Tour de France 2017, stage 19: Edvald Boasson Hagen ends his six-year wait for victory as Chris Froome edges closer to fourth title

• Latest stage results and full classification standings after stage 19

• Beginners' guide: What are the rules, what do the jerseys mean?

• Remaining riders after 19 Tour de France stages completed

• How to follow this year's Tour de France on TV and online 

Edvald Boasson Hagen won stage 19 of the Tour de France as Chris Froome crossed safely in the pack to retain the yellow jersey with two stages to go.

Boasson Hagen has been on the wrong side of two photo finishes so far in this Tour but made certain of victory in Salon-de-Provence as he attacked out of the breakaway with three kilometres to go and soloed to the line.

Nikias Arndt did his best to keep up but the Sunweb rider came home in second place, five seconds behind.

That all happened a good 12 and a half minutes before the peloton crossed the line, with the contenders taking it relatively easy after two hard days in the Alps.

Froome leads by 23 seconds from Romain Bardet and 29 seconds from Rigoberto Uran going into Saturday's penultimate stage, a 22.5km time trial starting and finishing in Marseille's Velodrome stadium.

Team Dimension Data's Boasson Hagen was denied by just six millimetres - or 0.0003 seconds - when Marcel Kittel won stage seven to Nuits-Saint-Georges in the first week of the Tour.

He was then narrowly beaten by Michael Matthews on stage 16 to Pau, a victory that would have been all the sweeter for Boasson Hagen's South African-based team as it would have come on Nelson Mandela Day.

A day after the final mountain test, the organisers threw the longest stage of the entire Tour at the riders as they rode 222.5km from Embrun.

Although this stage was listed as flat, Team Sky were eager to avoid it coming to a sprint finish given the technical nature of the final three kilometres - with three sharp bends perhaps inviting a crash if the race was on.

As such, they allowed a 20-man break - also including another ex-Team Sky man in the shape of Ben Swift - to go more than 10 minutes up the road.

It began to fracture inside the final 20km, with Boasson Hagen part of a nine-man group that left Swift and the others behind.

When the 30-year-old kicked again with less than three kilometres to go, Arndt was the only one to respond but the German could not keep up.

Froome is now firmly odds on for a fourth Tour title with Saturday's battle against the clock expected to see him gain further time on his rivals.

The 32-year-old certainly looked in relaxed mood as the peloton cruised along, and he even took time to high-five famed Tour fan Didi the Devil along the way.
PA

4:54PM

Froome finishes safely to retain yellow

Defending Tour de France champion Chris Froome has just been led over the line by his team-mates to retain his leader's yellow jersey. No changes at the top of the general classification, so the Kenya-born Briton takes a 23-second lead into Saturday's time trial in Marseille.

4:40PM

Boasson Hagen ends his Tour de France drought

Edvald Boasson Hagen has won stage 19 at the Tour de France. That's the first win for Dimension Data at this year's race and the first for the popular Norwegian for six years and one day. Superbly timed attack there from the 30-year-old who has endured a torrid time – results wise – despite his obvious talent.

Nikias Arndt, by the way, took second spot while Jens Keukeleire, who initiated the decisive split in the closing stretch, finished third.

4:39PM

1km to go

Edvald Boasson Hagen is going to win this. He's soloing to victory, surely.

4:39PM

2km to go

Edvald Boasson Hagen is out there all on his lonesome. The Dimension Data rider is stretching his lead out and he simply cannot afford to be caught if he wants to end his wait for a stage win at the Tour de France.

4:38PM

2.5km to go

And boom! Nikias Arndt (Sunweb) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) have attacked and caused a split.

4:37PM

3km to go

Thomas De Gendt was the next to attack, but once again it comes to nothing. Nobody is giving an inch here.

4:36PM

4km to go

Edvald Boasson Hagen is looking confident and is making sure he knows where everybody is. 

4:35PM

5km to go

And the veteran Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel just put in an attack, but he was closed down. Michael Albasini ​the next to go. Cat and mouse out there.

4:33PM

6km to go

Plenty of looking around in this nine-man group now. Nobody wants to lose the wheel of any attacks at this stage. Nervy times.

4:32PM

7km to go

Edvald Boasson Hagen and Michael Albasini ​clipped off the front, but the pair were swiftly reined back in. 

4:30PM

10km to go

Each of the riders in the leading group are doing short turns, though the youngest man in the race Élie Gesbert (22) looks like he's trying to shirk his responsibilities at the back.

4:28PM

11.2km to go

The leading group of riders now have an advantage of 10 minutes on the maillot jaune, but today is all about the stage win rather than the general classification. But who will be taking the line honours? Stay tuned to find out.

4:26PM

12km to go

This nine-man group now leads by 25sec and their advantage is growing. There are some strong riders in here and I can't see them being reeled back in. 

