← Sittings

Late February, the valley returns to itself

After the Flags Come Down

The ice had been swept and the banners taken in before Thibault made his reservation — two weeks' distance being the standard courtesy he afforded glory before consenting to observe it. He arrived in his merino turtleneck and a silence cultivated since January, ordered something warm, and watched the valley resume its ordinary indifference. A man who has never competed, he noted, can afford to take the long view.

25 February 2026