Image source, EPA

Incredible scenes on the road. Froome, Nibali and Valverde are in this leading group. Peter Sagan has been distanced. Can they keep the speedy Slovakian adrift?

Geraint Thomas, refreshed from taking a quick break, takes up the pace again but the group behind is catching them.

There is a group of around 10 riders clear of the bigger group. Geraint Thomas finally sits up for a breather, leaving Froome out front. Froome flicks an elbow, indicating he wants someone else to take over.

Nibali goes first but he is passed by Zdenek Stybar. Froome goes into Nibali's wheel and then goes past the Italian.

Geraint Thomas chases down Stybar and then looks over his shoulder and waits for Froome and the two of them emerge from the cobbles right at the front. Terrific riding by G.

Will anyone make a dash for it on this final section of pave? Astana again take up the pace, but once more Geraint Thomas is up at fourth wheel and Chris Froome slips in behind him. There are about 40 riders strung out behind. Vincenzo Nibali sidles up alongside Froome. Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana are still in the leading group.

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Team Sky have played a blinder so far."

The riders all look like they've been down a coal mine as they enter the final 15km to the finish. Just one cobble section to come. It's 2.3km long and there will be 7km remaining when they get back on the asphalt.

Matt Slater
BBC Sport at the Tour de France

Image source, Reuters

"As expected, it has all come to life on the cobbled run-in to Cambrai. Chris Froome's rivals have all had a go at trying to put him under pressure but the Team Sky rider's wobbliest moment so far has been when he rode into the gutter on a relatively decent stretch of road.

"It is the French favourites who have been having the hardest time of it, which is ironic given the fact that we are actually in France now.

"Pierre Rolland was dropped by the leaders' pace relatively early but Thibaut Pinot has really been in the wars and was last seen slamming his bike onto the road in frustration. He badly needs a new steed."

Meanwhile, the leaders are off the cobbles. Just one section of Pave remaining. Simon Brotherton reports that Tony Martin is out the back. Unclear whether a puncture or a mechanical for the German. He is just one second behind Chris Froome in the overall race standings remember.

Pinot is off his bike again and he slams it into the side of the road. Frustrations boiling over for the Frenchman. He is three minutes behind the leaders now.

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"I wouldn't imagine it will be bon appetit for the FDJ team when Pinot turns up for tea tonight."

The choking dust will not be helping the riders. At the back of the leading bunch, France's big hope for this year's Tour, Thibaut Pinot, comes to a halt. Looks like a puncture at the worst possible time. Pinot is looking distraught as he gets a shove from his mechanic.

There are about 30 riders in a long line cycling right up the middle of the road. Tinkoff-Saxo put a man on the front. Geraint Thomas is around 12th with Chris Froome still hugging his wheel as they head though the fields of northern France.

It looks like Geraint Thomas is last-Skyman standing with Chris Froome as they get back on to the tarmac. Thankfully no rain and no fallers so far but this is punishing racing as the riders swing right on the penultimate section of cobbles.

Image source, Getty Images

Here we go on the cobbles again. Vincenzo Nibali attacks again but almost rides into the back of Tony Gallopin. The Italian gives the Frenchman a shove in the backside.

John Degenkolb takes up the pace with Geraint Thomas hanging on in there, with Chris Froome following his every move.

Having just typed that, Froome comes within a whisker of being shovelled off his bike. That was close. It was a Katusha rider that nudged him wide and he clipped the kerb before being bounced back into the peloton.

Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome momentarily drop back into the middle of the leading bunch but they drift out to the right and into open road and from a precarious position, they are in position A again.

Pave sector three coming up. It's 1500m long and followed quite quickly by pave two which is 3.7km.

Lotto Jumbo, who have classics specialist Sep Vanmarcke in their midst, storm to the front of the peloton but Nibali is having none of that and puts his Astana boys back up there.

BMC Racing have several riders in the front group, riding for Greg van Avermaert. Geraint Thomas is continuing to show Chris Froome the way. There are a lot of nervous glances around. The second, much larger, bunch on the road is around 35 seconds adrift.

The riders are strung out again. Bad news for Alexander Kristoff who has suffered a puncture. That could end his hopes of a stage win. Andre Greipel, the leader of the points competition, is also losing ground.

Small Man Peaky: This is insanity. Froome is going to need Stannard and G to get him to the safety. I hope Martin gets the yellow. #bbccycling, external

BMC Racing's Greg van Avermaert is looking interested, as is Movistar's Alejandro Valverde. There are about 40-50 riders left in the front group as they career on to pave sector four.