Image source, Getty Images

They are off the cobbles and this is like the finish to a one-day classic. No sizeable gaps opening up. Zdenek Stybar of Etixx - Quick-Step takes up the pace and he is joined by team-mate Matteo Trentin, while Mark Cavendish is also up there. Will they be successful in getting Tony Martin into yellow?

I can see the white sunglasses of Geraint Thomas in about fourth wheel.

The breakaway is swallowed up and Vincenzo Nibali immediately goes on the attack with his Astana team-mates. Ian Stannard and Geraint Thomas respond. And Chris Froome muscles his way into sixth place in the line.

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Team Sky's Ian Stannard swings across in front of an Astana rider to take on the peloton pace-setting. Chris Froome, like he is on a leash, is inches behind. Geraint Thomas also up at the front. The Welshman loves the cobbles and is the perfect man to chaperone Froome as they enter sector five of the pave.

All of the big boys appear to be together though. We are 5km from the next section, which is 1.6km long.

Image source, EPA

Team Sky are alert to the danger and close it down and Nibali sits up. Chris Froome is in the wheel of Ian Stannard and Geraint Thomas is close by. Nervy times for the big general classification riders.

Team Sky have got helpers every 500m along the sections of pave.. Etixx - Quick-Step are leading the way. Tony Martin is the man on the front. Vincenzo Nibali is behind him and as they come off the cobbles, his Astana team-mate gives him a nudge and off they go.

It's reached that time of day where the breakaway is going to be swallowed up, so it's time for a final namecheck as they enter the second of today's seven cobbled sections.

The men in the break are: Lieuwe Westra (Astana), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) who initiated the breakaway, Perrig Quemeneur (Europcar) and Frederic Brun (Bretagne-Seche Environnement).

There are clouds of dust being whipped up by the motorbikes and cars.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

BBC Sport's Gemma Sterba is with Rob and Si in the commentary booth. She's just emailed in to tell me: "Just been on the coffee (and cookie run) for the boys. Few rain drops... couple of brollies going up. Wish I hadn't left my jacket in the car now."

There has been a crash or two in the peloton. Nothing major. A slightly damp road and a tight right-hander to blame. It was a low-pace crash and there are no casualties.

At the back Britain's Movistar rider Alex Dowsett is down and he has a bloodied elbow. He will get back on though. The leaders are just one minute clear as Vincenzo Nibali's Astana team up the pace.

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The list of potential winners today is long. Peter Sagan, John Degenkolb, Greg van Avarmaert, Tony Gallopin, Tony Martin.

And in the bigger picture, will Vincenzo Nibali be able to get any time back on race leader Chris Froome? How will Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana fare? We are about to find out folks.

Serious race heads on in the peloton. Andre Greipel, in his bright green points leader jersey decides the pace is not high enough, and he stomps on his pedals. He is looking to repay the help he has been given so far in the race - maybe Tony Gallopin is the man he is working for.

Simon Brotherton
Cycling commentator on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"One or two spits and spots of rain landing on the window."

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The pace is being lifted in the peloton and all the teams are organising their trains. Team Sky are hugging the left-hand side of the road. Alberto Contador's Tinkoff-Saxo boys are down the middle with Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde's Movistar.Kristoff's Katusha down the right. Just 10km to the cobbles.

Rob Hayles reminds us that the general calculation for catching a break is one minute for every 10km. So the four escapees, who are three minutes clear, have little chance of making it to the finish. Although, if the cobbles get damp...

Now, from a neutral point of view, a bit of wet would spice things up nicely for the finish. I'm not suggesting I want anybody to come off and get injured but a couple of slips and slides would liven up the final 50km.

I can guarantee none of the riders will want it. The sky is slate grey though...

Simon Brotherton
Cycling commentator on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Looking up to the skies, I'd say it's 50-50 as to whether it rains at the finish before the riders get here."

Rob Hayles adds: "It's a big game changer if it does rain. It makes the cobbles extremely slippery."

The leading quartet are continuing along their merry way, tapping out a decent pace. Their lead is still around three minutes as they approach 65km to go. Just 20km to the next section of pave.

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

Rob found a bit of coverage from the big crash on yesterday's stage, seen through the eyes of a Lotto NL Jumbo mechanic. It's an interesting insight, external into life at the Tour.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Jess Parsons (14:43) will no doubt be pleased to hear that 'Big Si' is up and running on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra. Mr Brotherton is joined in the commentary booth by Rob Hayles. Click on the link above to listen in.

Ieuan Llyr Jones: (re Elliot 14:27): Big Mig did. 1992. Won the prologue, lost next day. Won it back 11 days later. #bbccycling, external

Mark Williams: In addition to Nibali last year, also Lance Armstrong in 1999, 2002, 2004 & 2005. Not that they count any more!

Big Mig is five-time Tour winner Miguel Indurain, the only rider (since Lance Armstrong's seven on the trot were deleted from the record books) to win five successive races. The Spaniard was dominant from 1991-95.