All that drama has distacted us from the business of your cycling scenery. Here are a couple to keep us going.

Pierre Rolland has a curious descending style. He's off the seat and crouched as low to the frame as possible, but is sort of skewiff to the left. It's all a bit wonky. Whatever lights your candle I guess. Vincenzo Nibali is 50secs behind.

Eric Fitton:  Cheeky for Nibali to check Froome was in trouble, it was an outrage when Contador half attacked Schleck in 2010

Peter Yates:  Even if Nibali didn't know it was a mechanical at the time, surely he knows now from the radio. Either way he's taking advantage

Dan:  Nibali looked back directly at Froome three times and then accelerated. He knew very well what he was doing.

Watching Vincenzo Nibali descend these curves is a bit like being on one of those virtual machines that make you feel like you're on a rollercoaster. It's precarious stuff using every inch of the road,, in fact he almost clips a stone wall - head down, eking out seconds. The reigning champion fancies a stage win.

We're over the top of the summit and the yellow jersey group whizzes into the hairpins, with Alejandro Valverde leading, Wouter Poels behind him and then Chrus Froome.

Vincenzo Nibali is 47secs up the road and is 59secs off leader Pierre Rolland.

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist

"Nibali knew exactly what was going on. It wasn't just Froome he was attacking. There are six other guys he wants to make time up on."

Alain Taylor:  That's a disgrace by nibali. You don't attack your GC rivals when they have a technical  

Graham Dobson:  Nibali using the win at all costs angle there

 I'm the dude:  Except wait - how far back could he see? He was already on the attack and Froome's mechanical was unseeable - roll the tape

Image source, Getty Images

Vincenzo Nibali started the day 8mins 4secs behind the yellow jersey. If he can build on that gap, he will climb places.

Chris Froome is still in the group with Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde.

Drama. Award winning drama. Vincenzo Nibali is not going to wait for Chris Froome to get his chain back on. Is that fair? It's exciting regardless.

Nibali is 25 seconds ahead of Froome.

I may have mixed up my Albertos and Alejandros a moment ago. Pretend you never saw that. Thanks.

Wouter Poels digs deep and just about keeps Valverde within touching distance. There will be no gap just yet, but how much damage has that done to Poels and, maybe even Chris Froome?

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And he's away. He's gone. Wouter Poels is at the front of the yellow jersey group and he doesn't panic - they should reel him in on the descent.

Alejandro Valverde was 4mins 9secs off Froome in the GC at the start of the day.

A bit of relief for Chris Froome as Wouter Poels rejoins the group. He looks like he might squeeze himself dry in support of Froome.

Here goes Alejandro Valverde...

First: Rohan Dennis

Rigoberto Uran, Ruben Plaza +1min 51secs

Yellow jersey group +2mins 32secs

Ted:  Any chance Sky are faking fatigue to come back stronger on the final climbs???

 Paul Mulligan:  No teammates for #Froomey - it's going to be a tough day in the Alps. Astana, Tinkoff and Movistar could all make up some time.

Image source, EPA

Geraint Thomas has ceded fourth place in the virtual GC standings to Alberto Contador.

Chris Froome pours liquid down his throat and kicks on again. There's still a few km to the top.

Wouter Poels does not have the legs. He's gone. Chris Froome is entirely by himself without team-mates. Vincenzo Nibali smells blood and is off. And where's Nairo Quintana? Like an expert ninja he sneaks quietly out of nowhere. Froome is clinging on.

It's Wouter Poels who is proving Chris Froome's go-to man again, as the pair tuck in behind a two Astana jerseys. The increase in pace is causing carnage down the road, men dropping off all over the place.