Second Reckoned

The last day of mountain climbing before the time trials tomorrow.

The teams ride out of Villarcayo.

Primoz Roglic is in red.

And determined to stay there.

Snippets of poetry form in his head.

Be the fox where it counts....

Okay that's not too great. But nor is it great to end a line with an obvious word such as fox.

Because what rhymes with fox? 

Box, pox, sox.....

And also, sox is bad spelling.

He wonders if the poem must be in English

He should ask Pablo.

But no! 

He must concentrate on impoving his lead over Ben O'Connor.

It's not over yet.

Ben O'Connor is not even thinking of his poem. He must at least retain overall second position.

Here he comes now, in the blue-green jersey of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.

He passes Pablo.

Go for second, shouts Pablo. Or something like that.

Ben O'Connor gives Pablo the finger, and catches up with his team mate, Bruno.

What did Pablo say? asks Bruno.

He reckoned I should settle for second, says Ben O'Connor.

That makes quite a nice rhyme, says Bruno. Reckoned and second.

I can't think that way, says Ben O'Connor.

No of course not, says Bruno. 

They speed off into the distance.

Up and down seven categorised mountains.

Seven.

Let us cut to the end.

Here comes Eddie Dunbar.

He has passed Enric Mas and finished first on the Picon Blanco.

Good for him.

Primoz comes in third. Now he has 2 minutes and 2 seconds over Ben O'Connor.

Who nevertheless at this point is still coming second.

Which is fine.

According to what Pablo reckoned.

Too Much Too Soon

Stage nineteen, with an uphill arrival at Alto de Moncalvillo.

Primoz Roglic has a good feeling. The red fox is ready.

Baby Pierre too is ready.

He feels better. Yesterday he did too much too soon.

Too much too soon

O moon O moon.

He should write that down for the poetry competition.

It rhymes perfectly, and has the right number of syllables.

Furthermore, it captures his feelings exactly.

He is zooming back and forth through the riders and almost crashes into his teammate, the Kroombit tinker.

Watch out stupid! says the tinker.

Hey! says Baby Pierre. Don't talk to me like that. I'm your captain.

Not any more, says the tinker. I resign.

You can't, says Baby Pierre. Or we'll both be disqualified.

You're so careless, says the tinker. 

I had an accident, says Baby Pierre. 

You made it up, says the tinker.

See these scars, says Baby Pierre.

No, the tinker can't see them.

How's your poem going? asks Baby Pierre, changing the subject.

I'm re-doing it, says the tinker. How about yours?

Listen to this, says Baby Pierre: 

O moon O moon

I did too much too soon.

Too many syllables, says the tinker. And it's crazy. 

I can fix it, says Baby Pierre. 

Leave out the moon, says the tinker.

If I leave out the moon I've got nothing, says Baby Pierre.

Too bad, says the tinker. You should have thought of that before you put the moon in it.

She rides away, to see if she can find Pablo.

The race is half over already.

Pablo is riding alongside Ben O'Connor.

Ben O'Connor is grumbling that his legs feel a bit average today.

Chin up, says Pablo.

Ben O'Connor makes an effort, and pedals away.

The tinker draws level with Pablo.

Listen to this, says the tinker. O moon O moon I did too much too soon.

Lucky Ben O'Connor didn't hear that, says Pablo.

Meanwhile up ahead in both time and distance, Primoz Roglic is ascending the Alto de Moncalvillo 

Yes! A solo finish 46 seconds ahead of David Gaudu.

And one minute and 54 seconds ahead of Ben O'Connor. 

No one can say Roglic did too much too soon.

Excellent Tactic

Yes, a day is long.

Yesterday was long for Baby Pierre.

But today, he feels better.

He discards his bandage. Woo hoo!

No cracks.

He's back to his old self again.

He zooms out of Vitoria-Gasteiz, leaving the other riders behind him.

It's a hilly day, in the Basque country.

Tactics are required.

The Kroombit tinker is riding with Pablo.

What are our tactics? asks the tinker.

Aren't you with Baby Pierre? asks Pablo. What are his tactics?

We're not speaking, says the tinker. He tells lies.

Did he come up with a cock and bull story? asks Pablo.

Yes, says the tinker. He says he was rescued by a vulture.

That does seem far fetched, says Pablo.

Ben O'Connor rides by.

I hope you have good tactics worked out for today, says Pablo.

Don't worry, I have, says Ben O'Connor. Stay level with Roglic.

He speeds off. He has plenty of time to execute his tactic.

