The summit of the climb came 38km from the end of stage 14, which began in Limoux and ended in Foix in the foothills of the Pyrenees, and the incident occurred as the peloton emerged into the light and passed under the banner at the top, a quarter of an hour behind a five-man breakaway.

He was actively listening.

It is a common observation that garbages are scattered around the slums. The respondents complained that the municipal sweepers seldom bother to collect the accumulated garbages from around the slums.

A curved line of liquor stores, supermarkets and quaintish gift shops was all one could see from the vantage point of the ceaseless procession of cars.