The peloton are now reaching the top of the climb as several riders make an attack. Steve Cummings is weaving his way down like he's on a rollercoaster. 

He's one minute five seconds ahead. This looks good for the Briton. 

Dani Alvarro and Daryl Impey are now descending too. Vincenzo Nibali follows them 30 seconds later. And now comes yellow jersey Greg van Arvamaet. 

Steve Cummings is flying down ahead of them. Steady now, Steve. 

Steve Cummings has made it to the top of Col d'Aspin. He is over and the 7km descent begins. Dani Alvarro is second with Daryl Impey third, they're both still climbing. How big is the gap?

Steve Cummings is surrounded by fans who are clapping and cheering him up the Col d'Aspin. He has one kilometre to the top. 

Meanwhile Dani Alvarro and Daryl Impey leave Vincenzo Nibali for dead. 

Steve Cummings is grinding his way up this Col d'Aspin as if it's a mere foothill. He's one minute and eight seconds in front now. He has about two kilometres to the top. 

At the back of the peloton, France's Thibaut Pinot is in trouble. 

Image source, BBC Sport

Speaking of Geraint Thomas, how about some advice for climbing the likes of Col d'Aspin from one of the Tour's best?

He gives his nine tips here.

Rob Hayles says: "Vasil Kiryienka being in the break may not have been intentional, he may have just followed one or two wheels. However, having a team-mate up the road with a big climb to come can be advantageous due to the fact that if needed, Kiryienka could drop back to help Froome in the latter stages if he ends up isolated without other team-mates." 

Who is Steve Cummings? The 35-year-old Merseysider won his first Tour stage last year for South African based team MTN-Qhuebeka, and it was made more poignant by occurring on Nelson Mandela day. 

Since then he has won three world tour stages this year. He is clearly on an upward curve and Team Sky's Geraint Thomas picked him to win today in his BBC Sport stage-by-stage guide. 

Greg van Arvamaet is slipping back now, and is one minute 17 seconds behind Steve Cummings. He might well be swallowed up by the peloton. 

But Cummings is going in the opposite direction, his lead is at 48 seconds to Vincenzo Nibali. 

Wow. 

The peloton has swallowed up the rest of the break out group. But Steve Cummings is four minutes ahead of them, and 38 seconds ahead of Vincenzo Nibali's group. 

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist on BBC 5 live sports extra

Steve Cummings will need a good advantage over Vincenzo Nibali at the top of the Col d'Aspin, because the Italian is a good descender. 

Steve Cummings is now heading up the category one climb Col d'Aspin.

Vincenzo Nibali, who is part of the chasing group behind the Briton, is now making an attack but is 22 seconds behind.

Greg van Arvamaet is losing ground. 

Rob Hayles says: They don't compare because they're completely different competitions. Cavendish's job is to win stages, where as Froome's job is to win overall races and the yellow jersey, and in that respect they're both rather successful!"

It's now 27 seconds between Steve Cummings and the chasing group which includes the yellow jersey of Greg van Arvamaet.

The peloton are four minutes 40 seconds behind the man from the Wirral. 

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

We are about go live on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra with Rob Hatch and Rob Hayles. 

Or click on the tab at the top of this page to follow their brilliant commentary. 

This is laughable. Steve Cummings is motoring along, and draws the attention of a Tour de France official, who pulls out a heat gun to check there is literally no motor on the Briton's bike. 

Guess it's a backhanded compliment! 

Image source, EPA

Rob Hatch replies: "Nibali has already lost considerable time, trailing the rest of the favourites by almost 10 minutes. Sky's sport director Nicholas Portal has told French television that Sky are slightly concerned by Nibali's presence in the break, given that he came from quite a long way behind to win the Giro d'Italia. This is why both Sky and Movistar are working together to control the gap, not wanting it to get out of hand."

The breakaway group have been swallowed up by the yellow jersey chasers, except for..... Britain's Steve Cummings!

He's made an attack across the intermediate sprint line through Sarrancolin but that won't matter to him. A stage win is in his sights, although the Col d'Aspin is 6km in the distance. 

Quite a hurdle before the finish. 

OJ Borg and Rob Hayles have been up the top of the Col d'Aspin and have driven down the 7km descent to the finish line in Lac de Payolle and somehow they've captured it on video while driving the route. 

Great insight. Click here, external if you're on the app and you want to watch it.