Team Sky are now hitting the front. Maybe it's a little safer there as the roads narrow but there are a few riders who asking everyone to chill a little bit. The stress is ramping up. 

BMC and Direct Energie are punching towards the front of the peloton. Team Sky a little further back out of trouble. Pushing, pushing, pushing.

This finish is going to be tasty. 

Sorry Matt. I'm sure you'll have nae bother. 

The riders are sweeping their way through some technical looking roundabouts as they head towards the finish in Montauban.

Unless there are any accidents, it looks like Greg van Avermaet will be in yellow tomorrow. Don't forget his lead is over five minutes. 

I feel sorry for the poor lads. 

Rob Hayles answers: "No, because other General Classification teams will be happy BMC have taken the jersey due to the fact that Greg will not survive the mountains in yellow."

Jan Barta (Bora-Argon) and Yukiya Arashiro (Lampre-Merida) have been out front 4km from the start, but now with 21km left, they are sucked into the pack.

I'm torn between whether they should even bother, but I guess if you don't try then you'll never know. Good effort lads, they'll sleep well tonight. 

Not funny! 

The Direct Energie team are hitting the front of the peloton, in an attempt to put in the hard yards in for Bryan Coquard ahead of the finish. Only inches separated France's Coquard from stage four victory but he was beaten by Etiix-Quick-Step's Marcel Kittel.

Seventeen seconds between the leaders and the main pack now. 

Our BBC Radio 5 live commentators Rob Hatch (sleeveless) and Rob Hayles (sweating it out) are in place for the end of stage six. 

Don't forget they are live on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, which you can listen to at the top of this page. 

Image source, BBC Sport

The peloton are up and over the last climb and in hot pursuit of leaders Jan Barta (Bora-Argon) beats Yukiya Arashiro (Lampre-Merida), who are tucking into every descent to try and maintain their 41 second lead. 

Good luck lads, you're about to get swallowed. 

Image source, EPA

Another reminder that it was a tough day yesterday for two-time champion Alberto Contador and this year's Giro D'Italia winner Vincenzo Nibali.

Contador, 33, has injuries after crashes in the first two stages, and was six and a half minutes behind the yellow jersey holder at the start of stage six. 

Nibali was dropped by the peloton and dragged himself to the finish eight minutes and 28 seconds behind the general classification contenders.

They are both in the peloton today so will not make up any significant time but we are in the Pyrenees tomorrow. 

Our man Rob Hayles answers: "Chris is a marked man, as is Nairo Quintana, but he doesn't have to defend the jersey at the moment. If you have the yellow jersey, you are obliged to do much more work both on and off the bike. You have to do many more media interviews, and they are distractions you can do without at this stage."

TV pictures are showing a couple playing chess on the edge of a cliff-face. Not sure how they got there, but top marks for derring-do! 

needless to say, the helicopter camera person is in for the metaphoric kill! 

Leader Jan Barta (Bora-Argon) beats Yukiya Arashiro (Lampre-Merida) to the top of the climb and the gap is at about 45 seconds.

The leaders are halfway up the last climb of the day, the Cote de Saint Antonin Noble Val, while the peloton begin their ascent. The gap is down to about one minute. 

After a day of sheer slog, this is where you start to flag.