Our intrepid six out front have seen their lead whittled down to a fraction under two minutes.

Tom Bayliss is having none of this and as they pedal into Stainforth he shows his hand. Harry Tanfield immediately sets off in pursuit and the two briefly build a bit of a lead but they are not breaking clear of the break.

Team Sky's Ian Stannard suddenly appears at the front of the peloton. He is like a diesel train and will eat up the road. Chris Lawless could well be the man Sky will try set up for the sprint.

Crowds are building at the finish line in Doncaster for the end of today's Tour de Yorkshire stage.

The riders will be grateful of the flat landscape and it'll help them reach maximum speed as a long day in the saddle concludes.

Palpable expectancy in Hatfield as the men's Tour de Yorkshire race heads their way.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

So, who could spoil Mark Cavendish's party in Doncaster?

Well, expect challenges from the likes of Adam Blythe, who pipped Cav to the 2016 British national title, while Ben Swift - the Rotherham sprinter - may also fancy the run-in.

And France's Bryan Coquard beat Cav on stage one of the Tour of Oman earlier this year.

We will know in 30km. The break is now at two minutes. The peloton won't want to catch the break too quickly because then new attacks will go off, as we saw in the women's race earlier.

Then the sprinters' teams have to waste energy closing those down, rather that setting up their man.

The ideal (and cruellest) catch is within sight of the finish line.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

The pace in the peloton is suddenly on. Team Sunweb push the pace and they are joined by Vital Concept - who have Bryan Coquard in their team, a man who will also be eyeing the stage win in Doncaster.

It's single file in the peloton though as they zip along at 50km/h (or roughly 30mph if you prefer).

The six out front are dawdling at 33km/h. I'm no maths genius but even I know that means their advantage is going to come down rapidly...45 seconds gone in about three kilomteres. But there is a response. Team directors will be furiously encouraging their riders to give one last big push. The finish line is just 35km away.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

The Dimension Data team of Mark Cavendish have sent a man to the front of the peloton.

The leading six are still around three minutes clear with just 40km remaining. A basic rule of thumb on a flat stage is that it takes 10km to erase one minute of a lead - although it can clearly come down quicker than that.

It's not quite panic stations in the peloton yet but it is becoming more strung out, indicating the pace is high.

Rawcliffe looks ready to welcome the men's race any moment now.

Then it's full speed ahead towards Doncaster, less than 50Km to go.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

If you're just thinking about leaving work, then take us with you on the tram/train/bus/walk home. You can access this live page via the BBC Sport app and I'll keep you posted as the riders enter the final 50km.

The leaders are just under three minutes clear of the peloton as they swing left over a bridge over the River Ouse.

Is it going to be Cav-time in Doncaster? Stay with us to find out.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

And no sooner have they washed a bit of grub down than the leaders are in to the second and final intermediate sprint.

It's a tight one and Harry Tanfield is coming from a long way back but he's got to settle for third. Ali Slater is pushed all the way by French rider Axel Journiaux but the British JLT Condor rider holds on to take five points and three bonus seconds, which should see him high up in the standings post race.

Just 52km left as they pedal through Howden and it looks as though the entire town has come out to welcome the race. Chapeau if you're out there.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

It's feeding time in the peloton and just before it is a zone where the riders can empty gel wrappers among other bits and bobs from their pockets. It's a neat way of not having litter scattered across the countryside because all the detritus can easily be cleared up.

Then it's time to fill your boots with the goodies your team soigneur has put in your musette (food bag).

Making up the bottles of juice and filling the food bags is just one of the many and varied tasks of a soigneur, who also does pre and post race massages.

If you ever go to a race, stand a kilometre or so after the feed zone and riders will discard the bags once they've taken what they want and you'll bag yourself a nice memento.

65km remaining for the leaders who are still the right side of three minutes clear.

Here's the view from the lead car as it passes through Pocklington.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

Why do riders go in the break if it is doomed to failure?

Firstly- there is a chance they could win. On a flat stage such as this, it is admittedly a slim chance, but it does happen.

Secondly- exposure for the team's sponsors. The race is being televised and riders out front get more coverage than those in the main bunch. Those riders who get in the break are usually from the less well-known teams who will probably not be contesting the stage win.

Thirdly- it helps teams control the race. For example, on this stage, Mark Cavendish is the big favourite, so his Dimension Data team-mates can control the pace of the peloton and keep their sprinter fresh for the finish.

They will ride on the front of the peloton, making sure the break does not gain too much of an advantage but is far enough clear to nullify any further attacks from the main bunch.

They then have to time the catch to perfection - too far out from the finish and riders may attack and disrupt their plans; too close to the finish and the break may just succeed.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

The lead is coming down ever so slowly. Our six out front - I always love a good breakaway attempt and always feel a tinge of sadness when they are reeled in - are already staring into the abyss.

The peloton is starting to push those pedals with a little more vigour and the lead has been cut to three minutes, 30 seconds but they won't want to catch them too soon. If you missed it earlier here's why riders go off in a break...

Doncaster is the stage finish for the Tour de Yorkshire today, and former soldier Ben Parkinson has been out to cheer on the riders.

Ben, who is from the town, lost both legs and suffered brain damage in a 2006 landmine blast in Afghanistan.

He's been described as the most severely-injured soldier to survive the conflict.

Rather than being hooked up and being in the slow lane of the M1, the caravan for cycling is actually a collection of vehicles which precede the race.

And sometimes, if you've a decent catch on you, you may be rewarded with a freebie.

The TdY's caravan has reached Hatfield in South Yorkshire.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

Harry Tanfield is just 23 and looks straight at a cameraman on a motorbike and boldly asks how far behind him his fellow escapees are.

The answer doesn't please him and after a quick word via radio with his team car, he sits up and waits for the others to catch him.

A wise move from the youngster, who you may recall won time trial silver on the road at the Commonwealth Games last month.

Look at all these happy faces in Howden waiting for the peloton.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

Five of the six are back together as they power into Pocklington for the intermediate sprint. Who has gone off the front?

It's Harry Tanfield who went charging down the descent and he has opened up a gap big enough to allow him to not so much win the sprint, as jog across the line. Five points and three bonus seconds for the Canyon Eisberg rider (and he also picks up 200 euros, although prize money is normally pooled and split between the riders).

And he's not hanging round for the quintet behind him. That's a brave strike for home if that's what he's planning, given we are 88km from Donny.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport

The riders are on Cote de Baggaby Hill. Who is going to show first from the six out front?

The average is 4.6% but given some of the 1.9km ascent is actually downhill then that means some steep ramps of 12% to negotiate.

Emerson Oronte is keen to push on but goes far too early and Michael Cuming of Madison Genesis just pips Tom Bayliss on the line. A lung-busting effort from both but they're now freewheeling down the other side into Pocklington for the intermediate sprint...

People have really gone all out in fancy dress to celebrate the Tour de Yorkshire this year.

If you've been in Beverley did you see the singing and piano playing 'nun'?

And yes, that's Scatman John which is being played