Etixx - Quick-Step's Matteo Trentin has a dig off the front of the lead group. The 25-year-old, who won stages in 2013 and 2014, is positively hurtling along.

Meanwhile, the group of 23 stragglers including Mark Cavendish is 12 minutes back.   

Stephen Roche, who won the race in 1987, has had his say on the abuse being aimed at yellow jersey wearer Chris Froome and speculation that he might be doping.

"With Chris there's no foundation," said Roche. "It's pure jealousy and speculation.

"I'm very disappointed in the reaction of the media. There's no reason whatsoever to make a scandal out of so little information.

"There's never (before) been anybody so transparent."

Froome, by the way, has had a quiet, steady day so far tucked in the main bunch. 

Just for the record Thibaut Pinot was first over the Col de l'Escrinet. Not that the sprint was in any way contested.

Text 81111 or use #bbccycling

Image source, AP

The main group have now gone over the day's final climb. They are less than 90 seconds behind the breakaway. Surely they cannot stay away?

The Cavendish group are 10 minutes behind the lead group, who have just gone over the summit of the category two Col de l'Escrinet.

I wonder if there is any danger of them being timed out? There are 23 riders in the Cav group and they would have to double their deficit for that to be an issue.

I don't know. You work for it all your life, you train all year, you get selected for your team, you slog your way around France and the cows do not even give you the courtesy of watching you ride past.

Just rude.

Of course, it was different in the Pyrenees, when the cows wandered on to the road during one descent.

Image source, AP

See 13:28 for more details...

Image source, AP

Any views a good view. Blink and you'll miss it mind.

Drinks being taken on board. It is another hot day, humid today rather than outright baking hot. The lead group are 8km from the top of Col de l'Escrinet. 

TV pictures showing the Ardeche river. I once went on a two-week holiday with my school down that way. It was the coach journey without end, starting as we did in Preston. I thought we'd cracked it once we rolled into Calais. Not so.... 

Ever been to watch the Tour? Tell us about it.

Text 81111 or use #bbccycling

Image source, AP

The breakaway of nine are hurtling towards the category two climb up Col de l'Escrinet. Once over there they will look to rattle along the flat 55km or so to the finish, trying to stave off the chasing pack.

The main group is less than two minutes behind, with the Cavendish group a further six minutes back. 

Michael Rogers had a flat trye but recovered in time to lead out Tinkoff-Saxo team-mate Peter Sagan as they approached the day's intermediate sprint in Aubenas.

No surprise to see Sagan cross first and claim more points for the green jersey. He is like pacman, hoovering up dots all over the place.

So, if the pure sprinters do not come to the fore today we can forget all about them until the race ends in Paris next Sunday.

The Cavendish group is more than eight minutes behind the breakaway.

I'd imagine there are a few sprinters in the main bunch (five minutes ahead of the Cav group) who will be dead-set on catching the breakaway. Perhaps Alexander Kristoff of Team Katusha? His team were working hard before to put time between them and Cavendish before.

Image source, Tour de France

Team Sky rider Geraint Thomas has been taking us through the Tour stage by stage - here are his thoughts on today's action.

"This will be another stage where teams like Sagan's Tinkoff-Saxo and Matthews' Orica-GreenEdge will look to distance the pure sprinters to set up the stage win for themselves."

You'd have to say that the pure sprinters are not looking a good bet for the stage right now - or at least Mark Cavendish isn't

I've heard it suggested that Team Sky are suffering the long-term consequences of the dopers of the past, that there is now almost an automatic suspicion around any Tour success story.

Are what the fans doing spoiling the beautiful race, as Mark Cavendish suggests below?

Text 81111 or use #bbccycling