Saturday’s stage was another tough day in the Alps – especially for American Sepp Kuss – but didn’t cause any dramatic changes in the rankings: Tadej will take the GC and the yellow jersey; his teammate Isaac Del Toro will claim the white jersey for best rider under 25; Mads Pedersen secured the green sprinters’ jersey; and Richard Carapaz laid claim to the polka dot jersey as best climber.

Assuming no disasters tomorrow, Pogi, Remco Evenepoel, and Del Toro will stand on the podium, and Team Lidl-Trek will take top honors in the team competition. Here’s a recap of the action:

Stage 21 was scheduled to start Sunday in Thoiry and include 133 kilometers of racing into central Paris. But, because of wildfires threatening parts of the route, the stage has been abridged. Thoiry will still host the ceremonial start and team presentation but, afterward, the teams will transfer to Paris via bus. The race will begin on the Champs-Élysées, where the peloton will race two laps along the classic route before heading north to Montmartre, which was incorporated into the Tour for the first time last year.

Wine Recommendation: 2015 Billecart-Salmon Le Rosé Extra Brut ($140; 12.5% abv)

Founded in 1818 in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Billecart-Salmon remains one of Champagne’s notable family-run houses. This wine is composed of 52% Chardonnay from the grand crus of Mesnil, Avize, Cramant, and Chouilly and 48% Pinot Noir from Ambonnay, Mareuil, Verzenay, Ay, and Verzy. It aged for 100 months on the lees and given minimal dosage (4.7 grams/liter). Originally intended to be aged as Cuvée Elisabeth, the house’s prestige offering, this vintage Champagne is a rare windfall for bubbly bargain hunters.

Tasting Notes

On the nose, there are effusive notes of fresh strawberry and raspberry, tangy orange zest, and yeasty, sweet brioche. The palate is tart and tangy with red fruit (cherry, strawberry, raspberry) and citrus (blood orange, Meyer lemon); on the long finish there are notes of chalk and pastry dough. It’s an extravaganza of delicousness!

We sipped this elegant wine over the course of a day: first with charcuterie, mixed nuts, and cheese; later with roast turkey and all the trimmings. And later with desserts, ranging from chocolate truffles to berry-topped cheesecake. All were good matches but my favorite experience with this wine occurred much later, after our guests had left: I sipped the last few drops in silence, as I replayed the wonderful day that was.

Good thing I have another bottle, so I can reminisce about the past three weeks! We’ve discovered talented young riders who’ll thrill us for years to come, and we’ve witnessed the resurgence of veterans we might have written off. But most of all, we’ve indulged in the infinite beauty of France, her history and her culture. Let’s hope the wildfires threatening so much of Europe right now are vanquished quickly . . .

And that’s a wrap from Paris and the 2026 Tour de France! I hope you’ve enjoyed my race commentary and even found a few new wines for your stash. Thanks for following along!