But it's very much this man's day.

Greg van Avermaet is the stage winner and yellow jersey man. How long can he keep it for?

We're done for the day here. Keep across the BBC Sport website for the BBC Radio 5 live BeSpoke podcast later tonight - it will be packed full of reaction and fun times.

Also, check out Geraint Thomas' stage-by-stage guide for the lowdown on tomorrow's action.

I'm out the saddle for a few days, so it will be Alistair "Big Al" Magowan to take you through the stage.

Au revoir!

You have to think the main contenders and the peloton were caught out today.

The only saving grace is Van Avermaet is not expected to challenge for the yellow jersey.

Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana, Fabio Aru, Romain Bardet, Tejay van Garderen and Pierre Rolland are all level - 5mins and 17secs off the leader.

Alberto Contador is 6mins 38secs off the yellow jersey.

And poor Vincenzo Nibali looks to be around 15 minutes off the pace.

Image source, Le Tour

Joe Bainborough: Such a good effort from Van Avermaet! Had my money on Majka but can't help but be impressed by that performance

Image source, Reuters

Greg van Avermaet takes possession of the yellow jersey, meaning BMC will have held the maillot jaune for five days in their nine-year Tour history.

Greg van Avermaet has a 5min 11secs lead over Julian Alaphilppe in the general classification.

Then Alejandro Valverde is 2secs further back, Joaquim Rodriguez is 1sec further back and then it's Chris Froome with 12 other riders on +5mins 17secs.

Gregg Coull: Contador clearly not recovered from his crashes. Hope he gets back to form to keep it more exciting later on in the tour.

Andrew Harvey: Brilliant from Van Avermaet! Epic stage win and yellow jersey to match! Well done son 

Rafal Majka will get four bonus seconds for coming third.

What sort of plonker takes a flare to the cycling?

A replay of Van Avermaet's burst for home shows that someone chucks a red-smoked flare in his way.

Stupidity of the stupidest order.

If you thought Alberto Contador was having a bad day, Vincenzo Nibali is yet to finish.

Here come the main contenders over the line in a bunch - Froome and Quintana in the same group. About five minutes behind the leader.

Poor Alberto Contador is seconds off the back, possibly even 15 seconds. He looks like he's been through a blender, tortuous.

A moment of panic for Team Sky.

Movistar's Quintana and Valverde try to break free. Sky react and Chris Froome clings on to the pair.

That move changed little up front but it seems Contador has lost touch off the back as they go into the final descent.

Meanwhile, it's a Belgian one-two with Thomas de Gendt crossing in second. He will take the plka dot jersey.

Romain Bardet has decided to ruffle the peloton and is trying to steal a march.

Valverde is quickly out to mark him.

A second career individual stage win for Greg van Avermaet.

He's led from almost start to finish.

A look over the shoulder, a fist in the air.

And he crosses the line, pointing fingers at his chest.

Yes, it's your day, sir. Well done.

Just stay on your bike Greg.

These downhill hairpins are terrifying, particularly when you have a motorcycle up your backside.

Only a fall can scupper the Belgian now.

Greg van Avermaet confidently sweeps over the line of the final climb and takes maximum points.

But in 2.6km time, there is an even more glorious prize awaiting - a shiny yellow jersey.

The group with Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana is actually drifting by a few seconds. The gap has crept up to 6mins 7secs.

Froome's Team Sky are at the front of the peloton, trying to claw back time.

Thomas de Gendt has been awarded the most aggressive prize for the day.

i'm no expert, but i'd say the fella who aggressively left De Gendt for dead a few minutes ago would be my pick.

Greg van Avermaet is 4.7km from home. He's on his last climb and the gap to the GC contenders is steadying around six minutes.