Neither Cadel Evans nor Carlos Sastre have a ponytail, something that may work to their advantage as the Australian and Spaniard battle for the final yellow jersey of the 2008 Tour de France this afternoon.

In 1989, Laurent Fignon, a Parisian, entered the French capital, maillot jaune on his back, with a healthy lead over Greg LeMond, of the United States, as they rolled down the start ramp for the final time-trial to the Champs Elysées.

LeMond, the 1986 champion, making a comeback from a hunting accident, wore an aerodynamic helmet and used triathlon handlebars. The mercurial and bespectacled Fignon, perhaps the closest thing to Eric Cantona that the Tour has seen, simply got on his bike and rode, his blond ponytail flowing behind him.

The image of a shocked Fignon, collapsed and distraught on the Champs Elysées as a disbelieving LeMond celebrated his eight-second victory, has passed into Tour folklore. The American's winning margin was the closest result in the race's history. Fignon blamed saddle sores and LeMond's equipment “dirty tricks”, but it was also believed that the Frenchman's ponytail might have cost him the race.

Both Sastre and Evans have short back and sides and matching equipment, so this afternoon's head to head against the clock may be even closer. The form book suggests that Evans, who is 1min 34sec behind Sastre in the overall classification, should blow the Spaniard away on the rolling 53-kilometre route through the Allier and Cher departments, racing between Cerilly and Saint-Amand-Montrond.

In this year's first individual time trial, a 29.5-kilometre race around Cholet, Evans finished fourth, 27 seconds behind Stefan Schumacher, the stage winner. Sastre could only manage 28th place and was 1min 16sec slower than the Australian. Extrapolate that result over today's route and Evans becomes the clear favourite.

Sastre however, remains defiant. “The last time trial is very, very hard,” he said. “We worked really hard for our advantage. I have what I have, and I will fight with that.” But, with three weeks of fatigue to contend with, it could be very close.

In what, barring accidents, is likely to be a two-man race for the title, neither rider has been in this situation before. Sastre will be motivated by the prospect of final victory in Paris, while an increasingly fraught Evans, who has taken to head-butting finish-line cameras and cuddling his travelling partner, Molly the terrier, during interviews, appears to be feeling the strain. He would not be the first rider whose hopes of winning a significant race have been dashed by once mighty thighs dissolving to quivering jelly.

In keeping with the traditions of the Tour, both riders can be expected to accept the verdict of today's “race of truth”. The promenade stage into Paris tomorrow is unlikely to contain any last-minute attempts to snatch overall victory and they will instead be happy to let the sprinters take charge.

In the 165.5-kilometre Roanne to Montluçon stage yesterday, Evans and Sastre remained in the peloton as the leading contenders for final victory saved their energies. Instead, a tearful Sylvain Chavanel, of France, often touted as the home nation's outstanding talent, celebrated a long-awaited debut stage win, outsprinting Jeremy Roy, his compatriot, after an 80-kilometre breakaway.

Chavanel, 25, who rides for the Cofidis team, is the best-paid French professional, but, at times, despite countless attacking efforts, he has struggled to make his mark on the sport. “I was frustrated because I had been trying so hard and every time I had failed,” Chavanel said. “This year I have overcome a barrier. It's the best gift I could offer Cofidis.”