Did Baby Pierre explain why the vulture helped him? asks Pablo.

Not only helped him, but gave him a bandage, says the tinker.

A vulture wouldn't do that, says Pablo.

That's what I said, says the tinker. 

Is he better today? asks Pablo.

His bandage is off, says the tinker.

A fast healer, says Pablo. Did the vulture rescue his bicycle too?

Must have, says the tinker. He's back on it.

They continue pedalling together.

It's almost as if they are team mates.

Team mates who don't have a tactic.

Baby Pierre has stopped in Villafria, about 20k from the finish.

He is, to be honest, quite tired.

A vulture swoops down.

Keep going! says the vulture. You're only 20k from the finish.

I'm resting, says Baby Pierre. 

Where's your bandage? asks the vulture.

I threw it away, says Baby Pierre. 

I said I wanted it back, says the vulture.

Go and find it, says Baby Pierre. It's back at Vitoria-Gasteiz.

The vulture rolls its eyes and flies off to recover the discarded bandage.

Baby Pierre remains where he is, resting.

He is passed by a breakaway containing, among others, Urko Berrade.

Who is destined for the stage win today, due to an excellent tactic. 

A Day Is Long

Stage seventeen of the Vuelta

Monumento Juan de Castillo to Santander.

Today's flat finish will be a chance for the sprinters.

Pablo, not being a sprinter, is thinking of a line for his poem:

A day is long...

He thinks about Baby Pierre. Perhaps lying among unfeeling pebbles who don't speak his language.

Perhaps a vulture has spotted him far down in the ravine.

And swooped down to inspect him. 

And swooped up again, because Baby Pierre is a pebble.

And although the o-rings looked like split gooseberries, they were made of green rubber.

Pablo pedals on.

Kaden Groves is up ahead. Pablo draws level.

Going for it today? asks Pablo.

You bet, says Kaden Groves. See you at the finish.

He accelerates, in a confident way.

The Kroombit tinker comes up behind Pablo.

I've seen Baby Pierre! cries the tinker.

In a vision? asks Pablo.

No, in a bandage, says the tinker.

But he disappeared on the Cuitu Negru, says Pablo. Are you sure it was him?

He's kind of unmistakeable, says the Kroombit tinker.

Even in a bandage? asks Pablo.

Even so, says the tinker. The round shape, the skinny legs, the green o-wheels. It could only be him.

Is he behind us? asks Pablo.

Yes, says the tinker. He wasn't going that fast.

Perhaps we should wait for him, says Pablo.

He'd be embarrassed, says the tinker.

So they do not slow down.

A few low mountains later and the riders have all reached the flat part.

The streets are wet in Santander.

Tricky.

A mass bunch sprint occurs, spraying the spectators.

It's a close one

Kaden Groves gets the stage win, pipping Pavel Bittner and Vito Braet.

Kaden Groves will now wear the green jersey.

Ben O'Connor retains his five second lead over Roglic.

Five seconds! That's tiny.

Speaking of which, a small pebble in a bandage has just come in last.

Thinking Of Bears

The final week of the Vuelta.

Another mountain stage today, finishing at Lagos de Covadonga.

There should be a good view from there, says Pablo, to a second Pablo.

The beautiful lakes, says the second Pablo. And perhaps we shall spot a brown bear.

A brown bear? says the Kroombit tinker. Don't they eat people?

Not when they're on bikes, says Pablo.

Bears on bikes? says the tinker.

The Pablos laugh, and head for the start line.

Ben O'Connor is there, in his red jersey.

Go well today, says Pablo.

Thanks, says Ben O'Connor. Every second is precious. Any news of Baby Pierre?

Not yet, says Pablo. We think he may have fallen into a ravine,

But we don't KNOW! says the tinker. He might just be sulking.

Bang! The riders ride out of Luanco. 

The first 70 kilometres are relatively flat.

Pablo rides alongside Marc Soler for a while.

I have a good feeling about today, says Marc Soler.

Then you should go with it, says Pablo. But watch out for bears.

You're kidding me, says Marc Soler. Never seen one.

Me either, says Pablo.

Marc Soler pedals away, thinking about bears, and what would he do if he saw one, probably freak out and go even faster.... but that may not be smart.... it depends on the timing.... 

He tells himself not to think any more about bears.

Pablo hears trouble behind him.

A crash has occurred.

He forges ahead. As you're supposed to.

The Kroombit tinker has turned back to look.

