Giro 2024 Stage 1 Venaria Reale to Torino

 Where are we? Piedmont

Venaria Reale: Time to visit a palace:
La Venaria Reale is a grandiose estate just outside Turin. In comprises 80,000 square meters of floor surface in the Reggia and 60 hectares of Gardens, adjacent to the 17th century ancient village of Venaria and the 3,000 fenced hectares of the Park of La Mandria. It is a natural and architectural masterpiece that was declared part of the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1997. It reopened to the public in 2007 after completing the EU’s largest cultural restoration project to date.
The monumental palace or Reggia boasts some of the finest examples of universal Baroque: the elegant Hall of Diana designed by Amedeo di Castellamonte, the solemn Great Gallery and the Church of St. Hubert, the imposing complex of the Juvarra Stables designed by Filippo Juvarra in the 18th century, the sumptuous decorations and the spectacular Fountain of the Stag in the Court of Honor and the spectacular Fountain of the Stag in the Court of Honor provide a unique setting for the Theater of History and Magnificence, the permanent display - almost 2,000 m long - devoted to the House of Savoy, that spans from the basement level to the piano nobile of the Reggia.

Giro specialties: None listed

Torino: Torino, also known as Turin is the capital city of Piedmont. The local visitor's bureau tells me that: Torino is an aristocratic “old lady” more than two thousand years old, whose vestiges are still visible in “her” main monuments, streets, squares and underground... an “old lady” reborn out of “her” own ashes, more dynamic, innovative and modern than ever but always proud of “her” great past. The first capital of Italia invites you to discover its ancient and modern history, the Royal Residences, the palaces and museums, the parks and tree-lined avenues, the river and the mountains, the historic restaurants and cafes, the long arcaded streets and the multiethnic neighborhoods, the great events and the many small pleasures that have always made it unique, in a harmonious balance among the rational Roman urban planning, the moderate splendor of the Piemonte baroque and the originality of modern and contemporary architecture.

Giro specialties: Turin, like the whole of Piedmont, offers a cuisine with deep roots in folk and court tradition, genuine and rich in flavours: appetisers and starters accompanied by grissini breadsticks – invented in the 17th century for Prince Victor Amadeus II of Savoy -, agnolotti, Piedmontese-style mixed fried food, bagna cauda (warm oil, garlic and anchovy based dipping sauce), mixed boiled meats with their sauces, and cheeses from the Alpine valleys. All washed down with local red and white DOC and DOCG wines: Carema, Doux D’Henry, Freisa, Bonarda, Cari, Erbaluce, Ramie, Caluso Passito…

An authentic Turin dinner, however, must be preceded by the ritual of the aperitif, perhaps enjoying a vermouth. This famous and indispensable component of some of the most appreciated cocktails in the world was invented in Turin in 1786 from an idea of Antonio Benedetto Carpano.
The oldest national coffee roasters and the most important coffee brands also originate from here, and the first patent for an ‘espresso’ coffee machine (1884) was granted to Mr. Angelo Moriondo of Turin. What about chocolate and confectionery? Just a few words: gianduiotti (created by Michele Prochet), ‘bignole’, zabaglione, bicerin…

The stage: Before we get to the stage, I just have to say how amazing it is that I can watch this race on tv! Thank you, Max.
No prologue or easy stage to start this year's Giro. Instead 140 kilometers with a couple of kicks along the way. 

Soon enough, our first break of the Giro: Ghebreigzabhier, Barré, Calmejane,, Debeaumarché, Fiorelli, and Pietrobo. 

They would not get a large gap. UAE Team Emirates, the team of race favorite, Pogacar, seemed determined to not let there be a surprise winner from the break. Along the way, we'd see Fioreilli take a few points and the gap grew to over three minutes.

Not surprisingly, as they rode closer, the break fell apart. Left out front were Ghebreigzabhier and Calmejane. Thirty kilometers to go and their gap was under 2 minutes.

A small crash in the group, but everyone would be back up riding.

In the group, riders were continuing to be dropped as the climb continued.

Indeed, the group would get very small as they closed in. 

A group of 8 would take off but as  they closed in on 4 kilometers, Conci was ahead solo. 

Finally, an attack by Pogacar. Cue renewed talk of him spending the entire race in the pink leader's jersey. He would have company, Narvaez and Schachmann. 

Wow! In the sprint, Narvaez. Well done indeed. 

The wine: The wine: Ettore Germano Rosanna Brut Rosé

Back to 2022 for this one! 

Pink bubbles! From Dig: Italian men are rather famously attached to their mothers. Rosanna is the name of Barolo producer Sergio Germano’s mamma, for whom he named this beautiful Brut Rosé. It’s 100% young-vines Barolo-grown Nebbiolo made in the classic method. Zero dosage as well, so it’s fresh, dry, complex, and absolutely delicious stuff. 

The food: Grissini

Grissini because doesn't everyone love a breadstick? 

I used the recipe here from Thekitchn. 
It is simple enough to follow and you can add herbs and spices to your own preference.