Friday’s race was a slow, steady slog along Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. A flat course along wide roads, it was much ado about nothing until the final kilometers, when the sprinter trains moved to the front. Jonathan Milan and the Lidl-Trek squad inched up one side of the peloton; Paul Magnier and Soudal Quickstep slithered up next to them. Tobias Lund from Decathlon CMA positioned himself in the pack.

Then the road narrowed and all hell broke loose . . .

All in all, a good day for Magnier. Fingers crossed that no one suffered serious injury . . .

Stage 2: Burgas to Veliko-Tarnovo; 221 km; hilly; 3 categorized climbs

One of the longest stages in this year’s Giro, Saturday’s race will also challenge the riders with three categorized climbs, all within the second half of the race. It might offer a good opportunity for a breakaway group, provided the GC teams allow one to escape. And I don’t think any of the overall race favorites want to defend the Maglia Rosa this early. Look for gamers like Andreas Leknessund (Team Uno-X Mobility and wearing the Norwegian champion’s jersey) to lead the charge.

Spectators will delight in the natural beauty of Bulgaria, from the coastal vistas of Burgas to the more mountainous terrain of the Danubian Plain. Lying north of the Stara Planina mountain range that bisects the country horizontally, the Danubian Plain is home to many winemakers. The region experiences a true, continental climate, with harsh winters and very hot summers.

Red wine rules the roost here, with an abundance of Merlot plantings as well as local varieties Mavrud, Rubin (a cross between Syrah and Nebbiolo), and Gamza, a light, fruity wine intended for early drinking.

Wine Recommendation

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I was unable to find Bulgarian wine to pair with the first three stages. Still hoping to remedy that; if you’ve got any suggestions, please drop them in the comments.

It does remind me that, 20 years ago, when I first moved to South Florida, I did taste a few Bulgarian wines. I discovered a lovely wine shop in my neighborhood (of course I did!) owned by a Portuguese woman who had grown up in Bordeaux. After years in the wholesale wine business, Teresa opened her small shop, which featured independent winegrowers from Europe. It was a real community hang-out, where locals would mingle every Friday evening to taste new wines, have a few snacks, and learn a few things.

I’ve no idea how the connection was made, but Teresa purchased a small quantity of Bulgarian wine – red, white, and rosé – and I bought a mixed case from her. Although the tasting notes are long gone, I do remember enjoying the wines. They weren’t too complicated or meant for contemplation; instead, they were a refreshing antidote to a hot Florida summer. I’d love to see what Bulgaria’s doing now, all these years later!

Enjoy Stage 2 and the changes in elevation. See you back here tomorrow with a preview of Stage 3!