Could it be Baby Pierre who has caused it? Which would mean Baby Pierre was okay.

Because he never gets hurt in the crashes he causes.

It's Wout van Aert, in a crash with some others.

Wout is bleeding. He gets back on his bike, but has to get off again.

That's it for him. 

The tinker looks around for Baby Pierre. 

But if he was here, he now isn't.

She looks skywards.

A bearded vulture flaps slowly away.

She keeps riding. Trying to catch up with Pablo.

Up the steep slopes of the Covadonga.

It is wet now and misty. 

Marc Soler has reached the summit first and commenced the downhill run to the finish.

He wins the stage, in conditions of low visibility.

He was right to stop thinking of bears. 

Spanish Speaking Pebbles

A rest day, in Oviedo. 

The Pablos are having lunch in the Plaza Escandalera.

Near the fountain, in front of Casa Conde.

The Pablos have brought snacks. Empanadas, croquetas, almondras fritas....

The Kroombit tinker has joined them.

Pablo ( our Pablo) offers her an empanada.

What's in it? asks the tinker.

Pork and vegetables says Pablo.

No, thank you, says the tinker.

Does anyone know what happened to Baby Pierre yesterday? asks a second Pablo.

The third and fourth Pablos shake their heads.

I'm not worried about him, says the tinker.

Perhaps he's feeling offended, says Pablo.

He laughed when I told him you'd asked me to try and rein him in, says the tinker.

Do I smell hot chocolate? asks a Pablo.

No, says another of the Pablos. Shall I go and buy churros?

Yes go, says the Pablo. 

Get something for me, says the tinker.

Like what? asks the Pablo who is going.

Insect, worm, spider, says the tinker. I'm not bothered.

The Pablo goes off. Perhaps he'll see a spider in the churro shop.

What if he fell down a ravine? asks the fourth Pablo.

He is a reckless speeder, says the tinker. He might well have.

Imagine that, says Pablo (our Pablo). He may be lying in a ravine of the Cuitu Negru amongst countless other pebbles.

With his green o-wheels, says the tinker.

Does he speak Spanish? asks the fourth Pablo.

Not usually, says the tinker.

Ever? asks the fourth Pablo.

Why do you ask? asks the tinker.

The other pebbles will speak Spanish, says the Pablo. And if he doesn't, he can't ask them for help.

It should be obvious to the other pebbles that a newly-fallen pebble with a bicycle at the bottom of their ravine needed help, says the tinker.

A delicious aroma of hot chocolate and churros fills the air, distracting everyone.

The Pablo who went for the churros has come back.

Each of the Pablos grabs a churro and dips it in the hot chocolate. Mmmm. Cielo!

Anything for me? asks the tinker.

The shop was too clean, says the Pablo. But I thought you might like to try these chicharrones.

He tips a few from a paper bag, in front of the tinker.

They are curly, like grubs.

She eats several before realising they must be fried pork rinds.

O yuck.

O well.

O hay.

One Fast Pablo

A crucial day for the GC riders. A shake-up is expected,

This will be a hard day, says Pablo.

His team mates in Los Chilenos agree.

Let's stick together, says one of the Pablos.

Good plan, say the others.

They form a solid bunch of Pablos in the midst of the peloton.

Ben O'Connor comes up behind them.

Bad tactic, says Ben O'Connor.

Depends, replies Pablo.

Anyone seen Baby Pierre? asks Ben O'Connor.

Not today, says Pablo. He's been asked to slow down.

As if, says Ben O'Connor.

You'd better get going, says Pablo. 

Yeah, I'd better, says Ben O'Connor. Big day.

Everyone toils up and down the challenging mountains. 

And still they have not reached the agonisingly steep slopes of the Cuitu Negru.

>>>>

Now they have.

The Pablos are fading. Including Pablo.

The Kroombit tinker is valiantly pedalling, while dreaming of flies.

O hay! I dream of fat flies. 

Primoz Roglic has changed his bike at the start of the climb.

To catch up he drafts behind the team car.

And is penalised twenty seconds.

But still he gains time on Ben O'Connor.

The gap between them is now only 46 seconds.

Up ahead, who is this? The crowd shouts Pablo! Pablo!

But which Pablo?

It is Pablo Castillo, the young Spanish Pablo, who came first on Stage 12.

He has broken away from Alex Vlasov and Pavel Sivakov.

And triumphed in the mists of Cuitu Negru.

Where is Baby Pierre? 

Was he at the top, waiting?

Good question.

No one has seen him.