Wine of Le Tour 2020: Stage 2

This is an interesting stage for day 2 of the race and the second of three days in Nice. An unusual start for the Tour in many ways. 

From the Tour Director: The sprinter having captured the Yellow Jersey the previous day will be in a tricky situation as soon as the climb up to the Col de la Colmiane and will then have to face the steep turns heading to the Col de Turini and eventually head up to the Col d’Eze. A mountain stage with two passages at over 1,500m as soon as the second day of the race, that’s a grande première.

The stage: Three riders not starting today, John Degenkolb who missed the time cut after a crash and Philippe Gilbert and Rafa Valls who were injured in crashes. Everyone was hoping for fewer today. 
The break of the day: Peter Sagan, Lukas Pöstleberger, Benoît Cosnefroy, Kasper Asgreen, Toms Skujins, Anthony Perez, and Michael Gogl. After the first hour of racing they had covered 45.4km and had a 3' lead. Eventually, Cosnefroy would attack from that group in search of KOM points. At the top, he had 2:10 over the peloton.On the downhill, the seven man break would come back together. 

Meanwhile, a bike change for Kristoff, who went for full yellow today.

🚲 A bike change for the Yellow Jersey-clad @Kristoff87

🚲 Changement de vélo pour le @MaillotjauneLCL Alexander Kristoff.#TDF2020 pic.twitter.com/BUyefXvuaY

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) August 30, 2020

Under 100 kilometers to go and the gap to the break was still around 3 minutes.

As they started climbing again, off the front, Sagan was dropped from the break. Off the back, Kristoff and other sprinters. 

A reminder:

⚠ Important reminder for all the fans on the route. ⚠

2⃣m from the riders
0⃣ autograph
2⃣ key actions: use hand sanitiser and wear a mask throughout the entire race
0⃣ selfie

💪 All supporters, all responsible. #TDF2020 #TDFunited pic.twitter.com/DHyUciH0Nj

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) August 30, 2020

As NBCSN wondered if Kristoff could make it back, some trivia from Le Tour: In the past ten editions of the Tour de France, six riders who took the yellow jersey on stage 1 lost it the day after.

And then someone woke up the peloton and the gap started dropping quickly, likely ending Kristoff's chances to return. With 75 kilometers to go, the gap was down to 1:15.

What a road:

"Kijk eens hier, wat een beeld!" pic.twitter.com/BCLa8XZUrY

— Sporza 🚴 (@sporza_koers) August 30, 2020

Fifty kilometers to go and the gap was still over one minute. Forty four kilometers and it was down to forty seconds. Forty kilometers to go and they had been caught.

Here at Chez Cleary, we were waiting/hoping for an attack from Alaphilippe. Not that the riders can it enjoy, but the scenery was first rate.

I highly recommend a trip here (Eze, near Nice) and riding around. And eating socca. https://t.co/f0XuDJwcPL

— DANIEL McMAHON (@cyclingreporter) August 30, 2020

Crash, Dani Martinez. He would be back up and riding but had a lot of time to make up. Off the back due to a mechanical, Valverde. Both would make it back. As they neared the bonus point, there was the Alaphilippe attackHe would have company, Hirschi. Behind, Dumoulin down, but back up quickly. Next to jump, Adam Yates. He would take the 8 second bonus, followed by Alaphilippe with 5 seconds and Hirschi at 2. Four kilometers to go and they had twenty seconds over the peloton.

One kilometer and fifteen seconds. Was this expected? Yes. Is it really hard to actually do what is expected in these sorts of races? Yes.

🏆 @alafpolak1 sprints to victory!

🏆 @alafpolak1 s’impose au sprint !#TDF2020 #TDFunited pic.twitter.com/qjVqysXcUP

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) August 30, 2020

The wine: Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol
From the importer: Reynald’s Bandols are different. There is a more ethereal quality to them, a real freshness—and with Mourvèdre accounting for 85% of the final assemblage, this is praise indeed. Soil, climate, and winemaking all play a role. Limestone dominates the subsoil of Bandol, with tremendous variation between vineyards. Throughout Terrebrune’s thirty hectares, beneath the layers of clay and earth, the blue, fissured, Trias limestone is silently at work. This bedrock lends a more noticeable minerality to the wine than others. The soil here is healthy and full of nutrients, because he adheres to organic farming practices; to achieve the balance in the vineyards, he plows regularly. Gentle maritime breezes funnel air into the vineyards directly from the Mediterranean, cooling the grapes from the bright sun—another factor in safeguarding the freshness. This, in turn translates to wines for great long-term cellaring, including the rosé and dry white. Reynald’s credo of “Philosophy, Rigor, and Respect” is not a catch-phrase. He believes that the hard work and extra attention to the vines is worth it, and, as they say, the proof’s in the pudding—a glass of Terrebrune!
Thanks DigWineSF!