We have 53km remaining. The lead group, all 28 of them, are all back together. Britain's Adam Yates is there. As are Team Sky riders Richie Porte and Nicholas Roche. Two minutes and 21 seconds behind them is a set of five, including Jan Barta and Michael Rogers. Then there's the yellow jersey group, almost four minutes off the front.  

Bora-Argon rider Sam Bennett has retired. The Irishman was last in the GC.

Serge Pauwels (MTN - Qhubeka), Kristijan Durasek (Lampre-Merida) and Jose Herrada Lopez (Movistar) are the three men leading the race with 65km remaining. They are whizzing down the descent of Col de la Colle-Saint-Michel. Green jersey man Peter Sagan is in the chasing pack.

Image source, AP

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Team Sky and Chris Froome look very relaxed about all these attempted breaks from the peloton, as the summit of Col de la Colle-Saint-Michel looms. Michael Rogers has five with him, but none are GC threats. There's been action up the road too, with three riders pulling away from the lead group. The yellow jersey group is three minutes back.

Hmmm, well it looked like he might give it another go, with team-mate Michael Rogers pulling away from the yellow jersey group, but only Movistar's Adriano Malori has gone with him.

They're testing the nerves of Chris Froome...

It seemed like only a matter of time, but Tejay van Garderen has called it a day. It was getting painful to watch. But it's such a shame for the American, who was up in third in the GC and had far surpassed expectations in this year's Tour.

Meanwhile, Contador is at it again...

This is pretty enthralling. We still have 28 riders, including the unstoppable Peter Sagan, nine minutes in front. Contador has been reined in, but the move has caught out a few in the peloton, with poor old Tejay van Garderen dropped once again after working so hard to get back among the group. He is apparently sick and looks like he's cycling through treacle.

This is what we like to see. Today could be absolutely manic.

Alberto Contador has gone clear of the peloton on the climb up the category-two Col de la Colle-Saint-Michel, and Tinkoff-Saxo team-mate Michael Rogers has gone with him. This is a real show of intent from Contador, who is fifth in the GC.

Image source, Getty Images

If you;re able to sneak your headphones on while at the office, or need something to listen to on the train home, can I suggest downloading the BeSpoke podcast, which was recorded at the end of yesterday's rest day.

It seems the call of nature has come to the rescue of Tejay van Garderen. Many of the yellow jersey group have relieved themselves at the side of the road and before you know it, Van Garderen has made up a three-minute gap and is back in the peloton. Well done sir.

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On Brad's question re Nairo Quintana there, the next three days will hold the answer. There are three Movistar riders in the lead group currently - let's see how well they stick around for Quintana's inevitable push later on today.

The GC contenders remain in the peloton, 2mins and 21secs off the lead group of about 28 riders. Chris Froome's Team Sky team-mates Richie Porte and Nicholas Roche are in that bunch out front.

Tejay van Garderen is hemorrhaging time at the back - he's more than three minutes off the peloton. 

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Lieuwe Westra of Astana has clipped a wheel and takes a spill. He's back up though. Meanwhile, Cannondale's Nathan Haas has pulled out of the race.

BMC directeur sportif Yvon Ledanois has confirmed that Tejay van Garderen is poorly, which will explain why he is struggling in the last group. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to last out the stage.

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Here we go, business is picking up early. Thirty or so riders have pulled away, with Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana, Venconzo Nibali and Alberto Contador among them.

Peter Sagan and Joaquim Rodriguez are in the peloton, while Tejay van Garderen is floundering behind them.

Image source, AP