What a fiasco on Wednesday . . .

While we’ve gotten used to seeing protesters along the race route, Stage 11 was a whole different animal. Toward the end of a difficult day in the mountains, Jonas Vingegaard and Tom Pidcock went toe-to-toe in a battle for the stage win. Well, that’s what would have happened, had the race directors, local police, and city officials gotten their crap together before the leaders were 3 kms from the finish.

I say that because protesters have been present on almost every stage thus far. They interrupted the team time trial, waylaying the riders from Israel Premier Tech midway through their ride. Their flags and banners have dominated the sidelines since the Vuelta arrived on Spanish soil. It should have been expected that they would arrive en masse at the finish line in Bilbao.

As Vingegaard and Pidcock entered the final stretch of the race, we watched as a vanguard of Spanish police struggled to contain protesters threatening to storm the barricades. Just minutes before the first riders arrived, organizers issued a statement that no winner would be declared for Stage 11. All GC times would be taken at the 3 km mark.

Pffft . . . The whole race practically vanished from history. All of the powers that be should have anticipated this possibility and planned accordingly. Why were protesters allowed to gather at the finish, brandish their extra-large flags, and threaten to overrun the barricades? This was disappointing on multiple levels, not least for the riders whose efforts on Stage 11 were in vain. I sincerely hope officials in Madrid will be better prepared for Stage 21. They’ve certainly seen the writing on the wall.

Here Comes Stage 12: Two Categorized Climbs Along the Cantabrian Coast

Get ready for breathtaking seaside views, dramatic cliffs, and drama in the peloton. I wouldn’t mind seeing a rematch of Stage 11’s battle between Tom Pidcock and Jonas Vingegaard, this time to completion. And stay tuned for the latest chapter in the soap opera that is Team UAE: Wednesday’s race was an exercise in pettiness, with Ayuso not riding for Almeida, and the team car not helping Ayuso back to the peloton after a mechanical. I’m actually quite bored with it, at this point . . .

Vuelta Vaso de Vino Recommendation: 2024 Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina Rosado Rubentis ($23.99; 11% abv)

Pink as the color of our skies at sunset.

That’s how the winery describes their Rubentis wine. I’d like to confirm that in person!

This wine is a 50/50 blend of Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza, from vineyards overlooking the Cantabrian Sea. (Another thing I’d like to observe for myself.)

Tasting Note and Pairing

Pale pink with flashes of magenta. Tiny bubbles rising to the top of the glass.

The nose is an intriguing mix of strawberry, raspberry, and peach, with a spritz of sea spray and salty almonds. On the palate it has delicate effervescence, with red fruit, blood orange, and lemon curd flavors. A light and easy wine, this paired well with a homemade bean and vegetable salad topped with jarred Spanish tuna. Preferably served al fresco!

Cheers to the peloton, hopefully the sole source of drama in Stage 12. And to the stunning Cantabrian coastline. Back tomorrow on how to prep for Friday’s torturous climb up the Angliru!