I woke up this morning excited to watch the individual time trial stage of this year’s Vuelta. What I got was an announcement that the race route, a 27.2 km route, had been reconfigured because of – you guessed it – protesters! The loop had been cut by more than half, to just 12.2 kms because of security concerns.

I am so sick of this crap.

Despite the curtailed course, a few jackasses still managed to cause chaos, attempting to cross barricades and disrupt the race. Two individuals were detained by police. There has got to be a better way of handling this!

Meanwhile, my fears about fuckery on the final stage in Madrid are growing . . .

On a happier note, Filippo Ganna of Team Ineos was the fastest man on the day, earning the stage victory and, according to internet lore, a head-shearing by his teammates. Apparently, any member of the team who wins a stage gets a haircut. Thus far, Ganna has wielded the clippers; I wonder who will do the honors tonight?

Jay Vine of UAE was just a second slower on the stage for second place. His teammate João Almeida, currently second overall to Jonas Vingegaard, reduced his deficit by 10 seconds with a great effort.

What to Expect on Stage 19

As you can see, the route for Friday’s stage is relatively flat and short, at just 159 kms. (If it race organizers don’t abbreviate it.) With just two days before the finale in Madrid, GC aspirants are running out of opportunities to make a statement. And no one wants to lose time before the atrociously difficult race on Saturday. The stage may be flat but it won’t be boring!

Vuelta Vaso de Vino Recommendation: 2021 Bodega Martínsancho Verdejo ($15.99; 13% abv)

100% Verdejo from the Martínsancho vineyard, which was established in 1972 at elevations between 1,500 and 2,000 feet. The vines themselves are head-pruned and dry-farmed. Grapes were hand-harvested, destemmed and macerated on skins prior to pressing, then fermented at 57ºF for 18 – 20 days. The wine aged on its fine lees for four months before bottling.

Tasting Note and Pairing

Pale lemon color with lively aromas of lemon, apple, pear; after an hour there are notes of orange, toast, and wildflower. On the palate there is lots of citrus (grapefruit, lemon, orange) followed by a hint of chalk. The finish is long, with fresh herbal notes, along with a bit of grilled pineapple. Tangy acidity and a bit of savory character made it a lovely match with pan-seared swordfish steaks and the last of our local fresh corn on the cob. The perfect summer meal!

Enjoy Rueda and whatever happens on Stage 19. See you tomorrow with details for Stage 20, as we move closer to Madrid!