tour de france 2024: stage 9
by Rémy Rossi
its chalky nose dusted with powder
white lines,
and blanc roads
nothing to gain yet everything to lose
a better’s game—
swapping the Vegas casinos
for nasal strips.
fatter tires
only slightly so
help the skinny riders
survive the show
but only slightly so.
the spirit of gravel doesn’t care
about a fancy race
have you ever seen a pebble
reveal its face ?
shy buggers that shape shift
from slippery sand to
wavering washboards and
pothole punctures.
one can’t stand in the same
river twice
but a gravel road is
a timeless paradise
same rocks, different shit
a word of advice—
don’t fucking quit.
fatter tires
only slightly so
help the skinny riders
survive the show
but only slightly so—
chapeau.
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