Thursday, the peloton races away from the mountain vineyards of Valtellina toward the city of Milan. And, after Stage 17, the battle for the Maglia Rosa is more exciting than ever. Rather than spoil the fun, here’s a highlight reel of the action. May I say that I was tickled pink with the results?

With only three stages before we arrive in Rome for the finale, the GC riders must prove themselves tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday, as Sunday will be a sprint. But that’s no walk in the park: all are mountain stages with narrow roads, steep inclines and, as always, the chance for bad weather to shower bad luck on the race. I’m all-in for Isaac Del Toro, who rode brilliantly today.

We’ll see what the cycling gods have in store . . .

Spectator Sips: 2019 De Toma Moscato di Scanzo DOCG (15% abv; about $57 ex cellar)

This was another wine I sampled at the Taste Lombardy event earlier this year. It stood out to me because of its densely pigmented robe and effusive aromatic character. So much going on here!

Color: Deep ruby to the core. (It’s #11 in the flight photo below.)

Nose: Highly perfumed! Notes of honey, dried cherry, fig, and sage.

Palate: Flavors of fig, dried berries, cherry mostarda, cola. Sweet but not cloying, thanks to its higher-than-expected acidity. Long, complex finish. Not my usual drink but I’d really enjoy it with dessert, especially on Thanksgiving!

The Moscato di Scanzo DOCG

One of the smallest DOCG regions in Italy (just 31 hectares) Moscato di Scanzo is famous for its sweet, passito-style red wines made exclusively in the municipality of Scanzorosciate near Bergamo. Made from Moscato Rosso di Scanzo, the wine is produced in tiny quantities. According to the Consorzio, the grapes must dry for at least 21 days (or until they reach at least 280 grams/liter of residual sugar) and must be aged for at least two years.

Get ready for the bumpy road ahead and enjoy Stage 18. See you tomorrow for more wine and Giro updates!