It’s hard to believe there are just two days of racing left in the 2026 Giro! Each year I anticipate cycling’s first grand tour like a little kid awaits Christmas – impatiently – and then it passes by in a flash. Lucky thing the Tour de France is just around the corner!

Friday’s stage was full of fireworks: from Giulio Cicchone and Einer Rubio arguing vociferously as they came through the last King of the Mountains checkpoint, to Sepp Kuss flying solo to the stage win, Stage 19 was a thriller all the way. See for yourself:

Saturday gives us one last glimpse of the mountains before we head to Rome, and it might provide a little drama of its own. Jonas Vingegaard sits safely in the maglia rosa, with his nearest competitor (Felix Gall) four minutes behind. But places two through five are separated by just two minutes thirty seconds, hardly a safe margin on a mountain stage after three weeks of racing. Gall, Jai Hindley, Thymen Arensman, and Derek Gee will watch each other carefully throughout the day. Expect more fireworks.

Stage 20: Gemona del Friuli to Piancavallo; 200 km; mountains; summit finish; 3 categorized climbs

Gemona, our departure point, is commemorating the 50^th anniversary of a devastating earthquake that struck the region in 1976. There may be a moment of silence or special presentation at the start to honor those who lost their lives and to celebrate the renaissance of the region.

As for the race, it will be another tough day in the saddle. Three climbs in total: a category 3 followed by two passes up the Piancavallo, which is 14.5 kms long and, at its steepest, has a gradient of 14%. The sprinters won’t make an appearance; they’ll save their legs for the last hurrah in Rome. Vizma-Lease a Bike will protect Vingegaard’s first place but probably won’t drive the pace. Perhaps Decathlon (on behalf of Gall) or Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe (for Jai Hindley) will take the lead.

Wine Recommendation: 2022 Jermann Vintage Tunina IGT Venezia Giulia ($72; 13% abv)

Grapes for this cuvée come from a true field blend of the vintage’s best grapes, which are usually harvested about 2 weeks later than grapes from other plots. The vineyard lies atop marl and sandstone soils originating in the flyschoid formation of the Eocene age. It is a hilly area with southwest and northeast exposures.

Vintage Tunina is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla, and Malvasia, and is named after the original landowner, Antonia. The family’s winemaking philosophy is centered on respect for the land: no fertilizers, chemicals, or pesticides are used in the vineyards, and promoting biodiversity is a priority.

Tasting Notes and Pairing

Pale lemon color. Aromas of peach, pear, and apple with a hint of petrol/minerality. As it opens there are delicious notes of grilled pineapple, and orange and grapefruit peel; fresh mountain herbs (thyme, mint) and a little honey. On the palate it’s very high in acidity with luscious tropical fruit character (pineapple, guava); also tart green apple and citrus. The long finish gives a lasting impression of citrus, fresh herbs, and ripe yellow pears.

This is a lovely, elegant wine; one that deserves an equally elegant pairing. I went a little simpler, serving Vintage Tunina with herbed grilled pork chops and the first local asparagus of the season. Not bad.

But next time I’d opt for something more opulent – maybe pasta carbonara or alfredo. Or even seared sea scallops in lemon butter. With such high acidity, Vintage Tunina can hold its own with the richest dishes. This wine is worth a little extra work in the kitchen – and it definitely won’t disappoint you at the table!

I hope you’ve enjoyed the past three weeks of cycling and wine pairings. I’ll be back tomorrow with one final post to close out the 2026 Giro d’Italia.