Here’s a quick recap of the action from Stage 1:

At the end of the day, we saw Jonas in Yellow, Tadej in Polka Dots, Ayuso in White, and Egan Bernal in Green. All except Bernal could keep those jerseys for a while.

So . . .

What did you think of the new team time trial format? I found it confusing: all members of a team race together but receive individual times. In theory the fast guys are meant to pace the GC contenders, at least early in the race. Toward the end, they’re free to fly, lining up for a quasi-sprint finish.

But it seemed like a race with no point: if all riders are assessed on their individual times, then it’s no different from an individual time trial, right? A traditional team time trial offers at least a little drama, compelling the teams to get their fourth man over the line as fast as possible, which requires a little thought and strategy.

For me it was a big “Meh.”

Saturday’s Stage 2 takes us from Tarragona to Barcelona, over a hilly, 168-kilometer route with four categorized climbs (2,3,3,3) the last three coming at the tail-end of the race. Riders will climb the Montjuic three times, as they do in the finale of the Volta a Catalunya. The finish line will be the same as for Stage 1.

Tarragona was originally a Roman city, as evidenced by the second-century amphitheater. It’s also home to a Carthusian monastery where they make Chartreuse: the same elixir produced by the original site in Isère, France.

Wine Recommendation: 2022 Art Laietà d’Alta Alella Mirgin, Cava Reserva Brut Nature ($27; 12% abv)

Art Laietà d’Alta Alella is a family-run winery just outside of Barcelona. Their winemaking philosophy is a bit unusual in that they vinify each grape variety (and often different vineyard plots) separately and then create a blend. In some years they produce nearly 50 separate lots, each expressing a different terroir. The property is certified organic.

Tasting Notes and Pairing

Pale lemon color with a soft mousse – the liquid version of a slice of lemon meringue pie! Lots of citrus on the nose (Meyer lemon, tangerine, lime) accented by notes of fresh mint and vanilla cream. The palate echoes the nose (citrus) and offers a pleasant chalky mineral texture. It’s also got a salty, sea-breeze element that’s quite refreshing. The finish lingers with a hint of sweetness. I actually drew a smiley face in my notes – that’s how much I enjoyed this wine 😊

It’s been so hot here in NYC that I haven’t felt much like cooking. My pairing was a simple yet tasty one: fresh arugula salad dressed in lemon juice and olive oil and topped with watermelon and feta cheese. Worked really well with the Cava and helped me keep my cool!

Enjoy the race tomorrow; I’ll be back with a preview of Stage 3 and a wine recommendation to match!