Stage 4: Redon to Fougères - Protests

Stage four. The race starts.

No it doesn't.

The riders are staging a protest.

They stop. They start.

They go slow for ten minutes.

Then all is back to normal, except Caleb Ewan's not there.

A flat stage, another one good for the sprinters.

Terence is watching from the side lines. He is wearing the curly blue wig.

Team Condor rides past.

Yay! cries Terence.

Sweezus waves.

He waved at you! says Belle, who is watching with Terence.

Why didn't Arthur? asks Terence.

Because it wasn't Arthur, says Belle. 

Who was it? asks Terence.

Never mind, says Belle.

Team Philosophe rides past.

Yay! cries Terence.

Belle! Why are you standing there? shouts Vello. Why aren't you at the feed zone?

Too bad! says Belle. Perhaps you should think about that.

That's not Gaius! cries Terence.

Hush, says Belle. 

But Terence is right. That's not Gaius. It's Saint Arnoc, in Team Philosophe colours (with a New Zealand flag on the back).

Saint Arnoc looks to be in trouble.

Saint Arnoc: This is harder than I imagined (puff-puff).

Vello: I thought you were a saint.

Saint Arnoc: What's that got to do with it?

David: If you want a saint to do something for you, you must pray to them.

Vello: Hurry up, Arnoc, I pray.

Saint Arnoc: It doesn't work that way. You pray to me. I ask the almighty.

Vello: How long does that normally take?

Saint Arnoc: Theoretically, it could happen immediately.....

Vello: Wonderful. Do it.

Saint Arnoc: Or, it can take longer. 

Vello: Curses! How about you ask your almighty to help us tomorrow in the time trials.

Saint Arnoc: Time trials! I can't ask the almighty to intervene in the time trials. 

David: Come on Vello. Admit you've made a gross error.

Vello: It would seem so. Belle won't be at the feed station. Have you got any snacks on you?

Saint Arnoc: Snacks! There I can help you.

At least he has snacks. 

We have listened to Team Philosophe for too long. Let's fast forward, and see who is winning.

Looks like this guy, van Moer.

Yes, yes, it's him! He is going to win it!

But no. Here come Cavendish, Bouhanni and Philipsen, zipping past him.

Mark Cavendish wins it. 

(Cavendish won a stage in the same town in 2015). 

Sorry van Moer, it was predestined.