philosophical.

Good tour, says Sweezus. Best one yet. You never knew what would happen.

That's always true, says Arthur.

Yeah, but this time you never even knew what you thought would happen, says Sweezus.

Different guys winning, says Sprocket. That was cool.

Same team in the end, though, says Arthur.

Yeah, says Sweezus. Team freaking Ineos.

Have they won before? asks the ingenuous Sprocket.

Up ahead, Team Philosophe is also swilling champers.

Except for Nietzsche.

Here's to you, Friedrich, says Vello. You've done us all proud.

Thank you, says Nietzsche. Here's a question. Should I should grow my moustache back?

NO! says Vello.

Inadvisable, says David.

It was rather manly, says Gaius.

Nietszche wonders which of those opinions might best reflect those of Grace Swan.

Perhaps you should ask her, says Vello.

He won't though. That would be demeaning.

He might ask young Sprocket, later on.

The Champs Elysées at last!

The sprinters have organised early.

But to make a short story shorter, let's cut to the end.

The end:

Caleb Ewan has won the final stage in Paris. His third stage win in his first Tour de France.

He claims he can't believe it.

Egan Bernal wins the overall Tour.

Only twenty two years old and the first Columbian to win it.

He also claims he can't believe it.

But what's the point, if you can't then believe it?