4:22PM

18km to go

Jens Keukeleire has put in an effort on the front and the Orica-Scott rider has caused a split in this leading group. Michael Albasini (Orica-Scott), Nikias Arndt (Sunweb), Jan Bakelants (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Daniele Bennati (Movistar), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data), Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Énergie), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) and Élie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Oscaro) managed to bridge to him, but the others are chasing hard now.

4:17PM

20km to go

Lilian Calmejane, who took his first Tour de France win during stage eight, is pressing down on the pedals a little harder on the front and the Direct Énergie is being willed on by the decent sized crowds on the roadside.

4:15PM

22km to go

Twisty looking run-in today... 

4:10PM

30km to go

A number of riders from the breakaway have just sat up and dropped back to their team cars to collect some last-minute refreshments. The lead on the peloton is almost 10 minutes. 

4:03PM

35km to go

The breakaway's lead has gone out to 9min 40sec. A number of riders are sitting up and stretching out, ahead of what will be a fast run-in to the finish.  Remember earlier when I said I thought André Greipel would win this stage? Well I can't see that happening now, but luckily I also said Edvald Boasson Hagen stood a decent chance of winning today. But will the Norwegian prove me right – sort of  – and win his first Tour de France stage for six years and a day?

3:53PM

40km to go

After Romain Sicard and Romain Sicard took the points over the Col du Pointu, the three escapees regrouped with the breakaway before Bauke Mollema countered. The Trek-Segafredo rider who won stage 15 earlier this week with a similar move, clipped off the front but he was soon reined back in. As a result of theta injection in pace, the advantage on the peloton has grown to 9min 30sec.

3:47PM

45km to go

Élie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Oscaro), Robert Kiserlovski (Katusha-Alpecin) and Romain Sicard (Direct Énergie) attacked around 1.5km from the summit of Col du Pointu. That's the first bit of action we've had since the breakaway formed.

3:42PM

47km to go

The stage leaders are heading up towards the Col du Pointu which happens to be the final categorised climb at this year's Tour de France.  The breakaway riders are now leading the peloton by 8min 42sec.

3:39PM

'Armstrong's podcast is his route to rehabilitation - but should we indulge it?'

"This has been an interesting Tour de France in lots of ways. The battle for the yellow jersey has been one of the closest in years. We have had crashes and controversy. French panache. Plenty of talking points. But there has been one unexpected addition to this year’s Tour, which has added to my experience anyway.

"I’m not sure whether I should be admitting to it but I’ve been enjoying Lance Armstrong’s Stages podcast on the long transfers each day."

Not my words, but those of Tom Cary who, like me, has been enjoying listening to the disgraced former cyclist's daily broadcasts from a caravan in Aspen, Colorado. 

3:30PM

55km to go

The 20-man breakaway has over eight minutes on the peloton and the finish to this, the longest stage at the Tour de France, cannot come soon enough for this live blogger. Their advantage is holding at the 8min 10sec mark.

3:22PM

Weather report

3:09PM

75km to go

There are some dark clouds on the horizon and the breakaway's advantage has grown to 8min 35sec. I'm starting to think that the stage winner may end up coming from the 20-man group up the road from the maillot jaune. 

2:54PM

85.5km to go

Thomas De Gendthas just leapfrogged Chris Froome to sixth spot in the points classification after the Belgian celebrated his national day by winning the intermediate sprint 85.5km from the finish line.

2:46PM

90km to go

The breakaway's advantage on the relaxed looking peloton has gone back out to 7min 35sec. Didi the Devil is out on the route today and he appears to have made a new friend.

2:34PM

Gaviria injured during training 

It has nowt to do with the Tour de France, but while there's not much going on here's some breaking news.

Fernando Gaviria, the young Colombian sprinter who was chalked down to ride next weekend's RideLondon Classic, has picked up an injury during training and after requiring surgery will not be heading over to Blighty.

A statement from his Quick-Step Floors team confirmed the news, saying: "Two years ago, Fernando Gaviria sported for the first time the Quick-Step Floors jersey, as a stagiaire, at the RideLondon Classic, which he finished in eighth position. The spectacular one-day race, scheduled this season in one week’s time, should have marked his return to action following a break which he took after completing his maiden Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia, but unfortunately his comeback has now been delayed.

"While training in Colombia for a high-speed sprint, just as he was preparing to launch his powerful acceleration, Fernando’s left foot unclipped and the pedal hit his calf muscle, an incident resulting in a hematoma which required surgery, that the 22-year-old underwent on Wednesday afternoon, in Medellin.

"Fernando Gaviria, who took four stages and the coveted maglia ciclamino at the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia, in May, will now have to rest for a few days, before returning to training and then traveling back to Europe in a couple of weeks. The Colombian’s new racing schedule for the last part of the season will be decided and communicated in the upcoming weeks."

