Froome dominates final 'hors categorie' climb to win stage
All of Froome's rivals lose time, including Quintana, Van Garderen & Contador
Defending champion Nibali dropped early on climb
Gotta say, I'm absolutely loving all your photos from mountains conquered (one way or another). Struggling to get them all in, but panic not because we've got days and days of mountain stages and we can do it all over again tomorrow.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's hot, the lead of the breakaway is coming down all the time and we are getting closer and closer to the bottom of the climb, which is officially listed as starting 15km before the finish, but the incline starts in Arette, 23km from the end.
The Movistar train is on the front.
Kenneth Vanbilsen collected the point when he became the first rider over the day's third category four climb.
We must mention Ivan Basso.
There was some very sad news on Monday's rest day as Tinkoff-Saxo rider Ivan Basso announced that he was pulling out of the race because he has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
One of the most popular riders in the peloton, there was no shortage of support.
Mountain memories
Quote MessageIt's Bastille Day, the press centre staff have just opened up our big tent to let in a breeze and give us a view of the Pyrenees stretching to the west. I'm having an OK day. As are Pierrick Fedrigo and Ken Vanbilsen, today's two swashbucklers out on their own with just a 15km climb with a 7.4% gradient between them and glory. Fedrigo has previous in that regard, winning four Tour stages already in a career spent in mountain-stage breaks. I have a feeling, though, that he will not bag a fifth today. Team Sky's Chris Froome looked and sounded like a man on a mission at the rest-day hotel yesterday, and we are all expecting Movistar's Nairo Quintana to emerge from the sanctuary of the peloton at last. It should be an epic final 30 minutes.
Matt Slater, BBC Sport at the Tour de France
Peter Sagan started today with 213 pts but he has now been leapfrogged by Andre Greipel, who will end the day in green. Nobody expects Daniel Teklehaimanot to hold on to the polka dot jersey.
The big question is whether Chris Froome will stay in yellow.
The lead is now six minutes to the two-man breakaway.
Image source, Getty ImagesMountain memories
Really entering the spirit of the discussion Tom. Great to see.
We've just gone through the intermediate sprint. Points on offer in terms of the green jersey standing.
The two breakaway riders obviously crossed through first and second - but who comes third could have implications for the green jersey.
And Andre Greipel - with two stages wins already - comes third (15pts) with Mark Cavendish in fourth. Peter Sagan came seventh - and that means that German Greipel, who is having quite some Tour, takes green off Sagan.
Feels a bit like waiting for a trip to the dentist, waiting for the riders to get to the bottom of the climb. Pain is coming.
25km till the super serious business starts.
Fascinating to read that Team Sky believe their computers have been hacked by critics convinced Tour de France leader Chris Froome is using performance-enhancing drugs.
Froome has been subjected to sustained scrutiny since his Tour win in 2013, with some sceptics using power data to justify their case against him.
The 30-year-old Briton has always insisted he is a clean rider.
"We think someone has hacked into training data and got Chris's files," said Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford.
"We've got some legal guys on the case."
Not sure we've heard the last of this one. Froome, by the way, is tucked in nicely in the main bunch, surrounded by team-mates.
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
Join Simon and Rob Hayles from 15:00 BST on 5 live sports extra.
We are now in the Basque country, close to Spain. About 45km left, Movistar joined by FDJ at the front of the main bunch, who are nine minutes behind the breakaway.
Thanks to those of you who pointed out that earlier in the live I was just 1,000km or so out with my estimation of how far the race has gone so far.
My son got his school report yesterday. I wasn't surprised when maths was not listed as his core strength.
Before the riders left Tarbes, the BBC's Mark Ansell caught up with Orica-Greenedge's Adam Yates, who is riding the Tour alongside his brother Simon.
"The first week we climbers just get through and survive without any damage, it never really suited me," said Yates. "This is where my race begins. The aim is a stage win in the mountains."
I don't know about you, but everyone seems supercharged for the stage today
Image source, Mark AnsellMountain memories
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
Don't forget you'll be able to listen to live coverage of the latter stages of today's action on both Radio 5 live sports extra and the website from 15:00 BST.
Simon Brotherton and Rob Hayles are out in France and will be taking you through what should be a fascinating climax.
A puncture for Lotto NL-Jumbo's Tom Leezer. Mark Cavendish had a mechanical problem a short while ago but was soon back on his bike.
Good news for Warren Barguil, who has rejoined the main group.
The lead for the two-man breakaway of Kenneth Vanbilsen and Pierrick Fedrigo is now 11 minutes. Movistar - the team of revered Colombian climber Nairo Quintana - are doing a lot of the work at the front.
Nairo fancy his chances today?
Image source, Getty ImagesJust a quick reminder of how things stand in the race after the rest day.
Team Sky's Chris Froome leads the yellow jersey classification, 12 seconds clear of BMC's Tejay van Garderen. Alberto Contador is more than a minute behind Froome, Nairo Quintana is just shy of two minutes behind and defending champion Vincenzo Nibali two minutes 22 seconds adrift.
There is an intermediate sprint at Trois-Villes. Peter Sagan is currently in green with 213 points, although Andre Greipel has 210.
Eritrean Daniel Teklehaimanot is still in the King of the Mountain's jersey. He has four points. There are 50 - yes 50 - available for today's stage winner.