As soon as Elvin drops in, her Orica AIS team-mate Lizzie Williams takes up the impetus. Team Liv's Floortje Mackaij goes with her.

Meanwhile, Gracie Elvin, who had been 20 seconds clear at one point, is about to get sucked back into the peloton.

Image source, Getty Images

Ouch!published at 13:42

13:42

38.2km to go

That's the fourth crash of the day by my count. USA's Shelley Olds, who is expected to challenge for her Ale Cipollini team, has clipped a wheel and gone down. She's straight back up though and moving again.

Image source, Reuters

We'll focus on La Course for now, but it would be remiss of me not to mention this guy early doors.

It was thrilling stuff in the end, but Chris Froome will become Britain's first multiple Tour winner today.

There is plenty of reaction on the BBC Sport website, but why not start here and read about how the Team Sky rider feared the yellow jersey was slipping away on that arduous climb up Alpe d'Huez.

The peloton comes past the Arc de Triomphe with Orica-AIS rider Gracie Elvin mounting a break. She's pulled away somewhat. The Australian could well be launching a platform for her Swedish team-mate Emma Johansson later in the race.

Lizzie Armitstead is safely placed at the front of the peloton, which is definitely the place to be at the moment. She has Australia's Tiffany Cromwell alongside her.

Ouch!published at 13:27

13:27

48.6km to go

Another crash. It shows you how treacherous it is on these Parisian roads.

USA rider Maura Kinsella's wheel just comes out from under her on the wet surface and she takes one other don with her.

With Chris Froome's latest achievement in mind, BBC Sport's Matt Slater has given a countdown of his own top 10 British cyclists of all time.

It's all opinion of course, and we're sure you'll have your own ideas.

So why not tell us your top three British cyclists? Use #bbccycling and explain your thinking.

Image source, Other

If you bagsied your place early in Paris today, you will have earned yourself double the fun. These Welsh fans are there to see Geraint Thomas come through with the Tour later - but in the mean time they're being treated to a chaotic women's race.

The bunches are all over the place, although we're starting to get a bit more order, with stragglers filing on to the back of what I guess could be called a peloton.

Most riders are back on their bikes after that crash, but it has held quite a few up. Britain's Lucy Garner was caught up in it and is trying to get back up to the pack - her team Liv-Plantur will be trying to slow down the pace.

Last year's runner-up Kirsten Wild was also affected.

You're probably aware that there has been a bit of commotion in Paris this morning.

At around 08:00 local time a car tried to crash through a security barrier in the Place de la Concorde.

Police opened fire and car sped off. There is no suggestion of terrorism as a motive.

In fact, our BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield suggests it might have been a reveler on the way home after a night out.

It should't impact racing.  Read the latest here.

The BBC's Sharon Fuller is at the race with the British-based Matrix team, and she has a good view of the crowds, as well as the cyclist's nemesis - the cobbles.

To make matters worse, it's raining pretty heavily, which might have caused the crash. The Parisian streets look as slippy as soap.

Here was Lizzie beforehand. She will be looking for better luck this year, after being knocked off her bike in 2014.

Ouch!published at 13:04

13:04

And there's been drama already. A few minutes ago this happened at the back of the bunch. We'll try and get a few more details.

Image source, Getty Images

Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of events in and around Paris today.

There is action already afoot as the second running of La Course by Le Tour is under way.

It's 89km of 13 intense laps around the centre of Paris with a finish on the Champs-Elysees.

Defending champion Marianne Vos is not competing in the French capital, but Britain's Lizzie Armitstead is among the favourites