2:17PM

It's fast Eddy!

Eddy Merckx was just spotted giving the thumbs up to the television cameras. No, Merckx isn't back in the saddle, but the five-time winner is a guest of honour here at the Tour alongside compatriot Justine Henin, the former world No 1 tennis player. It is, by the way, Belgian National Day hence the two Belgian sporting legends being on the course where they are trailing the breakaway which also happens to include three Belgian riders – Jan Bakelants (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) and ), Jens Keukeleire (Orica-Scott). The gap between the breakaway and the peloton is now at 7min 5sec.

1:56PM

125km to go

The wind is starting to blow out on the road, but it doesn't appear to be causing the riders too much trouble. Team Sky are sat on the front of the peloton and they are being followed by Ag2r-La Mondiale, Cannondale-Drapac and Astana which also happens to be the order in which the general classification is ordered with Chris Froome first, Romain Bardet second, Rigoberto Uran third and Fabio Aru fifth going into today's stage.

The breakaway's advantage, by the way, has dropped to 7min 15sec.

1:41PM

130km to go

The 20-man breakaway has stretched its lead out to 8min. Ben Swift, who is in that strong looking group, spoke earlier about his hopes for the day ...

1:29PM

140km to go

The breakaway has pulled out its advantage on the Team Sky-powered peloton to 7min 34sec. As much as I love bicycle racing, today's going to feel like a very long day. With the mountains and points classification jerseys both being sewn up – providing Sunweb team-mates Warren Barguil and Michael Matthews make it all the way to the finish line in Paris on Sunday – there's little on offer today other than the stage win but that won't be confirmed for few hours. I feel like Steve.

1:09PM

155km to go

The breakaway has increased its lead to just over seven minutes.

1:00PM

Roosen abandons the Tour

Timo Roosen has been forced to abandon the Tour de France. Not too sure why the Dutchman bailed, but the 24-year-old Lotto NL-Jumbo will not be riding out of Stade Vélodrome tomorrow for the time trial around Marseille.

12:52PM

170km to go 

Not a great deal happening right now out on the road. Team Sky are sat in formation on the front of the peloton which trails the breakaway by almost six minutes.

12:39PM

175km to go

I've finally got the names of this rather large breakaway group and there are some big names in there. Here they are: Michael Albasini (Orica-Scott), Nikias Arndt (Sunweb), Jan Bakelants (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data), Gianluca Brambilla (Quick-Step Floors), Daniele Bennati (Movistar), Lilian Calmejane (Direct Énergie), Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Énergie), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal), Élie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Oscaro), Romain Hardy (Fortuneo-Oscaro), Rudy Molard (FDJ), Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), Pierre-Luc Périchon (Fortuneo-Oscaro), Ben Swift (UAE Team Emirates), Jens Keukeleire (Orica-Scott), Robert Kiserlovski (Katusha-Alpecin), Romain Sicard (Direct Énergie) and Julien Simon (Cofidis).

The group leads the maillot jaune by 5min 2sec.

12:24PM

185km to go

The breakaway's composition has changed somewhat and, indeed, swollen to around 20 riders. Their advantage on the peloton has gone out to 1min 35sec.

12:22PM

Anderson 'feeling great' following crash

Phil Anderson has posted a message on his Facebook page on which he said he was "feeling great" despite his crash.

 "It's been a tough day in the office," said Anderson. "Sitting up and feeling great after a rough training ride. For the first time in my career I have a broken collarbone and broken every rib on my left side. All things considered, not bad and I can't remember a thing."

12:05PM

Get well Phil!

Phil Anderson has been involved in a crash it appears. Not entirely sure what happened, but I've read that he was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne after being found injured. He is now conscious.

For those either new to the sport or just too young, you may be wondering who Phil Anderson is and why I am mentioning this. Anderson became the first Australian to lead the Tour de France – in 1981 – before the following year becoming the first rider from Down Under to win a stage at the race. Anderson, of course, is not the only Aussie to enjoy success at the Tour. Australian riders have won one yellow jersey (Cadel Evans) while two (Robbie McEwan and Baden Cooke) have taken the green jersey after winning the points classification. Anderson, though, remains the only Aussie to win the white jersey when he was the strongest young rider at the Tour in 1982.

Before turning professional in 1980 when Anderson joined Peugot, as an amateur he rode for the A.C.B.B. – an acronym for Athlétic Club de Boulogne-Billancourt.

The leading breakaway, by the way, are heading up the first climb of the day, the category three Col Lebraut.

