Washington GSM v. Cotes du Rhone

It didn't take long for the pro racers to return to France.  This past week featured a short stage race just outside of Lyon, the Tour de L'Ain  Most of the big names are resting, or racing in other locations.  This gave a young racer from France an opportunity for his first professional victory.  The race is known as the 'race of friendship' and has had a different winner in each of its 25 editions.

There is no friendship in the wrestling ring.  This week features a Rhone inspired Washington Luchador taking the heat to a French challenger from the Cotes du Rhone.

2007 Chateau Faire le Pont Provence v. 2007 J Vidal Fleury Cotes du Rhone

Washington Tempranillo vs. Ribera del Duero

The pro racers have scattered to a variety of week long stage races in the past two weeks with many of them heading South to Spain to begin preparing for the Vuelta Espana.

There were two short stage races in the North of Spain around the Ribera del Duero region.  The Vuelta a Burgos is the higher rated of the two races and includes a stage that begins in Ribera del Duero

This week's Lucha Vino challenge features a Washington State Tempranillo battling with a Tinto from the Ribera del Duero DOC.

2009 Bartholomew Tempranillo v. 2009 Tinto Pesquera Crianza

Seattle v. Lake Chelan Cross State BDX Style Battle

The Tour de France is over and now the race jersey winners are cashing in on the post-tour criterium circuit.  This is an informal series of local criterium races hosted throughout France in the weeks that follow le Tour.  In these races, the jersey winners in the tour will frequently "win" the race in front of their adoring fans.  People come to see their heroes win and they rarely go home dissappointed.  The race promoters make sure of that by setting up the race results before the racers ever turn a peddle in anger.

Hmmm, sounds a bit like professional wrestling.

So, while Chris Froome gets the red carpet treatment, the Lucha Vino Challenge pits two Bordeaux style blends from Washington State against each other in a continuation of the Seattle Urban Wineries vs. Lake Chelan Battle Royale series.

Falling Rain 2007 Mischief v. CR Sandidge 2008 Caris