Individual time-trial Stage
Sat, July 24—starts at 10:25 local time

About Stage 19
By Chris Brewer
Depending on the standings, today is either a coronation of the race winner, or the final battle for overall victory.  “The race of truth” has seen many a rider gain or lose everything in the hour long solo ride to Pauillac.  Probably only about 10-15 riders will have a serious desire for a good result, the rest will be content to make the time cut and dream of Paris tomorrow.




About Pauillac
Pauillac, a town of 5,400 people situated in the Gironde department of southwest France, serves as a stage town for the first time in this year’s Tour, completing the Tour’s lone time-trial stage. It is well known to tourists because of its wine culture. Indeed, Pauillac is home to 37 chateaux and 1,200 hectares of vineyards, making it the wine capital of the area.

The town is also familiar to visitors because of its estuary (the largest in Europe), which feeds into the Atlantic Ocean. In 1777, the Marquis de La Fayette departed for America from the port of Pauillac. Its prime location close to many coastal resorts makes Pauillac even more attractive to visitors who wish to take cruises and excursions to islands.

-- City descriptions written by Rachel Horn