It was Mark Cavendish who made the first move in that sprint and he's come off worst. Peter Sagan, who had a puncture 15 minutes ago, came second, and Fabio Cancellara has pipped Cav into third.

Germany's Andre Greipel times his move perfectly and the Lotto-Soudal has his hand aloft.

Mark Cavendish moves, Andre Greipel is with him...

The lead group sweep across a dramatic bridge, water rushing below them. A brief ride on a finger of land and then another bridge. It's gorgeous to look at.

Geraint Thomas makes a move to stretch it out for his team-mate Chris Froome.

The second group are one minute and 25 seconds back. Quintana and Nibali can't afford for that to stretch. Are you ready for a sprint? Buckle in.

Sunshine and no wind. It's what we promised all along, isn't it? The sprint should be spectacular, and will travel along a causeway stretching into the north seas and on to the man-made island of Neeltje Jabs.

A minor blow for Alberto Contador as Tinkoff-Saxo team-mate Daniele Bennati has a mechanical. That's one less man to help the Spaniard for the time being.

Oh, and now Peter Sagan has a mechanical too. Can he get back in time to threaten Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel in the sprint?

Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan are in the front group and will fight in a sprint finish.

Chris Froome and Alberto Contador are with them, looking to gain time in the general classification.

GC rival Nairo Quintana is in the yellow jersey group 50 seconds back.

GC rival Vincenzo Nibali is chasing the second group after a puncture.

Vincenzo Nibali, already in a spot of bother in the group behind the leaders, gets a puncture. It's a nightmare for the 2014 winner. A quick tyre change and he's weaving in between the support cars to try and rejoin his Astana team-mates. 

The group behind the 26 riders out in front has some whopping names in it. Nibali, Pinot, Dennis. And then even further back is Quintana. It's looking good for Froome and Contador up front.

It really it is. It's like a few teams switched off and forgot that someone might make a move. Tinkoff-Saxo look in good shape, with Alberto Contador at the front. Chris Froome has good Team Sky numbers around him too. So it's a chance for the pair to put time between themselves and their yellow jersey rivals.

I've cycled in a bit of wind and rain myself. I often find it's easier and quicker to just to get off and push. Does that make me a bad person?

Although it's brightened up now along the coastal road.

Lotto-Soudal are dragging the peloton on, with Mark Cavendish and his Etixx-Quick Step team-mates in the mix. But they've shrugged off a few more big names, with Vincenzo Nibali now in another group off the front along with Thibaut Pinot and yellow jersey wearer Rohan Dennis

A second group has splintered slightly off the back and there's a few Movistar and Team Sky jerseys in there, which is bad news for Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome, who will want team-mates to help them through to the finish. The rain and wind will make it tough to catch up.