The brave dozen are now 42 seconds in front of the peloton. Will we see a winner from this group? It seems that, by most accounts, today is custom-made for a breakaway winner.

Image source, BBC 5 live

By the way, if you want to relive Thursday's drama, and get a preview of stage seven then can I point you in the direction of our excellent Tour de France podcast?

Presenter OJ Borg, and experts Rob Hatch and Rob Hayles, discuss whether Mark Cavendish is the best sprinter ever, how he matches up to Eddie Merckx and who might fancy a chance at winning today's stage.

You'll feel like an expert afterwards! Just click here to download it and listen at your leisure. 

Ten kilometres gone and the group of 12, including Mark Cavendish, are 32 seconds in front.

The group comprises of: Gorka Izagirre (Movistar), Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana), Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling), Ramunas Navardauskas (Cannondale-Drapac), Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), Jeremy Roy (FDJ), Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Argon 18), Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida), Nicolas Edet and Geoffrey Soupe (Cofidis), Chris Anker Sørensen (Fortuneo-Vital Concept).

We should point out there are sprinters points on offer today before the Col d'Aspin about 25 km from the finish. The intermediate sprint is at Sarrancolin. Mark Cavendish leads the way in the sprinter's category and wears the green jersey today. 

Before we get onto who might win today, we should tell you the riders are off and away on stage seven. After 1.5km, 12 riders are in the lead, including Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan and Rui Costa.

Cav obviously has some adrenaline in his legs from yesterday! 

Image source, Tour de France

As you can see from the stage seven profile, we have our first category one climb, in the shape of the Col d'Aspin, but then there is a swift 7km descent into the finish at Lac de Payolle, which may just favour a breakaway rider or two.

Several experts were suggesting this would be tailor made for Vicenzo Nibili, who can climb well and likes a downhill, but the Italian looks a bit cooked after his success at Giro D'Italia.

So who else could feature today?

Image source, Getty Images

Perhaps Mark Cavendish bust his gut for a third 2016 stage win safe in the knowledge that the next few days he will be out of the limelight. 

That's because today and over the weekend, we are heading to the Pyrenees, where the climbers will be able to flex their muscles. However, today's stage seven has a slight sting in the tail.

Image source, Getty Images

Yes, it was a breathless finish to a hot stage six on Thursday with only five-time Tour winner Eddie Merckx now ahead of Mark Cavendish in terms of career stage wins. 

The Belgian sits on 34 victories, five ahead of Cav, but having witnessed the fierce determination that the Briton possesses, you know that the overall record is within his sights. 

Image source, EPA

"Where did he come from?" 

That was the question posed by our BBC Radio 5 live commentator Rob Hayles as Mark Cavendish peeled out from behind Marcel Kittel and stormed to a 29th Tour de France victory on Thursday.

The answer? Only the Manxman knows.