He is holding his right arm across the front of his body - that looks all the world like it could be a broken collarbone. We will, of course, keep you updated on his progress.

Cavendish is helped back onto his bike and he is almost in tears as he rides up the closing 100m - he is getting a terrific reception from the thousands lining the streets but he just looks broken.

Kittel won the race from Peter Sagan. Chris Froome finished sixth, showing just how chaotic that finish was.

Rob Hayles
Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

That looks like collarbone, that could be Tour de France over. The way he is holding his shoulder - he has never injured himself when he crashed, he has always bounced.

This doesn't look good for Cavendish. He collided with an Orica GreenEdge rider in the closing stages and he is holding his right shoulder.

MARCEL KITTEL WINS TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE ONE

Where has Cancellara come from? He is a one-day specialist, has he got the legs and Cavendish has fallen!

Cofidis have gone for it down the other side of the road, but Omega respond as they hit an uphil drag inside the final 1.5km. And Fabian Cancellara attacks as they go under the Flamme Rouge - 1km to go.

Can anyone keep pace with Cav's team though? Just 2km remaining and Cav still has five riders pacing him.

There is a big train of seven Omega Pharma riders at the front of the peloton - have they gone too early? Lotto and Giant are sitting in their slipstream, waiting, waiting, waiting. 2.5km to go.

Lotto are pushing the pace and here comes the Omega Pharma boys for Cav with 4km remaining. Is it too early asks Rob Hayles on commentary. The riders are shouting at each other, getting themselves in the right position.

Matt Slater
BBC Yorkshire Tour de France correspondent in Harrogate

A 'wet waste' truck has just blocked about 500 people's view of the big screen. Caused a stink.

The peloton is pulsing as it ebbs and flows across the road. Position is crucial at this stage of the race. All the big sprinters will know this finish and all it's intricacies. Cav has a bit of a photographic memory and claims to know where pot holes and the likes are on the run-in.

The peloton sweeps either side of a roundabout as it heads into the outskirts of Harrogate. Just 5km remaining.

Rob Hayles
Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"The riders are jostling for position, starting to line up, but we still we have the yellow jerseys of Tinkoff Saxo and they are trying to keep their man Alberto Contador out of trouble."

Astana are on the front for the first time day. They have diminutive Italian Vincenzo Nibali in their squad - he won't be contesting the finish, he's one of Froome's main rivals. Cav's Omega Pharma team have switched sides of the road and are trailing the Lotto Belisol team of Greipel. Reports suggesting one of Cav's main lead-out men Alessandro Petacchi is not in the main bunch. That could be a blow to his chances. 8km to go.

Rob Hayles
Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"At the moment Cavendish will be happy, he got distance on a climb for a few seconds but now he's got all his team mates around him and so far, so good."

The riders also have to be aware of the furniture in the middle of the road because nobody wants to hit a bollard at this stage, or any other for that matter. They have taken out a lot of the road furniture, including traffic lights in the middle of Harrogate to try and ensure as straightforward a sprint as possible. Just 10km remaining. Hold on to your flat caps kids.

There is lots of looking around in the peloton. The sprinting teams checking the whereabouts of their quick men, the likes of Team Sky keeping tabs on Chris Froome. They won't be anywhere near the frenetic finish that this is building up to.

So, as you look at it, on the right of the road is Lotto Belisol, next to them is the Cannondale train, then it's Movistar, then Omega Pharma and Katusha on the far left. Cavendish has won nine races this season so far, Kittel has crossed the line first seven times but Greipel has 12 wins.

Will one of that trio be adding to their tally today? Just 13km to go.

We are very much into the business end of the race with just 15km to go. Cannondale are showing strongly at the front of the peloton. It's a slightly uphill finish which might suit their man Peter Sagan.