The Australian is now all but certain to become only the third Australian to finish in green in Paris in four days’ time after a tumultuous day in the Alps.
Matthews was crowned the new points classification leader after Marcel Kittel crashed and was forced to abandon with an injured shoulder.
The German was caught in a multi-rider pileup only 20km into the mountainous 182km slog from La Mure and could not continue.
But while Matthews may be benefiting from the withdrawals of fast men Kittel, Peter Sagan and Mark Cavendish, he has been the enduring performer in a war of attrition.
As rivals have fallen around him, the man they call “Bling” has ridden with panache and aggression.
Coming off two stage wins in three days, Matthews had cut Kittel’s lead to nine points when he claimed the intermediate sprint from the early breakaway before Kittel pulled out.
At the finish, Matthews closed his eyes and looked to the heavens on the podium. He now leads Andre Greipel by 160 points with four stages remaining…
Source: Tour de France Michael Matthews in green, Froome fights off challengers | Perth Now
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