Postpublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
115km to go
No word yet on who made it to the front of the leading group for the intermediate sprint, but I'll let you know when I get the results through.
Summary
Chris Froome wins stage eight to take yellow jersey
Champion escapes on final descent in stunning fashion
Going over the top I thought 'why not'? - Froome
Froome 'didn't expect' to be in yellow
Adam Yates second overall and retains white jersey
Get involved: #bbccycling
Postpublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
Catch up with the 5 live podcastpublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
Don't forget that you can catch up with all yesterday's events and get a preview for stage eight via our brilliant BBC Radio 5 live podcast, with our crack team of cycling experts OJ Borg, Rob Hatch and Rob Hayles.
Between consuming Coq au vin and Beaujolais*, the lads discuss whether Steve Cummings should be at the Olympics, how he has developed into a supreme rider at the age of 35, and whether Adam Yates can turn his brilliant start into a yellow jersey challenge.
I cannot recommend it enough.
*maybe
Postpublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
120km to go
That breakaway has now increased to 13 riders with 3km to go until the intermediate sprint.
Don't forget that Mark Cavendish still leads the standings in the race for the green jersey but he is not among that pack, which has a 25 second lead over the peloton.
Postpublished at 12:42 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
124km to go
Dani Navarro (Cofidis), Tom Dumoulin (Giant) and Michael Chérel (AG2R) have broken free of the peloton with the intermediate sprint stage approaching.
Navarro, then breaks clear of that trio to lead.
Can Van Avermaet stay in yellow?published at 12:38 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
Image source, Getty ImagesBMC's Greg van Avermaet had another brilliant day in the yellow jersey yesterday, attacking from the front to still lead the Tour.
But the Belgian did admit he would find it hard to string two days together in the Pyrenees and stage eight looks like another gut-buster.
He said on Friday: "Tomorrow is above my profile. I can survive one climb, but when the guys from the general classification go for it, it's done."
When he says "it", I presume he means "I'm".
'Circle of death'published at 12:32 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
Postpublished at 12:27 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
136km to go
Before the riders peddle up the Col du Tourmalet, there is an intermediate sprint after 67 km, and perhaps with that in mind Peter Sagan makes a little break but the winner of stage two is reeled back in by the pack.
What are the GC standings?published at 12:23 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
So after Adam Yate's collision with the inflatable marker these are the revised standings in the general classification.
1. Greg van Avermaet (Bel/BMC Racing) 34hrs 9mins 44secs
2. Adam Yates (GB/Orica-BikeExchange) +5mins 50secs
3. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra/Etixx-Quick-Step) +5mins 51secs
4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +5mins 53secs
5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) +5mins 54secs
6. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +5mins 57secs
7. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) same time
8. Warren Barguil (Fra/Giant)
9. Pierre Rolland (Fra/Cannondale)
10. Daniel Martin (Ire/Etixx-Quick-Step)
Postpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
142km to go
Over 40km gone on today's stage, but don't worry there hasn't been much to report. We've seen a couple of early attacks, firstly by polka dot jersey holder Thomas De Gendt, and then Team Dimension Data riders Bernhard Eisel and Serge Pauwels after 28kms, but the peloton is rididng all together now.
How does stage eight shape up?published at 12:14 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
Image source, Tour de FranceOur second day in the Pyrenees sees the first haut category climb of the Tour - the world famous Col du Tourmalet in a stage which covers 184km (113.7 miles), starting from Pau.
There are two category one climbs, and a second category to follow before a descent into the finish at Bagneres-de-Luchon.
In our stage-by-stage guide to the Tour, Team Sky's Geraint Thomas says: "We've been to see some of the finishing descents but we've done nothing special. Going downhill is part of bike racing and I don't think these two days of descents to the finish will cost you the Tour unless you make a big mistake. I don't think the race will be blown apart today, although it will be tough with four climbs."
By the way, Thomas tipped Steve Cummings to win on Friday, and has gone for Thibaut Pinot today, although FDJ's highly-regarded rider had a stinker yesterday, losing almost three minutes.
Postpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
This from our man Rob Hatch, who will part of our commentary team, starting at 15:00 BST on Radio 5 live sports extra.
You'll be pleased to know it's been belting it down in Salford, Rob. Bonne journee!
Thomas has a bump but stage eight is gopublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
After a few bumps in the neutral zone - the first few kilometres of the race designed to avoid crashes through narrow streets - stage eight got under way at 11:20 BST.
Apparently Team Sky's Geraint Thomas was one of those to crash, but his altercation with Ag2r La Mondiale's Jan Bakelants did not result in any injuries and the Welshman is back on the bike safely.
Yates collides with inflatable markerpublished at 12:08 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
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End of twitter postIf you haven't seen what happened to Britain's Adam Yates then I urge you to look at the video above. You can see it here, external if you are reading on the app.
The 23-year-old, who has been right in the general classification mix, eked out a seven-second lead on the peloton, but then was taken out by the inflatable 1km-to-go marker!
The Orica-BikeExchange rider went flying, and initially appeared to lose time on his rivals. But organisers have revised the result, taking times from 3km out, so Yates is now second in the general classification, five minutes 50 seconds adrift of Greg van Avermaet, who wears the yellow jersey.
Yates, who could turn into one of the stories of this year's Tour, has a few stitches in his chin but now holds the white jersey for best young rider.
Image source, afpShould Steve be at the Olympics?published at 12:05 British Summer Time 9 July 2016
Image source, ReutersWhat a win the 35-year-old from the Wirral, who broke free from the field to make it four wins out of seven on this year's Tour for British riders and Team Dimension Data, who also have Mark Cavendish in their ranks.
Steve's brilliant ride also led to questions about whether he should be in the British team for the Rio Olympics, and he wasn't the only Brit who had a headline-grabbing day.
Steve is on fire, Nibali was terrified....published at 12:00
Image source, ReutersNa-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na......
Sorry, couldn't resist! Euro 2016 is almost over.
What a day for Britain's Steve Cummings, who on Friday claimed his second career Tour win with a superb ride up and over the Col d'Aspin on a thrilling stage which had more plotlines than your favourite Scandinavian drama.