In an effort to shave enough weight to stay in touch on the Puig Major while we are out in Majorca in a couple of weeks’ time, young DA has been training like a man possessed while restricting his calorie intake to the point where, a few days ago, he made a Rapha Lightweight Softshell jacket size Medium look baggy.

A man can only keep this up for so long, however, and at the weekend he cracked. Foolishly peeking at the goodies ranged in the window of a bakery in Bakewell, he inevitably succumbed to the lure of a large pork pie which, with its equally large brethren, was placed enticingly on display in a blatant attempt to importune young and impressionable cyclists.

Let’s not dwell on what followed, but simply note that I think I may be in with a chance, if not on the Puig Major, then on Sa Calobra…