Salon-de-Provence: Michael Matthews will become the third Australian rider to win the Tour de France's green jersey providing he makes it to the finish in Paris on Sunday.

The Sunweb rider mathematically secured the points category for the leading sprinter during Friday's long and hot 19th stage from Embrun to Salon-de-Provence – at 222 kilometres it was the longest stage in this year's Tour.

Matthews did not feature in the day's one intermediate sprint, which was contested by a group of 20 escapees, none of whom are remotely close to him in the points standings.

The 26-year-old Matthews, winner of stage 14 in Rodez and the 16th stage in Romans-sur-Isere, had built up a huge 160-point lead over Germany's Andre Greipel by Friday's stage.

As long as he arrives safely in Paris, Matthews will join compatriots Robbie McEwen (2002, 2004 and 2006) and Baden Cooke (2003) in securing the green jersey.

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) won the stage as Chris Froome (Team Sky) crossed safely in the pack to retain the yellow jersey with two stages to go.

Norwegian 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.

Along with stage runner-up Nikias Arndt (Sunweb), Boasson Hagen was one of only two riders to head right into a roundabout, emerging with lead he never relinquished.

Reuters, AAP