Well, Tuesday’s race takes us a bit closer to Spain, en route from Susa, Italy to Voiron, France. The peloton will pedal past the Arch of Augustus and the famous Chartreuse monastery, over three categorized climbs on the way to the finish.

But first things first. Here’s what happened on Stage 3:

I’m not sure what I liked more: the breathtaking landscape of western Piemonte or the startling, out-of-nowhere stage victory of Frenchman David Gaudu. What looked like a certain win for Mads Pedersen turned into a three-man showdown in the final meters. Jonas Vingegaard dogged the (other) Great Dane as they climbed to the finish, a strange finale pairing if ever there was one. And then, out of the blue, streaked a blue jersey from Team Groupama FDJ. David Gaudu slipped right by Pedersen, taking the win. (I doubt race handicappers had that option on their bingo cards!)

He is now tied with Vingegaard for the overall lead on GC. Very exciting!

What to Expect on Stage 4 (192 kms; mountains)

An absolute monster of a stage, as you can see from the profile map. Teams from Visma, UAE, Lidl-Trek, and Groupama-FDJ will control the pace, hoping to set up their GC men for a stage victory. That said, expect RedBull-Bora Hansgrohe, Movistar, and Ineos to be in the mix as well. At the end of the day, it will depend on who’s got the best legs at the end of a grueling day in the saddle. It’s hard to bet against Vingegaard, as he appears to be in fine form, fully recovered from the Tour de France. It would be a great chance for Egan Bernal to show his stuff, proving that he’s still got what it takes to win a grand tour.

Vuelta Vaso de Vino Recommendation: 2024 Romain Chamiot Apremont Savoie ($19; 11.5% abv)

This is made from Jacquère, a local white grape native to the Savoie region. It is crisp and fresh, with aromas and flavors of green apple, lemon, pear, and white flowers. There’s a distinctive mineral quality to the long finish that is quite appealing. The wine spent no time in oak, allowing the fruit character to take center stage. With its high acidity, it’s also a really nice food wine!

The Chamiot family has owned vineyards in the Apremont appellation for several generations, and the property is now managed by Romain, grandson of the founders. It includes seven hectares scattered among 30 parcels, most of which are planted to Jacquère. Many of the vines are between 40 and 50 years old.

Pairings

We enjoyed the wine with two meals: a kale Caesar pasta salad (I subbed romaine for the kale) and steamed pork dumplings with a summer watermelon salad. While delicious with both, it was crazy-good with the pasta salad. I’d eagerly pair this wine with anything fresh from the garden. Get creative with the last of the summer produce, pour a glass of this wine, and enjoy!

Thanks for reading! I’ll be back tomorrow with a preview of our first stage in Spain (a team time trial) and another wine recommendation.