A hilly stage, a good day for attackers.
Of which there are many.
At 17k there's a crash, due to the battles.
Vingegaard and Lipowitz are affected, but make their way back to the bunch.
Team Condor keeps to the back.
You okay? asks Arthur.
Bit of a sniffle, says Sweezus.
Cabbage soup, says Gaius. I recommend it.
Where'm I going to get cabbage soup out here? asks Sweezus.
He sneezes.
Two riders in front of him look over their shoulders, and speed up.
We'll get dropped at this rate, says Arthur.
No we won't, says Gaius. Follow me, men.
He shoots forward.
Go on, says Arthur. I've got your back.
Sweezus wipes his nose on his forearm, and follows Gaius.
They are right behind Styven, Simmons and Storer on the Cote de St-Ferréol.
Sweezus sneezes again. This makes the attackers go faster, and leave them behind.
A good try, says Gaius. But your sneezes aren't helping. Have you got one of those nose things?
They're meant to keep your nose open, says Sweezus. What good would that do?
Stuff will drip out, says Arthur.
Better than sneezing, says Gaius.
Yeah right, sniffs Sweezus. But I haven't got one.
Belle, Terence and Saint Roley are waiting at the feeding station.
Poor Sweezie woke up with a sniffle, says Belle.
No raincoat yesterday, says Saint Roley.
Boo! says Terence. I want him to win.
This should help, says Belle, handing three musettes to Terence.
Terence holds them out.
You don't really need a new finger, says Saint Roley.
I will AFTER! says Terence.
Here comes Gaius, followed by Sweezus.
Gaius grabs his musette.
Not cabbage soup by any chance? shouts Gaius.
As good as! shouts Belle. It's garbure!
Sweezus grabs his.
It's cabbage and chicken soup! shouts Belle.
How the fuck...? shouts Sweezus.
What does he mean?
How did she know? Or how is he meant to eat it?
Probably the latter.
It is in a plastic bottle with a lid.
He unscrews it.
Takes a big gulp.
Good on her, it's a purée.
He feels better.
Not that much better. His nose it still dripping.
But hey.
Team Condor goes on to finish creditably in Carcassonne, somewhere in the middle.
And who has won?
Tim Wellens, who soloed for over 40k down the Col de Fontbruno, feeling his moment had come.
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