Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Dimension Data) finally grabbed a stage win in the Tour de France after four podium finishes on earlier stages. The Norwegian soloed to victory in Salon-de-Provence after a late attack on stage 19.
Today’s stage was the last chance for many riders to take a stage win in the race, and it was no surprise to see countless attacks during the first part of the stage. It took nearly an hour of hard racing before a group of 20 riders finally managed to distance the peloton.
Boasson Hagen had been very attentive near the front, and was able to make it into the big group of attackers. The breakaway worked well together and as the peloton seemed satisfied with the situation, the gap quickly grew to over seven minutes.
As the front group took on the last 40 km of the stage, the riders started attacking each other. Ultimately, nine riders – Boasson Hagen, Jan Bakelants (AG2R-La Mondiale), Daniele Bennati (Movistar), Michael Albasini and Jens Keukeleire (Orica), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Nikias Arndt (Sunweb), Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie), Elie Gesbert, (Fortuneo-Oscaro) – got away. The new front group kept splitting up but only for a limited time as it always came back together again.
With about three kilometres left to go, Boasson Hagen took the right way around in a roundabout while the other riders went left. This opened up a small gap. Nikias Arndt (Team Sunweb) originally followed Boasson Hagen but he couldn’t keep up with the Norwegian time trial champion. Boasson Hagen continued alone and he had plenty of time to celebrate as he crossed the finishing line in Salon-de-Provence.
The peloton finished over 12 minutes down with the yellow jersey Chris Froome (Team Sky) keeping the overall lead before tomorrow’s 22.5 km long individual time trial in Marseille.
Edvald Boasson Hagen: “This is fantastic. The team helped me a lot before the break went away. They controlled the peloton and on the climb, I was in a good position to follow the attacks. Within the front group, we worked really well together all day. Naturally, at the end, there were some attacks but I managed to close them down a ride quite smartly. I had studied the course and I knew I had to go right in that last roundabout. Afterwards, I managed to go solo and I was so happy when I crossed the line. I’ve been so close so many times. It’s really nice to finally get this victory for the team and for myself as well”.
