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Hello, Pigale!
Yes, it was a very unusual stage, and respect from everyone on the Tour and the spectators.
I seem to remember Fabio's bike on the team car that day, too.
I think they neutralised the stage following Bjorg's death, too, in the Tour of Poland.

Good evening, Rusty!
We are finally home again...
We have had a very enjoyable day out, into the Kent countryside.
And we have also come home with yet more plants from our visit to the Garden Centre!
We shall be busy tomorrow, planting them in tubs and in the main garden......
Now......I have just followed the exchange about yet another tragic earlier death of a cyclist competitor......
I am horrified how any one can risk putting his life on the line like that.......
Especially when it is only for Sport.
I can understand that a firefighter, for instance, takes risks with his life, but that is a "job" and to help rescue others......
So not in the same category.
I know you probably will not agree with me .....and I know car racing drivers run similar risks...... and that one cannot go through life "wrapped up in cotton wool".....
But it is such a tragic loss of life for so little reason?
Oh dear...I'll get down off my soap box....!
On a lighter note, how are the girls progressing with their journey?
I haven't done today's crossword.......but out of interest will look up the clue about the book after dinner and get back to you!

Hello, Elle!
More plants!
You are going to be busy.
No cyclist, professional or otherwise, thinks they are going to be killed when out on their bikes.
It is a very rare occurence.
They all know there will be crashes, they happen all the time, but are universally accepted in the bike world.
I am thinking of Michele Scarponi who was a top Italian rider, who was cycling very near his home early one morning when a van hit, and killed him.
Not killed racing, just cycling near his home.
These things happen.
Elinor Barker has been getting text messages from her friends telling her, "you're not a proper rider until you break your collar bone!".
And Elinor is an Olympic champion!
I have texted the girls but no reply, so far.
They should be leaving Las Vegas at 21.45 our time.

Hi, Rusty!
Oh, the girls have not set out yet....I am confused!
What is the time difference then between here and there?
I have looked at the crossword....I have found the clue to which you were referring.....
I did not know the book either...but it seems to be John Betjeman's autobiography?
I got the "Bells" part , because of the Bronte reference.
I know that Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell are male pseudonyms for Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte!
Oops, I am being called to play "Sorry", before the boys get ready for bed......
I have to go.....
I will be back later.

Hello, Elle!
I think it's 7 hours Las Vegas is behind us......I think!
I knew about the Bell/Bronte name, but I have not heard of the book.
Is it a bit too unknown for a puzzle?
It was a fine puzzle today, though!

Hi, Rusty!
Perhaps others may have heard of the book title?
I had to ask Google for " ? by Bells " autobiography!
I'm afraid that was the only clue I did....
Well, all good things come to an end, and the family returns home tomorrow.
Our daughter has a work placement (part of her Counselling course) to go to on Thursday, and so has to be back in time for that.
It has been lovely seeing them.
The boys are now in bed...and I am about to make coffee for the survivors.....

Good morning, Pigale!
This is a short clip of the arrival of Team Lotto-Soudal at the finish yesterday.
Bjorg Lambrecht's name on the banner at the finish line.

https://video.eurosport.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-pologne/2019/gone-but-never-forgotten-emotional-tribute-to-bjorg-lambrecht-on-stage-4-finish-line_vid1227344/video.shtml

Good morning, Elle!
Heavy rain during the night but dry now.
You will miss your family when they go!
I found "Summoned by Bells" on YouTube.
It was a documentary on BBC4 a couple of years ago.
There are several other videos about it.
Well, my girls will be landing at Edinburgh in just over an hour.
Their Dad is collecting them.
He said they are sad to be leaving America!

Good morning, Rusty!
It is a warm sunny day here........but a thunderstorm is predicted for Friday.
Well, the family have just left for home....... the journey should take them about three hours.
It seems very quiet here now..... we shall miss them all!
On the plus side, though, our other daughter and her family will be back on Saturday!
Your granddaughters should be back on terra firma, and on their way home with their dad, by now......
You will be looking forward to seeing them soon, and catching up with all their news in person!

Good Morning Elle and Rusty,

Thank you Rusty for the link from Poland - another very emotional
moment and I am 'glad' (for want of a better word) that the Polish
cycling powers-that-be decided to honour young Bjorg's memory in
this way.

Elle, you mention motor racing as being a dangerous sport too,
I remember when it was even more dangerous, up until the 1990s
when Ayrton Senna died in Italy while racing in the San Marino Grand Prix (1994 I think)
It is only after this dreadful accident that more rigid measures of
security were taken to protect more efficiently the drivers.

In fact, I was surprise to read the following artical - but link does not
work for me - Just google up MOST DANGEROUS SPORTS


Hope the girls have returned safely Rusty, and that everyone is
enjoying themselves Elle!