Individual time trials. Up a mountain!
Not all riders look forward to today.
I'm not looking forward to today, says Vello.
Think beyond it, says David.
That's not like you, says Vello.
If I thought like me I wouldn't do it, says David.
But we can't not do it, says Denis Diderot.
I know, says Vello. Any ideas?
A reward at the end, says Denis Diderot. And it's already ordered.
Is this one of your jokes? asks David.
Not at all, says Denis Diderot. Our reward awaits at the top of Peyragudes. That's a promise.
Team Philosophe goes down the chute early, as might be expected.
First goes David.
He shoots out and pedals hard along the first two flat kilometres before the climb starts.
Fans in yellow hats and spotted teeshirts line the way, shouting, beeping and clapping.
David ignores them.
He is not into rewards, but today, he must act as a person who, while he does not know what the reward is, will do his utmost to achieve it. It can't be that hard.
Vello goes down the chute next.
He waves to the fans in the yellow hats and polkadot teeshirts. What fools mortals be!
The uphill begins.
He thinks of Denis Diderot's history of playing jokes on his friends. Perhaps the reward will be something silly. But no, in the circumstances it would be wiser to trust him. Until the finish.
Denis Diderot goes next.
He hears the applause of the crowds. Yes, they know who he is! Denis! Denis! And look! There is some idiot dressed as a chicken. Which reminds him of the reward waiting in Peyragudes at the finish. Although it isn't a chicken. He ordered it specially, from Sété. Tomato and octopus pie.
Over half an hour later, (well over), all of Team Philosophe have arrived at the finish.
Terence is waiting with Belle.
Yay! says Terence. You beat all the good riders!
That's not how it works, says Belle.
Anything to eat? asks Vello.
Denis has ordered a surprise, says Belle.
She opens a brown paper bag to reveal a tomato and octopus pie.
They move away from the finish line, to eat it.
And another surprise also happens.
A parrot flies down.
But it isn't a parrot.
Could it be Roo-kai?
No it isn't him either.
It's Saint Roley!
Do I smell octopus pie? asks Saint Roley.
He is offered a tiny cooked octopus, from the heart of the pie.
Was it YOU that was coming? asks Terence.
Yes, says Saint Roley.
What a lovely surprise, says Belle.
A day of surprises, says Vello. Denis and his pie. And now you.
It is true.
But at the end of the day there's no surprise about who wins the individual time trial in the mountains.
Needless to say, it's Pogacar, with Vingegaard second.
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