Stage 6 Paestum -> Napoli

This edition, much like the past few ones, also features a stage with sprint finish in Naples... except the finish line was moved up a hill, past an uphill cobblestone section, with a hairpin midway through. With the surface still wet from the rain, this was a recipe for disaster, and indeed an otherwise predictably uneventful stage came undone right at the last kilometre.

With the top sprinters battling for position at the front, a few riders slid on their own as they were taking the damp cobbled hairpin a mere 300m from the finish line, resulting in most of the group getting stuck. Luckily for In The Wind, one of just two riders who were entirely unaffected was their own Davide Ballerini, who outsprinted non-TCAT Jasper Stuyven for an entirely unexpected stage win. All other top TCAT sprinters were delayed or crashed outright, meaning it  who had a chance at avoiding the accident and scoring points: Mozzato (CFA) ended up 7th, van Uden (BDC) 10th, Ackermann (MMM) 17th and Maestri (CHX) 20th.

ITW gets another stage win, albeit a low scoring one, with no position changes in the overall standings. The most consequential outcome from today is instead Milan and Andresen, the most expensive sprinters, not scoring any points and failing to turn around their so-far disappointing TCAT edition, which is bad news for CHX, GHS, REX and ITW itself.

Standings after stage 6:

Pos	±		Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)		Cyclohexane (CHX)	1577	+114
2nd	(=)		Els Talossaes Rexhital (REX)	1488	+106
3rd	(=)		Team In The Wind (ITW)	1426	+294
4th	(=)		Maritiimi-Maxhestic Mençeis (MMM)	1230	+121
5th	(=)		Cézembre Caçeirs dals Mailintzarăs (BDC)	1122	+128
6th	(=)		Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	1022	+88
7th	(=)		Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	900	+35
8th	(=)		Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	497	+126

Today we finally get the first mountain stage of TCAT Italy 2026, as the peloton climbs Cima Blockhaus (which, despite the name, is not in the Alps and is actually nestled deep within the Appennines.) First verdicts from leading GC contenders and climbers coming up!

I have decided to choose the following as my motto:
Animus ferus numquam vincitur

Stage 5 Praia a Mare -> Potenza

Yesterday saw a succesful breakaway attempt involving Campenaerts (CHX), Rubio (CFA), Narvaez (REX/VFL/MMM), Garofoli (GHS), Scaroni (REX/MMM) and Arrieta (CHX). Crazy things happened at the end, where Arrieta crashed and then went in the wrong direction, but somehow still won the stage (I have no idea how any of that happened), giving the most points to Cyclohexane who are now back in the lead. Eulalio took the pink jersey.

Standings after stage 5:

Pos	±		Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(+1)		Cyclohexane (CHX)	1463	+350
2nd	(-1)		Els Talossaes Rexhital (REX)	1382	+246
3rd	(=)		Team In The Wind (ITW)	1132	+74
4th	(+1)		Maritiimi-Maxhestic Mençeis (MMM)	1109	+237
5th	(-1)		Cézembre Caçeirs dals Mailintzarăs (BDC)	994	+87
6th	(=)		Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	934	+91
7th	(=)		Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	865	+171
8th	(=)		Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	371	+47

Today we have a flat stage towards Naples which seems like one of the last opportunities for sprinters as we head into the mountains tomorrow. The final kilometers feature a short uphill cobbled section though, which might affect the results even if that result is still most likely a bunch sprint.

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on March 01, 2026, 04:04:09 PM

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on February 10, 2026, 04:38:48 PM

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on February 06, 2026, 11:47:10 PM@Sir Lüc Mr. Secretary, would you please move this to the CRL for consideration?

@Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir Congratulations on your appointment as the Humanitarian Aid PermSec. I wanted to ask whether the recipient mentioned in this resolution might be an organization you would recommend to the Government?

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 01, 2026, 02:12:20 PMAs to 62RZ16, BHAID: Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan Resolution, I vote contra.  At the urging of the bill's sponsor, the government has recently appointed someone to make themselves an expert in humanitarian aid and recommend how we should distribute the funds, and I don't want to immediately undermine her.

Nearly three weeks ago, before moving forward with this bill for Clarking, I asked this very question to the new PermSec for Humanitarian Aid.

I received no response.

@Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir I had sincerely hoped that after some review you would find the organization and the cause worthy of support. Hopefully with some more time you will be able to advise the Seneschal so that his concerns about undermining you can be assuaged.

Hmmm, very disappointing that the Seneschal by his recent vote appears to be confirming he has not received any advice from the new PermSec for Humanitarian Aid. We are well past the third month since their appointment. I will let voters decide whether this is acceptable.

On 62RZ22, BHAID: Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan Resolution (Reconsideration), I vote contra.  For the exact same reasons as last time.

I abstain on the other two bills.

I will be seeking a new Avocat-Xheneral, I think.

Well, my strategy of picking only the big guns is not quite paying off, but at least my guys are finding the roads of Italy a little easier than the ice of America and Canada.

Same here.

-Txec R

Quote from: Moinul Moin on May 13, 2026, 03:21:00 AMThis prospective has received a petition within sixty days of their eligibility.  In accordance with Lexh.E.4, their application process is hereby terminated. @Minister of Immigration, please take notice.

Can we fix the grammar to say "has not" because it's confusing whether they've received a petition or not. Thanks.

-Txec R