So to recap: we have a group of four out front: Steve Cummings, Matti Breschel, Antoine Duchesne and Dani Navarro. They will soon be approaching the Col d'Aspin.

Then 25 seconds behind them we have a small chasing pack which includes the yellow jersey, Greg van Avermaet, with Vincenzo Nibali slightly behind them.

Then the peloton is over four minutes in arrears. That includes Team Sky, who may be happy that Nibali is not one of the front runners. 

Good news for British cycling fans. Merseysider Steve Cummings has now joined the front three and they are four minutes 25 seconds ahead of the peloton.

Three riders now lead an attack - Matti Breschel (Cannondale-Drapac), Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie) and Dani Navarro (Cofidis) - breaking clear of the lead out group and they've established a 14 second gap. 

The peloton are a further four minutes back. 

The peloton is reeling in the leaders so Vincenzo Nibali puts his foot down again. He recognises that someone needs to put in a shift if they are to remain ahead of the chasers before the Col d'Aspin. 

Anyone else quite enjoying this? Plot lines everywhere. 

Vincenzo Nibali makes it to the top of the Col de Capvern first to pick up a solitary point in the chase for the King of the Mountains jersey. 

The Italian then leads out a little attack, but is drawn back in by the chasing pack. 

The peloton is four minutes behind the leading group. Movistar are at the front there. 

Image source, EPA

The leaders are up the fourth category climb, the Col de Capvern, with the peloton joining them at the bottom. The gap is four minutes 25 seconds. 

Giro d'Italia winner Vincenzo Nibali, who started the day 14 minutes behind the yellow jersey, is one of those out in front and has much time to claw back. 

But he was only nine minutes behind Chris Froome, and that's what concerns Team Sky. 

Team Sky's sport director Nicolas Portal has been talking to French TV about why his team is pulling the peloton: “We aren't worried by the yellow jersey [Greg van Avermaet]”, he said.

“We're more worried because of Vincenzo Nibali being at the front. We don't want him to bounce back on GC. Everyone has seen at the Giro that he managed to regain a lot of time at the end."   

OJ Borg
BBC Radio 5 live presenter in France

Just bumped into Geraint Thomas's father in law (and Sara's uncle as well) apparently they are over for a few stages and hooking up with G on the bus after the stage.

Rob Hayles responds: "Within the TdF there are several competitions, the white jersey for the best young rider (under 25), the polka dot for the best climber, the green jersey which is contested by the sprinters, and then the ultimate prize in the Tour being the yellow jersey for the best all-round rider. Out of the 198 starters on day one, there are probably only 25 with any intentions of competing for the yellow jersey. The rest are there to aid their team leaders and some will look for individual stage honours."

Rob Hatch replies: "Yes. Contador has had a tough start to this Tour but has proved on numerous occasions that he fights strongly when placed in difficult situations. Latest example being at the 2015 Giro d'Italia where he went down heavily in the first week, damaging his shoulder, but went on to win the overall prize."

The gap between the 29 riders and the peloton has reduced to four minutes 40 seconds. We are about 16km from the start of the first climb of the day, the category four Cote de Capvern.

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They quite like the look of Steve Cummings.  , external

Rob Hayles says: "Definitely. There are two reasons for him to be in this break. One is representation for Team Dimension Data, but also for him more importantly the his second ever win in the Tour de France. He's gained a lot of confidence from his Stage 14 win in last year's TDF, coupled with the overall team morale." 

Tony Martin, one of the lead-out group, has had to change his bike after a mechanical problem but he's still with the other 28 out in front, which includes Team Sky's Vassil Kiryienka from Belarus. 

Their gap has stabilised at five minutes 30 seconds. 

Rob Hatch
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

Changes will come in the general classification this weekend. Today is the opening salvo of a big weekend in the Pyrenees. We climb the legendary Col d'Aspin but it's all about the descent after that. It's tricky, technical, and spectacular we are assured, and riders will have to be careful. Some riders could make mistakes.

Rob Hatch says: "Two or three, depending on if he stays until Paris. With his Olympics preparations in mind, I'm not sure he will stay until the end. But for as long as he's in contention for the green jersey, he'll continue."

A five-minute 40 second gap to the peloton now with Chris Froome's Team Sky in hot pursuit. 

If Tour leader Greg van Avermaet can maintain this gap out at the front with the other 28 riders, he will have an 11-minute advantage tonight. But then we have the category one Col d'Aspin to come, and the Belgian is not renowned as a climber.