Team Sky's Peter Kennaugh is alongside Prudhomme's car and there are discussions being held. Prudhomme suddenly decides that racing is back on and Kennaugh takes off like a startled hare.

There is more confusion though with riders gesticulating wildly at the Prudhomme's car. The latest I have is that they are stopping the race at the foot of the first categorised climb of the day.

Image source, AFP

There has been a second crash further down the road and race organiser Christian Prudhomme has climbed up out of the sunroof of his car and waved his arms to neutralise the race.

The race is being neutralised.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

We have live commentary of the closing stages of today's race on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra. Simon Brotherton is just starting up, and he is accompanied by Rob Hayles. You can listen to their thoughts by clicking the relevant links on this page.

A massive crash on the right-hand side of the peloton. There are several riders down from the Lotto Jumbo team, Orica GreenEdge's Daryl Impey is down. And race leader Fabian Cancellara is also down.

The leading quartet are about to be gobbled up by the peloton. The lead is down to 20 seconds with a little over 60km remaining. Alberto Contador's Tinkoff-Saxo team is doing a lot of the legwork on the front of the peloton.

They have two men who could do well today. Contador may fancy trying to nick back a few of the 60 seconds he trails Chris Froome by. However, Peter Sagan has his eyes on a bigger prize. The stage win and the overall lead. Can he do it?

Image source, Getty Images

Mike Daniels: I'm tipping Geraint Thomas for the win. #bbccycling, external

Geraint told BBC Sport that he may go for the stage win today. Much will depend on how the race is panning out and whether he has put his Team Sky leader Chris Froome into a decent position going into the climb.

The final one of those climbs is the famed, and feared Mur de Huy. Famed because it is the finishing climb to La Fleche Wallonne - the one-day Spring Classic - and feared because it features gradients approaching 25%.

Check out Matt Slater's video of one of the corners., external

Bryan Nauleau grabs a handful of energy bars and a bottle from his team car as he sets the pace on the front of the breakaway. But our escapees are slowly being reeled in as the peloton ups the pace.

We have four climbs coming in the final 50km of today's stage and the likes of Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali - the main contenders for the overall race victory - will want to make sure they are well placed and not in danger of losing time to their rivals.

Matt Taggart: Puncheur today? It's hard to look past Sagan getting the green but with bonuses he only needs 23s to get yellow too!

The first shots of Australia's Adam Hansen who is right at the back of the peloton. He dislocated a shoulder in a crash on Sunday but is racing on. That's one big grimace on his face.

His Lotto-Soudal team-mate Tony Gallopin is back at the team car, having some debris removed from his chain. A delicate operation considering he is travelling at 50km/h. A lesser man than his mechanic would be losing a finger.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

My lucky lucky colleagues out in Belgium, who will be bringing you live commentary of the closing stages of today's race on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and this website, from 15:00 BST, have predicted their stage winners.

Lead commentator Simon Brotherton: Alejandro Valverde to win, Fabian Cancellara to stay in yellow.

Summariser Rob Hayles: Michal Kwiatkowski to win, Fabian Cancellara to stay in yellow.

BBC Sport's Matt Slater: Dan Martin to win, Fabian Cancellara to stay in yellow.

Who are you backing? Tweet us #bbccycling, external or text 81111, remembering to put CYCLING at the front of your message and to include your name.

Image source, Getty Images

Bora's Jan Barta jumped off as soon as the riders left the neutralised zone, taking three men with him. His compadres for the third stage are Serge Pauwels of MTN-Qhubeka, IAM's Martin Elmiger and Europcar rider Bryan Nauleau.

Their lead reached about four minutes but is now just under three minutes with 77km remaining as the riders whizz through the feed zone.

It would appear as though there have been a couple of gremlins in the system and you may not have been able to read a lot of what's gone on stage two so far.

Here's a quick update...

Image source, AP

The peloton is spread out across the road indicating that nobody is pushing the pace along significantly at this stage. The main protagonists are all in the shelter of their respective teams as they look to conserve as much energy as they can for the closing stages.

Yellow Jersey
Classification

Here's a reminder of the significant names in the standings after two stages:

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory Racing 3hrs 44mins 01sec

2 Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step +3secs

3 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin +6secs

4 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo +33secs

5 Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky +35secs

6 Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing Team +42secs

7 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step Same time

8 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team +44secs

9 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team +48secs

10 Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky Same time

Selected others:

14 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo +01min 00secs

33 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana +2mins 9secs

44 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar +2mins 27secs

Out on the road, the leading quartet are holding a three-minute advantage over the field, which is being paced by the Astana team of Vincenzo Nibali and the Movistar team of Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde. Team Sky's train over to the left of the road, keeping out of bother.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Here's the thoughts of my esteemed radio colleagues who will be bringing you live commentary of the closing stages of today's race on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and this website, from 15:00 BST.

Lead commentator Simon Brotherton: Alejandro Valverde to win, Fabian Cancellara to stay in yellow.

Summariser Rob Hayles: Michal Kwiatkowski to win, Fabian Cancellara to stay in yellow.

BBC Sport's Matt Slater: Dan Martin to win, Fabian Cancellara to stay in yellow.

So, who is going to win stage three? It's time for you to get involved with today's live. Will the lead change hands again, or can Fabian Cancellara, a classics specialist over the cobbles, rather than the hills, hang on?

Peter Sagan, who is fourth overall, loves short, sharp climbs and will fancy his chances. Britain's Geraint Thomas has earmarked today as one he could go for. Spain's Alejandro Valverde has won La Fleche Wallonne three times - twice in the last two years.

Could the big boys come out to play? Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana both have time to make up. Quintana and Valverde ride for Movistar - will one rider be given the green light?

Tweet me your thoughts #bbccycling, external or text 81111. Please put CYCLING at the start of your text and include your name.

Image source, Getty Images

Tour de France route organisers love to honour their past champions and today is no exception. The peloton is winding its way through the village of Meensel-Kiezegem, the birthplace of cycling legend Eddy Merckx. The Belgian, who won this race a joint record five times, was 70 on 17 June and a statue will be unveiled of the great man later this afternoon.