Saint-Emilion back on the Tour

This is a perfect occasion to discover the sweeping landscapes of the area, which includes 7,500 hectares of vines. All along the 31 km of the race segment, contestants will travel through some of France’s most beautiful vineyards. Roman churches, dovecotes and windmills are just a few of the buildings marking the route before arriving to the medieval town. “This event will have a considerable impact for the shops, restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts alike. Future spectators have already contacted the château owners to watch the race from the estates,” says Joëlle Manuel, the first assistant for finance and events at Saint-Emilion town hall. The opportunity is also eagerly awaited by Jean-François Galhaud, the president of the Saint-Emilion Wine Council: “We’re thrilled because the event has a worldwide reach. We’ll show spectators that Saint-Emilion is a welcoming place! All winegrowers will be involved.”

Racers will leave Libourne, then pass through Pomerol, the town meant to host the first intermediate sprint, then Lussac and Montagne Saint-Emilion. “Since this is the last stage before the big finish on the Champs-Elysées, we’ll have the advantage of considerable visibility,” says Joëlle Manuel. This international publicity is a boon for the town’s mayor, Bernard Lauret: “More than 180 countries will be watching the race, which is the 3rd most broadcast sporting events after the Olympics and the football Word Cup. They’ll be talking about Saint-Emilion all day long. And this will also rally together the local residents.”