One Fast Pablo

A crucial day for the GC riders. A shake-up is expected,

This will be a hard day, says Pablo.

His team mates in Los Chilenos agree.

Let's stick together, says one of the Pablos.

Good plan, say the others.

They form a solid bunch of Pablos in the midst of the peloton.

Ben O'Connor comes up behind them.

Bad tactic, says Ben O'Connor.

Depends, replies Pablo.

Anyone seen Baby Pierre? asks Ben O'Connor.

Not today, says Pablo. He's been asked to slow down.

As if, says Ben O'Connor.

You'd better get going, says Pablo. 

Yeah, I'd better, says Ben O'Connor. Big day.

Everyone toils up and down the challenging mountains. 

And still they have not reached the agonisingly steep slopes of the Cuitu Negru.

>>>>

Now they have.

The Pablos are fading. Including Pablo.

The Kroombit tinker is valiantly pedalling, while dreaming of flies.

O hay! I dream of fat flies. 

Primoz Roglic has changed his bike at the start of the climb.

To catch up he drafts behind the team car.

And is penalised twenty seconds.

But still he gains time on Ben O'Connor.

The gap between them is now only 46 seconds.

Up ahead, who is this? The crowd shouts Pablo! Pablo!

But which Pablo?

It is Pablo Castillo, the young Spanish Pablo, who came first on Stage 12.

He has broken away from Alex Vlasov and Pavel Sivakov.

And triumphed in the mists of Cuitu Negru.

Where is Baby Pierre? 

Was he at the top, waiting?

Good question.

No one has seen him.