Image source, Mark Ansell

David Lewis from Glossop says: "It's just so amazing to have a global sporting event in such beautiful surroundings in the Pyrenees. The French have such a passion for the sport. I can't wait for the riders to get here and see who comes up the climb first."

And when the pain of the Tourmalet is over, the riders will make their way to the finish at Cauterets Vallee De Saint-Savin. 

Image source, Gemma Sterba

This was supposed to be a good year for Frenchman Romain Bardet. Apparently he has sunstroke and is being sick on his bike.

The seven-man breakaway are making their way up the Tourmalet and have a handy seven-minute lead. Looking good for one of the seven to grab some glory.

Team Sky happy to control the main bunch. One thing is for sure, we're a little lower on the drama-ometer than we were yesterday.  

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Don't forget, you'll be able to listen to the final stages of today's action on Radio 5 live sports extra - and indeed on this website - from 15:00 BST.

Simon Brotherton and Rob Hayles will be on duty for that one. 

But if you simply cannot wait that long then check out the latest podcast from the guys as Simon, Rob and Matt Slater discuss yesterday's stage and the state of the race.

The main group has just gone over the top of the Col d'Aspin. They are seven minutes behind the breakaway. All of which makes me think that the leading group of seven may well stay away - which begs the question, having worked so hard to get up to them, is this a day for Dan Martin?

Another abandon with AG2R La Mondiale's Johan Vansummeren pulling out. I make that three so far today.

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The impressive Dan Martin is first over the category one Col d'Aspin. That is 10 potentially valuable King of the Mountain points for the Cannondale-Garmin rider.

Image source, @CarrefourFrance

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Chris Froome, by the way, is looking pretty comfortable towards the front of the peloton with plenty of his Team Sky team-mates controlling the pace. 

And as Arnaud Demare drops out of the lead group of seven, Dan Martin joins them.

Dan Martin is really putting it in here, trailing the breakaway group of seven by less than a minute now, with all the hard work done heading up the Col d'Aspin.

It looks very hot today, with temperatures pushing 30C. There are 75km to go - but the Col du Tourmalet between now and the finish. The Tour goes over it for the 80th time today.

Andy just does not look like he is having fun. James does.

Image source, Reuters

Chris Froome's spectacular ride on Tuesday came on the same day that it had been revealed Team Sky had been hacked by critics convinced the 30-year-old is using performance-enhancing drugs.

Froome is of course adamant that his achievements have nothing to do with doping.

And he plans to be independently tested between the Tour's finish and the Vuelta a Espana, which begins on 22 August, to try to determine what makes him such an exceptional athlete.

"I do understand where the questions are coming from, the history of the sport and the people before me who have won the Tour," said Froome.

"I am sympathetic, but at the same time there needs to be a certain level of respect also."

Did Forrest Gump do that one?

Cannondale-Garmin's Dan Martin is determined to catch up with the leading seven, so much so that he has shed Andriy Garvin. Martin is about two-and-a-half minutes back as he makes his way up the Col d'Aspin.

Yesterday, in the spirit of the Tour reaching the mountains, I asked for your memories of hauling yourselves up the slopes.

Thanks very much to all of you who contributed - some of the photos were amazing. In fact, we had so many that it was tricky to get them all in. So, I'm going to publish some more of them today - and please do keep them coming.

If anyone has been up the Col d'Aspin or the Col du Tourmalet, do tell us just how hard (or easy) you found it. I just love the photo from Tim below... 

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