Stage 14: Pau to Luchon - Coddling

A hard day ahead in the mountains, with drizzle.

Remco Evenepoel abandons.

On the Col de Tourmalet, Lenny Martinez goes solo.

He pulls on a rain jacket.

Sweezus and Arthur are in the breakaway, a long way behind Lenny.

Have we got rain jackets? asks Sweezus.

Don't know. Have we? asks Arthur.

Belle's up ahead, says Gaius. Maybe she'll have them.

She does.

But they are for Team Philosophe.

Sorry guys, shouts Belle. They're for papa's team.

But we were here first! shouts Sweezus.

They're older! shouts Belle. They need them more than you do!

She's right, says Gaius. Although perhaps not in my case.

They keep riding, without jackets, into the mist.

I feel bad about that, says Belle, but they should've thought about rain jackets.

It's not even raining, says Terence.

Jackets keep them warm on the descent, says Saint Roley. In the old days, riders used newspaper.

Weren't jackets invented? asks Terence.

I'm sure they were, says Belle, but riders were different in those days. More independent.

Yes, none of this coddling, says Saint Roley.

What's coddling? asks Terence.

Being overprotective, says Belle. Or cooking an egg gently without boiling the water.

Alas! says Saint Roley.

Sorry, says Belle. I shouldn't have mentioned the egg.

Vello and David pedal up to them, puffing.

Rain jackets! says Belle.

Thanks dear, says Vello, stopping to put his on.

I've got one for Denis as well, says Belle. Where is he?

Coming, says David, also stopping. 

I see him! shouts Terence.

For goodness sake, says Belle. Is that an umbrella?

Denis has unfurled an umbrella. 

The fans are cheering him on. An umbrella. How cheeky! 

He stops. 

Ditch the umbrella! hisses Vello. You'll get us disqualified!

Denis grins at the spectators. Who wants it?

A child comes forward, for the valuable prize.

Denis slips on his rain jacket, and Team Philosophe forges forward.

Lucky the cameras weren't on them while that happened.

The cameras are on Lenny Martinez, being caught by Kuss and Pare-Peintre on the descent to Arreau.

And then on Peyresourde, where Arensman goes solo.

Also on Vingegaard trying to pass Poggy.

He passes. But Poggy speeds up.

Arensman wins though, and Poggy is obliged to come second, with Vingegaard third.