Stage 16 is flat till the last part.
Then a challenging climb to the finish.
After two hours, there are 32 riders in the breakaway.
Sweezus and Arthur are not amongst them.
Sweezus is looking gloomy.
What's up? asks Arthur.
Everything, says Sweezus.
But your nose has stopped running, says Arthur.
Yeah it has, says Sweezus. That cabbage soup helped.
So what else? asks Arthur.
I might not have the legs, says Sweezus.
For Mont Ventoux? says Arthur.
Yeah, says Sweezus.
You've always had them before, says Arthur.
Remember that pie? says Sweezus.
The tomato and octopus pie? asks Arthur.
No, the one yesterday, says Sweezus. The one that looke like a cotton reel.
I ate four, says Arthur.
What a guts! says Sweezus. All that mutton.
It was good, says Arthur.
Yeah, but mutton, says Sweezus. That's what I am. No longer a lamb.
A lamb couldn't climb Mont Ventoux, says Arthur.
That's not very helpful, says Sweezus.
Come on. Focus, says Arthur, leading him out.
Focus. That is more helpful. Sweezus pedals harder.
Arthur keeps the wind off. Also helpful.
Back down the road, Team Philosophe is in a better mood.
Vello: A twig! For a finger!
Denis Diderot: Ha ha!
David: And Terence looked pleased.
Vello: He'll be pleased until it breaks at the first hurdle.
Denis Diderot: Which might be today. Did Gaius use his famous fish glue?
Vello: No doubt. He never goes anywhere without it.
David: We'd better be careful when we grab our musettes.
They agree, and resolve to be careful.
But let's not hang about back here.
Things are happening on Mont Ventoux.
Vingegaard has attacked with 8.5 k to go, and Pogacar has followed.
But they aren't at the front.
That would be Ben Healy and Valentin Paret-Peintre.
They attack again and again, while making no difference.
This is exciting!
Nearly there! Healy launches! But Paret-Peintre passes him in the last 100 metres.
Super! A win by a Frenchman!
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