Before we jump into Wednesday’s action, let’s recap what happened in Stage 4:

The peloton cruised at a leisurely pace most of the day, pedaling through the picturesque countryside along the Adriatic coast. As they neared Lecce, however, the mood became more tense: two laps around the town center brought narrow streets, sharp corners, and “road furniture” (i.e., traffic circles and other obstructions.)

At one point Mads Pedersen got caught behind a crash, jeopardizing his Maglia Rosa. Two quick-thinking teammates escorted him back to the front of the race – the safest place for everyone, given the street situation. In fact, until the final kilometer, that was the strategy employed by all the riders: overall GC contenders bumped elbows with sprinters looking for a stage win, creating a crowded mob at the front.

In the end, though, it was Team Picnic Post NL that prevailed, choosing the perfect line out of the final corner. Whether it was luck or strategy, who knows? But it propelled their man Casper Van Uden to the finish line, just ahead of Olav Kooij from Team Vizma – Leasabike. His victory also saved the team from possible relegation from the world tour.

Pedersen retained the Maglia Rosa as well as the Maglia Ciclamino for the points classification. Well done!

Looking at Stage 5

Although we’re making our way toward the mountains, Wednesday’s race will be mostly flat. The map shows just a few rolling hills, with a slight uphill run to the finish line. That said, I wouldn’t consider this a true sprint stage but an opportunity for one of the overall GC contenders to flex a bit and perhaps take a few seconds out of his rivals. We shall see!

Sipping Spectator Selection: 2022 Cantine Paololeo Passo del Cardinale Primitivo di Manduria DOC (14% abv; $21)

Primitivo (aka Zinfandel) is one of the stand-out grape varieties in Puglia, as the DOC name aptly shows. The winery is a family establishment run by Paolo Leo, whose father began growing grapes on the property in the early 20^th century. In fact, he built the first palmento (a stone building used for winemaking) in the village.

Vineyards lie in the province of Taranto and boast 40-year-old traditional Puglian bush vines. Grapes were destemmed and then fermented under temperature control for just over a week, followed by extended skin maceration (15-18 days). The wine was aged in American oak barrels for three months, and an additional six months in stainless steel tanks.

Tasting Notes

Deep magenta color, all the way to the rim. Ripe fruity nose (blackberry, plum, currants) with aromas of vanilla, coconut, and dried rosemary. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied but with structural balance. Tannins are smooth, and acidity is moderately high. There are flavors of berry compote complemented by a hint of vanilla custard. Licorice notes linger on the long finish.

Pairing

I kept it simple: New York strip steak seasoned with salt and pepper and grilled over a bed of fresh rosemary. Absolutely delicious! It would also work very well with a pork tenderloin drizzled with a balsamic glaze or with a platter of roasted root vegetables. Something for everyone . . .

See you soon, with pairing ideas for Stage 6!