France might just have done it again, as another victory du jour looked promising for a long stretch of the day with Pierre Rolland in the lead.  As it happened though, Rui Costa stole his own encore performance— all alone to cross the finish line once more– in a water-logged stage 19 finish.

Le Tour seems always beset by interestingly timed natural challenges.  Today it was torrential rain in the stage’s final miles, just enough to create a soaked and all-the-more dangerous last descent to the line.  With no wet-road wipeouts fortunately, and the main breakaway group kept huddled together, the general classification remains mostly unchanged at the end of this penultimate day in the Alps.  Just one more, Chris!

The man in yellow maintains his position.

This drenching day’s end killed any chases.