"He loves to ride in the style of Merckx and he's going to want to make a huge statement" - Peter Kennaugh backs Tadej Pogacar to confirm Tour de France victory on stage 19

The fight for the Maillot Jaune at the 2024 Tour de France could potentially see a final and decisive swing on stage 19 this afternoon with a pair of HC climbs and a summit finish atop Isola 2000 set to give the likes of Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel a significant challenge.

Many are expecting an all or nothing attack from Vingegaard. As a two time Tour de France winner, a podium finish doesn't mean all that much to the Dane and as such, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader could be willing to risk it all in order to potentially overturn the more than three minute deficit he faces to Pogacar in the general classification.

"Looking at the images of the start line, I'm just getting a feel that Tadej is really feeling confident about today," says a former Tour de France winner in his own right, Cadel Evans to ITV Sport. "He's spent a lot of time here, he knows these climbs well and he's very, very well prepared for this stage," the Australian analyses.

Part of Pogacar's preparations for this stage and the Tour as a whole, has been improving his ability to reach the heights during the heat. "It's not exactly advanced to train in the heat is it? But still, it's one area where he has struggled, so he's obviously playing close attention to that," adds former Team Sky and BORA - hansgrohe rider, Peter Kennaugh. "There's a couple of scenarios that could happen. We've had the pleasure of driving the descent... Remco Evenepoel is going to be very, very nervous about that. Vingegaard, from what we've seen, I don't think he's going to be able to make the difference. It's all about Pogacar and we know he loves to ride in the style of Merckx and I think he's going to want to make a huge statement on this stage."