Stage 1: Florence to Rimini - Hotness

 It's quite a hot day.

The teams ride through Florence, past the famous buildings.

Not racing until they get to the countryside.

There goes Team Philosphe.

Vello is giving Gaius a lecture. 

What is he saying? We can't tell.

There goes Team Condor, with their new rider, Nicolo.

They seem to be deep in discussion.

There goes Team Astana.  Cavendish looks okay. Or does he?

Boom! they reach the countryside and a breakaway forms. 

We knew that would happen.

The peloton sticks together.

It gets hotter and hotter.

Cavendish is feeling sweaty, and worse. He drops off the back of the peloton. Several team members stick with him.

Road, trees, trees, road, more trees, and seven categorised climbs....

Why do they do it?

Why do we do it? asks David.

For the drama, says Vello. But I had not expected the drama to happen so soon.

It's no drama, says Gaius. I'll use a cold compress this evening. And cabbage leaves if I can find them.

Tch! says Vello. You and your cabbage leaves.

Frog alert! says David. Behind us!

Vello and Gaius look behind them.

Team Pobblebonk is zooming between the myriad wheels of the peloton.

Watch out in front! cries David. 

Riders are wobbling.

Including Team Condor. 

That was a good call, says Nicolo.

What was? asks Sweezus.

Watch out in front, says Nicolo.

Yeah I guess so, says Sweezus. David did us a favour.

Those frogs are a wild card, says Nicolo.

They were supposed to give Baby Pierre more responsibility, says Arthur.

But it looks like they've gone their own way, says Sweezus.

Perhaps we can make use of them, says Nicolo.

Yeah, says Sweezus. But right now I'd kill for an ice pack.

Frank Van der Brock rockets past with an ice pack shoved down the back of his jumper.

Romain Bardet follows close behind him, with the same.

Fuck, says Sweezus. What we need is ....

What they need is Belle, with three ice packs. Where is she?

She is still back in Florence, with Terence.

Not Sweetpea?

No, Sweetpea is lost.

And so Romain Bardet and Frank Van der Brock come first and second.

Not just for that reason.