The 2026 Tour de France begins Saturday in Barcelona, Spain. Sounds counterintuitive, I know, but this often happens with the grand tours (Giro, Tour, Vuelta). It’s actually not surprising given that Spain and France share a border. And, as cycling becomes more popular around the world, ASO (the organizers of cycling’s biggest races) has expanded its roadmap to include countries further east. Albania and Bulgaria come to mind, with the former hosting several stages of last year’s Giro d’Italia, and the latter hosting the first three stages of the 2026 Giro.

What’s a team time trial? It works pretty much the same way as an individual time trial, with a few important distinctions. The obvious difference is that the entire team of eight riders must race together. Traditionally, the clock would stop when the fourth rider crossed the finish line, with all eight riders receiving the same time.

This year, however, it’s more of an individual race, with each rider clocked independently. Team tactics will still be a factor, however, with the faster riders serving as pacemakers for the group. But the time trial specialists will enjoy more latitude to push for the stage victory. It’s the first time (to my knowledge) that such a hybrid model has been used, and it should be exciting to watch!

Our Barcelona TTT will be quite challenging, as the route includes a climb up Montjuic, which towers over the port of Barcelona. It’s tricky, with a 5.1% gradient, and is sure to provide drama (as well as stunning vistas.) Can’t wait!

Wine Recommendation: 2021 Juvé & Camps Reserva de la Familia Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva ($20; 12% abv)

This sparkling wine was made with free-run juice from grapes grown on organically farmed vineyards in three estates: Espiells (Can Rius), La Cuscona and Mediona. It is bright yellow in color with flashes of gold toward the edge. Fruity, fresh apple character, with notes of white flowers, and fresh rosemary. There are also notes of lightly toasted bread, almonds, and dried fruit.

The palate is slightly yeasty, with lots of citrus character and some chalk. Over time, there are notes of fresh fennel and dried apples, leading to a tart, slightly sour finish. Perfect for sipping, but it would pair well with any number of dishes. I paired it with homemade turkey burgers and shoestring fries – delicious!

Originally created for the private enjoyment of the Juvé family, this Gran Reserva Brut Nature was first released to the public in 1976 and soon became the winery’s most iconic sparkling wine. It’s made exclusively from the free-run juice of Xarel·lo, Macabeo, and Parellada, traditional blend in this region.

The first fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. After blending, the wine underwent secondary fermentation in the bottle, using concentrated grape must. The wine then aged for a minimum of 36 months in the bottle with zero dosage.

Note: Juvé & Camps recently left the Cava DO to join the ever-expanding Corpinnat designation. If you’d like to learn more about why that matters, click here.

Enjoy Le Grand Départ in Barcelona; I’ll be back tomorrow with a preview of Stage 2 and a wine to sip as you watch.

And get ready for a rocking three weeks: for the first time in years, Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard will race head-to-head for top honors. Both have dominated the races they’ve entered this season, with Jonas handily winning the Giro d’Italia, and Tadej dominating the spring classics.

We’ve been jonesing for this grand tour rematch and it’s finally here!