Did you enjoy watching the peloton struggle up the Angliru in Stage 13? If so, you’ll love the next two days of racing! At the end of Friday’s Stage 13, João Almeida (man of the match, in my opinion) called the Angliru “the worst climb in cycling.” He’s right: tiny, twisting roads up impossibly steep gradients; limited access to team cars (water; food; tire/bike replacements); and the thin air of altitude combine for a hellish day on the road.

But Almeida conquered those obstacles – and current overall leader Jonas Vingegaard, who sat on his wheel for much of the ascent – to take the stage win. He rode like a man possessed, leading a small group of riders through hill and dale, until breaking away with Vingegaard. I was on my feet cheering him to the finish line! At day’s end, Almeida finished first on the stage and Vingegaard retained the red jersey.

And, in case you were wondering, Almeida did have a modicum of support from his team today, namely Felix Grossschartner and Jay Vine (currently King of the Mountains) who gave it their all. Ayuso and Soler were MIA on the day, no surprise there.

Stage 14 Promises More of the Same (135 kms; 3 categorized climbs; mountaintop finish)

We head slightly south and away from the coast on Saturday, with our finish line in the same neighborhood as the Angliru. In fact, the profile map looks eerily similar to the one from Friday’s race:

It will be a tense day for GC aspirants: Almeida sits just 46” behind Vingegaard, with Tom Pidcock (who didn’t have the greatest Friday) at 2’18”. Climbing the ranks steadily into fourth place is Jai Hindley (3’) followed by Felix Gall (3’15”), Giulio Pellizzari (4’01”), and American Matthew Riccitello at (4’33”). I’m really excited about Matthew’s chances in the final week – not just as a potential top-ten finisher on GC but as a favorite for the white jersey of best rider under 25 (currently worn by the aforementioned Pellizzari.)

As with all difficult mountain stages, anything can happen. Let’s hope for good weather, good sportsmanship, and no protests along the route.

Vuelta Vaso de Vino Recommendation: 2020 La Osa Trasto Tinto ($22; 13.5% abv)

Last week I wrote about a rosé wine from La Osa that was made with Prieto Picudo, a variety native to the northwest of Spain. Here is the red version, which is a bit unique: after a 20-day maceration on the skins with gentle daily pump-overs, a small quantity of reserve wine is added to the blend for increased texture and complexity. It ages for four months in neutral barrels before bottling.

Tasting Note and Pairing

Deep purple with fuchsia flashes at the edge. Pronounced aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and violet; after a couple of hours some herbal notes emerge (thyme, rosemary). On the palate there are notes of ripe plum and blackberry balanced by bright acidity and prickly tannins. It reminds me of simple Gamay Beaujolais: a wine that fits easily into any wine lover’s routine.

And it was genius when paired with the Poblano Pie from Lucia Pizza, our new favorite neighborhood joint. It’s a white pie with smoky charred poblano pepper cream, fresh mozzarella, and provolone, topped with fresh mushrooms. And this place has the best pizza crust I’ve tasted in NYC – that perfect intersection of crisp and chewy. Absolutely delish!

Gabe was delighted to learn that Lucia sells his beloved rainbow cookies: treats his grandmother used to make on the regular. He gave these his seal of approval!

Hope you enjoy Stage 14! We’ve got a rest day on Monday, then two more mountain stages as we head west into Galicia. Before you know it, we’ll be in Madrid, cheering the peloton along the Gran Via. See you tomorrow for details on Stage 15.