After losing Mark Cavendish in the opening stages of the Tour de France, team Dimension Data's chances at a stage win looked bleak as they lost their main sprinter. Entering stage 19 on Friday, the South African team was one of 11 teams that had yet to win a stage at the race.
Norwegian rider Edvald Boasson Hagen was the team's best chance of earning a victory and the veteran road racer found himself right in the thick of things in the final kilometers of the stage.
How it happened
The terrain for stage 19 suited a sprinter's type finish and a bunch sprint was not out of the cards entering the day.
However, a dangerous breakaway formed and their advantage never dwindled down as the main peloton was content with a comfortable pace.
In that very breakaway was Boasson Hagen, who found himself without a teammate in the group of riders. Orica-Scott were able to put two riders in the group and appeared to be the best-suited group for victory on the streets of Salon-de-Provence.
However, with less than five kilometers to go (roughly three miles) Boasson Hagen and team Sunweb's Niklas Arndt were able to break away from the group and left the other seven riders behind.
Arndt was unable to match Boasson Hagen in the final two kilometers as the Dimension Data rider would claim the victory.
Revivez le dernier kilomètre et la victoire en solo de @EBhagen ! / Relive the last kilometer and the great finish from EBH! #TDF2017 pic.twitter.com/b7e85J5NX3
— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 21, 2017
Jens Keukeleire (Orica-Scott) would finish third with Danielle Bennati (Movistar) and Thomas De Gendt (Lott-Soudal) rounding out the top five.
General classification race
There were no changes in the top 10 general classifications standing as Chris Froome will take the yellow jersey into tomorrow's time trial in Marseille.
Pas de changement au classement général / No change for the general classification #TDF2017 pic.twitter.com/NTH7XGmlFB
— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 21, 2017
One of the main things to watch for in the stage 20 time trial is the battle for second place in the general classification between Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) and Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale Drapac).
Bardet only holds a six-second advantage on Uran.
Additionally, the battle for fourth place between Mikel Landa (Team Sky) and Fabio Aru (Astana) could see a change in order depending on how well the two riders go. Elsewhere in the standings, it is unlikely the positions will change pending an absolutely disastrous day for one of the riders.
Froome will be highly favored to increase his lead on Saturday. The British rider is a talented time trialist and is very capable of placing high in the overall standings for the stage.
After tomorrow, the yellow jersey will likely be in Froome's possession as he will look to ride into Paris with the opportunity to claim his fourth Tour de France title.
