” Pogačar carries a lead of some 5:45 over Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) into the penultimate stage of the Tour, a 30.8 km time trial from Libourne to Saint Émilion. Last September, he won his debut Tour by upgrading his compatriot Primož Roglič on the matching phase to La Planche des Belle Filles, but the 22-year-old has long because divested this Tour of any suspense.Already winner of the phase 5 time trial in Laval, as well as the mountaintop completes at the Col du Portet and Luz Ardiden in the Pyrenees, Pogačar will, on the evidence of this race to date, be favourite to notch up a fourth phase success on Saturday afternoon.” Merckx dubs Pogacar the brand-new Cannibal Stage 19 set out from Mourenx, the site of possibly the defining task of Merckxism from 1969, and Eddy Merckx was present on the Tour on Friday as a guest of honour. The concept, of course, was that he may be on hand to witness Mark Cavendish revamp his record of 34 phase wins at the Tour, but the spoils fell to the break rather than the sprinters, postponing Cavendishs date with destiny to the Champs-Élyées on Sunday evening.No matter, Merckx was still able to run the guideline over a rider whose authority over this Tour has currently drawn contrast with the Belgians own supremacy during his sequence of 5 overall victories.” Merckx later signed up with Pogačar on the podium in Libourne on Friday afternoon when the Slovenian was presented with his 12th maillot jaune of the Tour.

” Pogačar carries a lead of some 5:45 over Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) into the penultimate phase of the Tour, a 30.8 km time trial from Libourne to Saint Émilion. Last September, he won his debut Tour by upgrading his compatriot Primož Roglič on the corresponding stage to La Planche des Belle Filles, however the 22-year-old has long because divested this Tour of any suspense.Already winner of the stage 5 time trial in Laval, as well as the mountaintop completes at the Col du Portet and Luz Ardiden in the Pyrenees, Pogačar will, on the evidence of this race to date, be preferred to notch up a 4th phase triumph on Saturday afternoon. The concept, of course, was that he may be on hand to witness Mark Cavendish upgrade his record of 34 phase wins at the Tour, however the spoils fell to the break rather than the sprinters, delaying Cavendishs date with destiny to the Champs-Élyées on Sunday evening.No matter, Merckx was still able to run the rule over a rider whose authority over this Tour has actually currently drawn contrast with the Belgians own dominance throughout his sequence of 5 overall victories.