Image source, Getty Images

Today could well be a day for the sprinters - the first since Mark Cavendish won stage 7 on 10 July. That feels like an awful long time ago.

That, of course, depends on whether any breakaways are reeled in, yesterday Steve Cummings emerged from a break of 20 to claim his victory.

Today's stage comprises a category two climb, one category three and two category four.

The category three at Cote de Badaroux came after 9.5km and Serge Pauwels of MTN-Qhuebeka was first over the top.

The wildcard team really are having a Tour to remember, with Steve Cummings taking a stage yesterday and Daniel Teklehaimanot wearing the polka dot jersey earlier in the race.

Image source, Getty Images

So Chris Froome extended his lead yesterday to three minutes 10 seconds. Nairo Quintana is now second with Tejay van Garderen dropping to third.

Second-placed specialist Peter Sagan remains in the green jersey as the Tour's best sprinter and Quintana wears white as the best young rider.

Team Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez is wearing the polka dot jersey but he is not top of the King of the Mountains standings. No, Froome is topping that list but because he is in yellow, the Spaniard wears the shirt.

Chris Froome is currently safely tucked away in the main bunch as today's stage takes us 183km from Mende to Valence.

There are 27 riders 30 seconds up the road - they include some of the usual suspects such as Peter Sagan (four second places so far this Tour), Thibaut Pinot (who rather blew it at the end yesterday), Joaquim Rodriguez (two stage wins this year) and Rigoberto Uran Uran.

Adam Yates, whose brother Simon was in Saturday's breakaway, also figures. 

Team Katusha are working hard to reel them in. We have had 33km of this stage.

Image source, AP

Take a good, hard look at them. The ones in the centre I mean. They are leading the Tour de France. By some distance.