Written by Don Hamstre of don hamstre team
  
  Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. Her name was Vuelta. She was admired by all the noble men in the region, but she could not care less about them. The noble men however, kept asking her to marry them. Eventually, she was so fed up with them, that she made a plan to get rid of the stalkers and have some fun at the same time. She said: 'Lo and behold, dear men of virtue. A competition will be held to win my hand. You will have to race on a mechanical horse with two wheels instead of legs, from castle to castle through my realm. Every day the winner will get a prize and the one that has the best overall time after the event will be given my hand.'
  The noble men were shocked about the news. In utter devastation they said: 'How can we, lords and knights of high class, lower our standards in a race? Let us choose six men that can do the race for us!'
  'So it shall be written, so it shall be done', the princess said: 'Now go and gather your men'
  
  But after a short time, some knights complained: 'We only have men who can go really fast at the end of a race, not uphill. They can never win!'. Therefore the princess said: 'The man who gets the most finishes in the front will also get a prize, so that it will not all be about time'. This still left some other complaining nobles: 'We only have young men in our possession. They are not mature enough to win. It is not fair!' The princess however, thought of another solution: 'The best man of the men under twenty-five will also get a prize!'.
  Now that everything was clear, all the lords gathered their men and formed strong teams. One by one, they presented their teams to the princess.
  
  First up were the knights from the northern county of Holland.
  The first knight listened to name of coldasice. 'I have a very talented Danish rider' he said; 'He is a very talented climber, but also has the ability to sprint very fast. He will try to win both the overall and the points race and by doing that, win your hand for me!'
  His words were followed by a slight moment of disorder, as a small lord entered, while shouting 'Revolution!' It was a former lord of Syria, who had returned to his homeland, lord Michieltje. ' Although I have more talented men in my territories, I will focus on getting the victory in a stage with this selection. I have a rider who

can do that in a sprint, but also men who can deliver in the short stages they have to do on their own.'
  A very successful lord with his clothes full of medals, lord pete, claimed he had the perfect man for the job: 'From the province of Bohemia, I have a man who can win in almost every stage. His age may be a little high, but I believe he can beat everyone!'
  Lord Alexx was also very confident: 'I have not one man of whom I believe he can win this race, but two. I will however spare the others and only focus on my Portuguese peasant. Also, I have a local rider for the short individual stages.'
  
  A noble from the duchy of Gelre entered the scene, it was lord Noppes. 'I could have easily won this with my Portuguese slave Gilberto. But I will make things harder for myself by betting on my young Spaniard Quevedo'
  The next contender was not a lord, but a son of the Bishop of Utrecht. Milan was his name and he claimed to have help form above. 'I have Jesus as my captain, so I can not lose!'
   The lords of the low lands continued to bicker, when a very polite noble entered the room. 'My name is lord Johnson and I am send to represent England. I have brought men worthy of racing in your sight, o beautiful Vuelta! My captain is great, but not given the best team possible to show that I do not need perfect circumstances to show my power.'
  'Move over Prince Charming', a young Flemish noble said. (he has quite an awkward name, but his friends call him QSM) 'I travelled to the princess with White and white will be her mantle when she marries me!'
  Another lord interrupted the Flemish bluffer. It was lord Yann, who said he has brought a slave from across the ocean to win the princess her hand. Nicholas was his name and he is a very talented rider. Some even say he is the favourite.
  Another French noble in the room was lord Delion, who brought a Flemish sprinter to make a good impression in front of the princess.
  
  The next lord arrived from the rough lands of the East. Lord Kremer said: 'From my lands I have brought a man who can go up climbs like nobody else. Although he is still young, I believe he can be able to overpower all of the other competitors!'
  Then, a royal son from the far east entered. Although he actually was the princess her neighbour, he claimed to have conquered the far nations of Siam, lord Holger had gathered men

from all over Asia in an ultimate attempt to impress the princess. 'Anousone Keovilay is one of my most loyal peasants, and also very good in going downhill. He has what it takes to win'
  Then, a true lord of Spain entered the castle, Lord SoKoM. But he brought a slave from a nation they call Down Under as his captain. Will he be able to win the hand of the princess?
  The last noble was just on time. It was not weird that he arrived a bit late, because he had to travel across the ocean to get to the princess. He was about to begin his speech about his very gifted Portuguese riders, when something unexpected happened and left lord blast without words.
  
  A raging gang of Vikings entered the castle. They threatened to abduct the princess, but when she said they could also join the race, they were satisfied.
  The Viking leaders turned out to have very talented riders in their ranks and they presented their teams one by one. Petter the Powerful had a very young, but equally impressive soldier from Serbia. 'He is able to climb every mountain faster than Thors thunderbolts', Petter said.
  Tirilla the Terrific had a Luxembourgian prisoner of war who could sprint like no one else.
  Methode the Magnificent has a mercenary from Holland who 'Will win the points race with the greatest of ease with his amazing abilities on hills and in the sprint!'
  Einar the Eminent has a Flemish warrior who looks like he is going to be hard to beat.
  Michel the Mighty forced a Dutch nobleman who was a guest of the Princess to ride for him, because of his talent for climbing, combined with his overall abilities.
  Finally, Jonas the Jut showed the Princess his team, formed around an Japanese nephew of the emperor, but mostly a team suitable for the short stages which the princess called Time Trials.
  
  One night to sleep before the race. Some riders get a visit from a secret green fairy. They are helped by a magical force and have more chance of winning.
  Seven days later, the winner gets his reward. The victorious lord steps up to the princess on her throne to become her prince. She gives him her hand, shakes it and takes it back. She never said she would marry anyone. 'Maybe next year', she said with a demonic smile. From that time on the noble men keep fighting for her hand. The princess however, never married. And she lived happily ever after.