Team Sky have added extra gel to the handlebars on Chris Froome's bike and taped over it for added comfort ahead of the bumpy cobblestone sections.

Cobblestones make their first appearance at 87km. Six more sections follow, spread over the remaining 68km.

Image source, AP

These spectators have thought of everything. Not only do they have the perfect method of transportation for today's wet and stodgy conditions but they've also got somewhere to take cover from the rain.

Nine riders - including Omega Pharma - Quick-step rider Tony Martin - have made a break for it and opened up a 50-second lead over the peloton after 10km.

Image source, AP

This is one of the tricky stretches of cobbles which awaits the riders today. Two spectators, in their Tour-standard yellow bin bag-style raincoats, are already in position.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Rob Hatch and Rob Hayles will be on hand to guide you through the closing stages of today's route. They will be on air with online-only commentary from 15:00 BST. You'll be able to listen via the link at the top of the page.

Vincenzo Nibali is the man in yellow, as he holds the lead of the race by two seconds.

Peter Sagan holds the sprinters' green jersey, Cyril Lemoine the polka dot jersey and Romain Bardet the white jersey.

Image source, AP

We're under way in Ypres, Belgium, with King Philippe (right) and legendary rider Eddy Merckx (centre) in attendance at the start. The weather is, quite frankly, horrendous. It's wet and grisly.

Guardian writer Sean Ingle:, external "Just drove from Ypres to Arenberg-Porte du Hainait, the finish of stage 5 of @letour. Hammered down all the way. Today is going to be brutal.

"Earlier chatted to Eddy Merckx, who basically said cobbles are part of riding and that the peloton should just get on with it."

Today, on the centenary of the First World War, the Tour de France remembers the great champions and riders who lost their lives during the conflict with the first of three stages across northern French and Belgian battlefields.

We'd recommend reading this well-researched piece, external on social network site Wheel Suckers on life in the Tour de France during the war.

Geraint Thomas
Team Sky's five-time Tour de France rider

Image source, Reuters

"Fabian Cancellara will be one to watch as this stage will suit the one-day classics specialists and the Swiss rider has won seven. He is great on the cobbles and his Trek team will be chasing stage wins."

"There are four possibilities on this stage," says two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador. "Either nothing happens, or you lose time, or your rivals lose time, or you go home in a crash."

The Spaniard adds: "I'm not scared, but I have a lot of respect for the pave."

Trek Factory rider Fabian Cancellara on Twitter:, external I wish a fast recovery to @andy_schleck! Serious complicated injury on the knee! You will be missed at #TDF.

Trek Factory rider Jens Voigt says that 2010 Tour winner Andy Schleck, who pulled out of the tour yesterday with a knee injury, is undergoing surgery on his knee today. "Fingers crossed it all goes well and he will be back soon," he added on Twitter., external

With arguably the most treacherous stage on the tour almost upon us, where crashes are highly likely, we want to hear about your personal hairiest moments on a bike.

Have you had any close shaves? Do you know how it feels to hit the deck like Chris Froome did yesterday? Did you get carried away on a descent and misjudge your braking?

Tweet us using #bbccycling, external or text 81111 (UK only). If you use the latter form of communication, please leave your name.

Team Giant-Shimano rider Marcel Kittel,, external who has already won three stages, on Twitter: Cobbles + rain = pain! Today is going to be sick. Good that @alberttimmer reminded me of taking my health insurance card with me...

Last year, Froome crashed in the neutralised zone before the official start of the first stage of the Tour de Corsica, but he avoided injury.

This year, he crashed heavily on his left side in the Criterium du Dauphine and then went down yesterday, injuring his hip, shoulder, knee and wrist.

That latter accident means today could be absolute torture for the Brit as he negotiates the cobbles.

Image source, Getty Images

Britain's Chris Froome has been given the all-clear to continue his defence of the Tour de France title following a crash on stage four.

The Team Sky rider was sent for a X-ray last night but his team boss Sir Dave Brailsford said: "Chris is a fighter, he's not someone who gives up just like that.

"We've done the tests and we're relieved. He will start [stage five]and I hope it will be a great day.

Froome tweeted, external last night: "Took quite a tumble today but I'll definitely be starting [stage five] with no serious damage. It'll be a tough one for everyone on the cobbles!"

Team Giant-Shimano rider Koen de Kort on Twitter:, external I somehow have the feeling I'm about to be part of something epic and historical. A day I might never forget. Better make it a good memory!

Geraint Thomas
Team Sky's five-time Tour de France rider

"This stage could be carnage. It is going to be a really stressful day for all the teams who have a rider chasing the overall race win because we have seven sections of pave to negotiate and a lot can happen on the cobbles.

"The sections, which all feature in the Paris-Roubaix one-day classic, are not that hard and most of the General Classification guys would be fine if they just had to do a time trial over them but it's all about the fighting beforehand, getting into the right position and that's when the accidents happen."

Read more from Geraint in his stage-by-stage guide.