Saturday, August 29, 2020

Wine of Le Tour 2020 Stage 1

I assumed we were not doing this. From my perspective in a still basically sheltering in place San Francisco, I thought that after the postponement in July we would have a cancellation. So, I did no prep work. I researched no start or finish towns, stared at no maps and certainly prepared no regional recipes. I even ignored the wine! But then there was a last minute panic and here I am. Unprepared for class, but present. Let's see what the 2020 Tour has in store for us.

Oh, and yes, there are Covid 19 rules. One of the biggest being a two strikes and the team is out policy. More here, but essentially: whole teams will be excluded from the race if any two members of their riders or staff test positive for COVID-19 within the same seven-day period. On that note, with twenty two teams of eight riders each, there are 176 riders starting today. 

So here they are in Nice. I will share the Tour's regional specialities in the hopes that I may pull myself together enough to prepare some later in the route. Specialities: pissaladière, fougasse, socca, brissaouda, tapenade, salade niçoise, pan bagnat, porchetta, trulle, ratatouille, daube niçoise (stew), bellet (wine)

The race director describes today's route as: "A rather unfamiliar format perfect for a great popular show: three loops in the hinterland of Nice including one to be covered twice giving the spectators an opportunity to see the pack go by all along the day before possibly witnessing the first act of the great battle between the sprinters. A bunched sprint is indeed expected at the end of the long final straight on the Promenade des Anglais."


On the road, the expected breakaway, with the sprinters' teams behind making certain they do not get too much of a gap. The likely doomed breakaway riders are Schär, Gautier and Grellier. First crash of the Tour, as a light rain falls. Looks like everyone was up and back riding somewhat quickly.


At the first KOM point, Grellier takes it easily. At the start of loop two, another crash. First day nerves plus rain is a bad combination. With just under 100 kilometers to go, the gap to the three breakaway riders was around one minute. Another crash, this time on the descent. Two minutes behind the peloton, Sivakov, who was injured in an earlier crash. He's a very important support rider for Egan Bernal, last year's race winner. Issue for Alaphilippe and he would wait a long time for a new bike. Watching him try to make up time on the descent was scary, but he did make it back to the peloton.

Down again, Sivakov. He is having a very rough day. At the front, with 70 kilometers to go, the gap was 1:36. Another crash. And another. This is a bit of a mess. Down in one of the crashes, the stage favorite Caleb Ewan. Ahead, Grellier was picked up by the peloton, so only two riders remained ahead. 

Back on the descent, Astana sped up. Miguel Angel Lopez lost control of his bike and crashed, which really felt like karma. Eventually they declared a truce and the entire group slowed as they continued down. Thirty kilometers to go and they remained all together. Despite the slow down, another crash with George Bennett down.

Back on the flats and the pace was gradually lifting. As the train went by, yet again, it was time to think about sprint trains.


With twenty two kilometers to go, an attack by Benoît Cosnefroy. He would not get a significant gap. As expected, this was setting up for a bunch sprint. Thirteen kilometers to go and they were all together again. 

Important update: Upon request of may riders, the race direction and the commissaires' panel have decided to take the times for the general classification at the 3km to go mark in order to avoid danger in the finale. This means that although the sprinters will still contest the stage, the GC riders will be able to relax and not worry about gaps. Indeed, crash in the middle of the pack just at that point.

Stage winner: Kristoff!



The wine: I often start the Tour with bubbles, but see above for didn't do my homework and am unprepared. So we start with a rosé from Clos Sainte Magdeleine. From the importer, Kermit Lynch: "The ancient fishing village of Cassis has seen its fair share of visitors over the millennia. Greek sailors from Phocaea established the nearby colony of Massalia (modern-day Marseille) in the sixth century BC, bringing their viticultural savvy to the region and planting what are thought to be Provence's first vineyards. The Romans later made their way here, establishing Cassis as an important fishing and commercial port while further developing the wine trade. Local wines earned an excellent reputation over the centuries, especially a sweet Muscat said to be among the Mediterranean's finest. In 1865, phylloxera struck, effectively destroying Provence's vineyards; when Cassis was replanted in the subsequent years, Muscat was left out in favor of Ugni Blanc, Clairette, and other grapes selected for production of dry whites. In 1936, Cassis gained the distinction of being named among France’s first official AOCs, in the elite company of Tavel and Châteauneuf-du-Pape."

The wine itself is 40% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 20% Mourvèdre and fresh enough to cut through the smoke in the air. Thanks DigwineSF!.

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