11:57AM

205km to go

There's been more action on the front and a new breakaway comprising eight riders – Michael Albasini (Orica-Scott), Maxime Bouet (Fortuneo-Oscaro), Marcus Burghardt (Bora),  Adrien Petit (Direct Énergie), Pierre Rolland (Cannondale-Drapac), Dylan Van Baarle (Cannondale-Drapac), Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Julien Vermote (Quick-Step Floors) – and they have put 30sec into the peloton. Team Sky have fanned themselves across the width of the road in an attempt to slow the bunch down. After two tough days in the mountains the general classification riders will want an 'easy' day today. As easy as riding 222.5km can be, anyway.

11:47AM

210km to go

There were seven riders in the leading group, but they have been reined back in. 

Jack Bauer who was in that group, briefly, earlier gave his precis on today's stage when asked his opinion on the parcours (the route, to you and I) : "How's the parcours? Oh, it's long." The Kiwi also added that he wanted to 'roll the dice' today.

11:43AM

215km to go

The pair of Julien Simon (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits) and Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar) have been joined by around six or seven riders, including Greg van Avermaet, and the peloton appears to want to shut itself down and stop any more riders clipping off the front.

11:39AM

220km to go

A lone Wanty-Groupe Gobert rider – Guillaume Van Keirsbulck – took off up the road, but the Belgian was closed down fairly quickly. Maurits Lammertink was next to take it up, but again the Katusha-Alpecin man's time out in front was brief.

11:34AM

And they're off!

Christian Prudhomme has got today's stage, the 222.5 kilometere run from Embrun to Salon-de-Provence, under way and a group of around six riders clipped off the front fromthe start.

11:21AM

Morning all

Hello everybody. Slightly late into the office this morning after a brief coming together between myself and a wayward car on the way into Telegraph Towers. No harm done though. 

Racing is due to get under way at 11.30am (BST) when I imagine Thomas Voeckler will go off in the breakaway – remember, the veteran Frenchman is riding his final Tour de France so this will be his his last chance to show off his mug to those lucky enough to be sitting at home watching on their sofas. One would imagine today's stage will end in a sprint finish and I'm going to put my neck on the line and say André Greipel will win this stage. Or Edvald Boasson Hagen, or Michael Matthews.

11:09AM

The Telegraph Cycling Podcast: re-cap of yesterday's stage

In this episode of The Cycling Podcast, Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and François Thomazeau are joined by Orla Chennaoui to discuss the 18th stage from Briançon to the Col d’Izoard.

It was billed as the decisive mountain stage of the Tour but Romain Bardet and the rest were unable to unseat Chris Froome and so the Team Sky rider appears to be the favourite to win his fourth Tour title in five years (assuming nothing unforeseen happens in Saturday’s time trial).

But the star of the day was Warren Barguil, who won his second stage, clinched the polka-dot jersey as winner of the king of the mountains competition and cemented his place in the top ten overall.

We hear from Froome and his Sky team-mate Michal Kwiatkowski, and for Barguil and his manager Aike Visbeek.

So, join us on the Col d’Izoard…

• The Cycling Podcast is supported by Rapha and Science in Sport

11:07AM

Tour de France, stage 19: quick preview

When is the next stage of the Tour de France?

Stage 19 of the Tour de France is on Friday July 21, 2017.

When does stage 19 at the Tour start?

The 222.5km run from Embrun to Salon-de-Provence starts at 11.30pm (BST).

And when does the race finish?

The second grand tour of the season concludes in Paris on Sunday July 23 following the 103km stage from Montgeron to the Champs-Élysées.

What TV channel can I watch the race on?

Eurosport, ITV and S4C will be broadcasting every stage live each day – click here for full stage-by-stage details of broadcast times – whileTelegraph Sport will provide live blogs to keep you up to speed with the latest news. Bookmark this page for all of the action.

And what time is Friday's live coverage?

Stage 19: Embrun – Salon-de-Provence, 222.5km
Telegraph Sport liveblog: From 11am
TV details: Eurosport 1 11.15am-5pm, ITV4 11am-5pm, S4C 2pm-TBC

What does the stage profile look like?

Who should you watch out for on the road to Paris?

Who are the bookmakers' favourites for the race?

Chris Froome is the favourite to win the Tour de France for the fourth time in his career this year while Rigoberto Urán of Colombia has moved up to second second best in the betting to win the general classification, while Frenchman Romain Bardet is third.

"Chris Froome is one of the most successful cyclists in Tour de France history and we make him the favourite to win the yellow jersey for a fourth time this year where he patriotic support has already gathered for the Team Sky rider," said bookmaker Coral's John Hill.

1. Chris Froome: 1/20

2. Rigoberto Urán: 22/1

3. Romain Bardet: 100/1

4. Mikel Landa: 150/1

5. Fabio Aru: 500/1

6. Dan Martin: 750/1

7. Simon Yates: 2000/1

8. Warren Barguil: 2000/1

9. Alberto Contador: 2500/1

10. Louis Meintjes: 2500/1

​Who do you think will win the Tour de France?