Signs that Jordan Jegat has given up his chase of Jonas Abrahamsen. He is still almost 90 seconds ahead of the main bunch, with the powerful Norwegian, three minutes clear.

Another couple of KOM points in the bank for Jonas Abrahamsen on the Cote de Verrey-sous-Salmaise.

He began the day six points ahead of Tadej Pogacar in that competition and is now 11 points clear, so will definitely be in spots tomorrow.

Jordan Jegat has had enough of sitting with the two EF riders. The Frenchman decides that they are riding far too slowly and blasts clear of them with his open rain jacket flailing in the wind.

Cees Bol, one of Mark Cavendish's lead out men, is on the front of the main bunch at present and appears to have put the handbrake on.

They were around 15 seconds off the Powless, Bissegger and Jegat axis but that is stretching right out again.

Jordan Jegat makes the jump out of the peloton and closes quickly on the two EF Education-Easy-Post riders up the road, who actually aren't that far ahead now.

Just the one point for Jonas Abrahamsen on the Cote de Villy-En-Auxois, as Neilson Powless and Stefan Bissegger sit up.

The riders are on the slopes of the Cote de Villy-en-Auxois, the seconds ride in the road today.

There are lots of frantic bursts at the front of the peloton as teams look to get involved in the break, with the main sprinters off the back of the peloton.

Mathieu Van der Poel is on the move. The 2023 world champion will fancy his chances of a stage win if he can get away.

Image source, Getty Images

Tadej Pogacar has held a position up near the font of the main bunch. The yellow jersey is determined not to be caught out by anything.

French puncheur Romain Gregoire makes his move. The Groupama-FDJ counters and heads off in pursuit of the trio at the front.

Further back down the road the sprinters and a certain Mark Cavendish have lost about 35 seconds over the opening climb.

As expected Jonas Abrahamsen takes two KOM points on the Cote de Vitteaux.

Alberto Bettiol is done. He was setting that up for Ben Healy.

Stephen Williams is with them but the peloton is scattered and this tactic could well backfire as several other riders attempt to join them.

Crikey Alberto Bettiol and Ben Healy are on the attack for EF Education Easy-Post.

Can they get up the road and join their teammates Neilson Powless and Stefan Bissegger?

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 27hrs 16mins 23secs

2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal-Quick Step) +33secs

3. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 15secs

4. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +1mins 36secs

5. Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates) +2mins 16secs

6. Joao Almeida (Por/UAE Team Emirates) +2mins 17secs

7. Carlos Rodriguez (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) +2mins 31secs

8. Mikel Landa (Spa/Soudal-Quick Step) +3mins 35secs

9. Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma-Lease a Bike) 4mins 03secs

10. Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus/Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe) +4mins 46secs

The leading trio have eked out an advantage of two minutes and 15 seconds which is holding steady as they prepare to head up the first climb of the day, the Cote de Vitteaux.

So two kilometres at an average gradient of 7.3% and a possible chance for a some more riders to fly off the front of the main bunch.

Now there was a little crash in the peloton just before the start that to be honest looked fairly innocuous at the time.

But Alexey Lutsenko is clearly feeling something and is getting some medical treatment on his knee.

Image source, Getty Images

Poor old Julien Bernard.

If you were watching on Friday, you'd have seen the Lidl–Trek rider on his home roads in Burgundy being given a hero's welcome.

The Frenchman has though been fined 200 Swiss francs (£174) after he pulled up at the side of the road and kissed his wife during the individual time trial.

The UCI said in a statement that his behaviour had been inappropriate and damaged the image of the sport.

In response Bernard posted a message on social media, saying: “I’m sorry UCI for damaging the image of the sport. But I’m willing to pay 200 Swiss francs every day and experience this moment again.”

In a television interview, the 32-year-old also described his encounter with his family as a unique moment in his career: "It was really incredible. My wife has been organising this with some friends for a few weeks now and she did a really, really good job,” he said.

“On a time trial, you have time to enjoy yourself. It’s these moments that keep me going and cycling.”

Image source, Getty Images

No Mads Pedersen today.

The Danish rider was involved in a crash on the bunch sprint that saw Mark Cavendish claim his 35th stage win in Saint Vulbas.

And his team Lidl-Trek say that although he "fought through" stages six and seven the "pain and swelling has not improved and the range of movement in his left shoulder has worsened, making it almost impossible to handle the bike."

The team added that while initial x-rays showed no sign of a fracture, the decision was made in "Mads' best interest to stop racing in order to undergo more detailed examinations to assess his injuries further."

Image source, ASO

As you can see, fairly rolling terrain today with several short and punchy climb.

None are lengthy or hard enough to affect the GC race, however, if a strong enough breakaway group gets up the road and takes enough time they may be capable of depriving the sprinters of a victory.

Racing is under way and three riders zip off on the attack. Neilson Powless and Stefan Bissegger zip off on the attack for EF Education-EasyPost and are joined by Uno-X Mobility's Jonas Abrahamsen, who is sporting the polka dot jersey and presumably keen on adding some more KOM points to his tally.