Visma-Lease a Bike are just trying to keep out of trouble and they are doing that by pushing the pace on the chasing bunch.

Jonas Rickaert gets the combativity award. Chapeau.

Jonas Rickaert is going deep here. He looks absolutely shattered. Will Mathieu van der Poel be able to go again and launch off him?

There is absolutely no panic in the main bunch at all yet. They have allowed the leading duo to stretch out to 80 seconds but have them in their sights.

It is all going to kick-off again in the peloton as another tricky section comes up with the wind blowing.

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Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Rickaert must feel pretty dispirited now. They are looking behind them and know the game is up.

Tadej Pogacar is on Tim Wellens' wheel about five from the front. Jonathan Milan, who will be aiming to win back-to-back stages is also all present and correct.

Behind him there is a battle to get back on, which should be very doable as Visma-Lease a Bike ease up.

A group of just over 40 riders including Adam Yates have been distanced as echelons form. Visma-Lease a Bike are on the front trying to rip this race apart.

Mathieu van der Poel's virtual lead in the GC is snuffed out. The gap is one minute and 22 seconds. There is surely no way the Dutch rider and his willing breakaway accomplice, Jonas Rickaert, will not be caught.

Ivan Romeo, the 21-year-old Movistar rider gets a back wheel puncture as they hit a crosswinds section.

Hardly ideal. How much time will he lose here?

I imagine one or two riders would fancy jumping in there. The average pace at present is a tick under 50kmh.

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The breakaway duo of Jonas Rickaert and Mathieu van der Poel have less than two minutes to play with now and several teams have joined in the pursuit, which means it is highly unlikely they can hold on to the finish.

With potential crosswinds approaching Tadej Pogacar is tucked up nicely near the front of the main bunch.

Jayco AlUla pull off from the front of the chasing pack but it's been a highly effective stint. The escapees have two minutes and 21 seconds now.

Their hopes of a memorable victory are looking increasingly remote.

Jayco AlUla are pulling on the front now and the peloton look back in control. The Australian team have Dylan Groenewegen in their ranks.

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Alpecin-Deceuninck duo Jonas Rickaert and Mathieu van der Poel are still plugging away. They have around a three-and-a-half minute lead but the pace in the peloton has increased.

Oscar Onley was caught after having a puncture but his Picnic PostNL team appear to be guiding him back into contact with the main bunch.

Wout van Aert puts the afterburners on and bridges across. Some effort that.

The peloton is getting stretched out in the crosswinds and Wout van Aert has been caught out.

Oscar Onley is too far back as well and will have a gap to bridge.

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Joao Almeida is dropping back to get into the team car after being left by the main bunch again.

The Portuguese UAE Team Emirates rider is just in too much pain to continue.

How much trouble could that spell for Tadej Pogacar in the mountains?

It's lunch time in the peloton, which might just allow Mathieu van der Poel and Jones Rickaert to grab a few seconds back with their time gpa dipping just below five minutes.