Hagen claims Stage 19 of Tour de France

Salon-de-Provence (France), July 21

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Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen won his third Tour de France stage and first in six years  on the 19th stage from Embrun to Salon de Provence as Chris Froome edged closer to overall victory.

Boasson Hagen was part of a 20-man breakaway but made a winning solo bid inside the final 3km as Nikias Arndt came second and Jens Keukeleire third.

Briton Froome kept hold of the race leader’s yellow jersey ahead of Saturday's decisive time-trial in Marseille after a leisurely stroll in the saddle for the peloton. Frenchman Romain Bardet remains second at 23s with Rigoberto Uran of Colombia third at 29s.

The large group of escapees broke clear early on in the 222.5km stage that started in the Alps before ending close to the Mediterranean. — AFP