The 2025 Vuelta a España has given me pause: it started in Italy, crossed the Alps into France, and took five days to get to Spain. And, while there have been exciting moments along the way, much of the race has been ho-hum. I probably have the folks at Peacock to thank for that, as their live coverage today started almost 80 kms into the race. And I’m paying for this . . .

Complaints aside, the peloton delivered another thrilling stage finish on Tuesday. What promised to be a battle among the top sprinters (Pedersen, Philipsen) turned into a surprise victory for Ben Turner of Ineos. Veteran teammates Michal Kwiatkowski and Filippo Ganna ushered him up the far side of the road, opposite Mads and Jasper. Turner timed his mad dash perfectly, eclipsing the favorites at the line. And then there was David Gaudu, yesterday’s stage winner, donning the red jersey of overall leader.

So exciting! It almost made me forget I’d missed out on a third of the race. Here’s a summary of what happened:

What’s a Team Time Trial?

Each grand tour has at least one individual time trial, which is known as the race against the clock. Rules are straightforward: the rider with the fastest time wins. Team time trials are a little trickier: the entire team rides together and the official time is taken when the fourth rider crosses the line. All’s well as long as the group stays together. A gap to the fourth rider, however, means a slower time for everyone, and that could affect a GC contender’s placement.

Stage 5 (about 24 kms) will be challenging, as it starts and finishes within the city limits of Figueres: that means narrow streets, tight corners, and road furniture. It’ll be a fast course but a perilous one. Should be a great day for the spectators!

Vuelta Vaso de Vino Recommendation: 2021 Espelt Pla de Gates Negre ($20; 15% abv)

100% Grenache (aka Garnatxa or Lledoner Negre as it’s known in Catalunya) this fresh, cherry-berry delight hails from the region of Empordà, which lies north of Barcelona near the border with France.

Winemaker Anna Espelt grows grapes on a small parcel of her family’s 200 hectare property: Mas Marés comprises just 25 hectares of granite, sand, and clay soils within the Cap de Creus Nature Reserve of Spain. The plot is unique in that it faces the Mediterranean on three sides, where ocean winds moderate the hot climate and minimize disease pressure. All of which bolsters Espelt’s organic (CCPAE certified) vineyard practices.

Grapes were hand-harvested, partially destemmed, and fermented using natural yeasts in oak vats. The wine aged nine months in a combination of neutral 500 liter barrels and 20 hectoliter French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

Color: Deep ruby, verging on purple, with a slight garnet tint at the rim.

Nose: Ripe aromas of black plum and cherry, tangy orange rind, a hint of clove and vanilla. As it opens there are notes of rose and hibiscus; cocoa and coffee.

Palate: Medium bodied (despite the high abv) with surprisingly tangy acidity. Tannins are grippy but in balance with the other structural elements. Flavors of cherry and plum, black raspberry and currant, with notes of roasted almond, kirsch, and semi-sweet chocolate on the finish. Suprisingly fresh for a warm-climate grenache; I’d probably get this wrong in a blind tasting!

Pairing

Grilled lamb skewers with a mixed bean salad dressed in a red wine vinaigrette made a perfect summer match with this wine. The lamb brought out savory notes in the wine (saline, garrigue) that enhanced its complexity IMHO. It was a food and wine pairing similar to many meals I’ve enjoyed in Spain over the years. Maybe if I close my eyes, take a sip of wine, and imagine myself there . . .

That’s a wrap for today. Enjoy the TTT! I’ll be back tomorrow with a preview of Stage 6 and another Vuelta Vaso de Vino recommendation. As they say in Catalunya, Salut!