News flash: after Stage 17 on Wednesday, the green jersey is back in play! While we thought Mads Pedersen of Team Lidl had the sprinters’ prize locked up, Jasper Philipsen of Team Alpecin clearly had other ideas. His stage victory, enabled by a stellar lead-out by teammate Mathieu Van der Poel, brought the Belgian within seven points of the Great Dane.

Thursday’s stage awards the sprint points quite late in the 185-kilometer race, at kilometer 129. Count on lots of drama and excitement from the start, as the Lidl and Alpecin squads try to control the action. And we can’t forget about Binyam Grmay of Team NSN. As for the GC riders, they will face five categorized climbs, including a Cat 1 summit finish. Should be something for everyone!

Wine Recommendation: 2021 Domaine des Fables Les Chroniques des Gargantua IGP Des Allobroges ($35; 12% abv)

What a fun wine! Domaine des Fables, created by François Gilles in 2019, makes this dry red from 35-year-old Gamay vines grown on the slopes of Chautagne in the Savoie region. The soils are sandstone and limestone scree, and the vineyard benefits from a southwestern exposure and the tempering effects of Lake Bourget and the Rhône River. Vineyard plots lie among woods, streams and meadows; the estate has been converted to organic farming and follows biodynamic practices.

Whole clusters of grapes were macerated for 25 days, followed by spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts. The wine then aged on its lees for 10 months in neutral barriques.

Tasting Notes and Pairing

Medium purple color, paler at the rim. On the nose there are lovely notes of fresh violets, black cherry, and freshly tilled garden earth. On the palate there are flavors of tart cherry, raspberry, violets, and forest floor. Tannins are soft; acidity moderate. The finish is more complex, with a slightly bitter note (cherry pits; almonds) that lingers with the fruit, and there is a hint of white pepper. Les Chroniques des Gargantua is a perfect summer sip: light, fruity, and fun.

We paired this with simply grilled flank steak seasoned with salt and pepper, and a fresh arugula salad with watermelon and feta dressed with olive oil and lemon juice. Delish!

Enjoy Thursday’s race – and get ready for the Alpine battles on Friday and Saturday. As we saw on Stage 17, this Tour is far from over! Stay tuned for more race previews and the wines to sip while you watch.