Stage 2: Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-mer - Thanks

Oh no. It's raining!

Team Condor hasn't brought rain jackets.

All the other teams have.

They ride out from Lauwin-Planque in the miserable weather.

Lucky we brought these rain jackets, says Vello.

Mine's a bit tight, says David. I can't do it up.

Let it flap, says Vello.

Denis Diderot has a bigger one. But he's struggling to get his arms in.

What are you doing, Denis? asks Vello.

Can't get my arms in, says Denis. I might just do this...

He zips up his jacket, and keeps riding no hands.

The empty arms droop and drip at his sides.

I didn't know you could do trick riding, says David.

I can't, says Denis Diderot. If there's a bend in the road, I'm in trouble.

They are riding at the back of the peloton, and can see a bend coming.

Denis, you fool, says Vello. Unzip your jacket!

Since when did I agree to take orders from you? asks Denis Diderot. 

He pokes his hands out from under the edge of his jacket.

He grasps the mid point of his handlebars, and inches his hands outwards.

The road curves. 

He skids round the bend

Ha! Made it ! says Denis.

The rain stops.

....

Lucky we didn't have rain jackets, says Sweezus.

I see why you think so, says Gaius. 

Other riders are struggling to get out of theirs.

On the downside, we're wet, says Gaius. And I'm feeling chilly. 

Speed up then, says Sweezus. Find out what's happening up front.

Will do, says Gaius. He speeds up and almost wins a point on the cote de Cavon-Saint-Martin. 

But does not.

He does, however, hear something of interest.

Andreas Leknessund, who did win the point, mutters, THANKS TO THE OMEN, before he starts his descent.

.....

Terence is at the feed station, handing out his musettes.

Several riders who are unknown to him try to grab one.

Woo! says Terence. These aren't for them!

No they aren't, says Belle. I wonder why they keep comng for you?

And why parrots don't, says Terence.

A parrot has just flown by.

It didn't stop. 

It might not have been a parrot.

......

It's nearing the end of the stage.

Looks like another bunch sprint finish.

All the best riders are in it.

So we can guess who is not.

Here they come. Is that Matthieu Van der Poel making a last minute effort to pip both Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard?

Yes.

And did he mutter THANKS TO THE OMEN?

He might have.