Image source, Getty Images

Because we've lost the last 6km of today's stage, we won't retrace the wheel rotations of Chris Froome's remarkable win on Mount Ventoux three years ago, when he left rival Nairo Quintana for dead with 1.5km to go on stage 15.

Fabio Aru is with the support car again and is picking up another bike - that's possibly his 97th of the day (I think it's actually fourth). He's back in the peloton though.

A man who isn't, is Thibaut Pinot in the polka dot jersey - he's drifted off the back.

Ouch.

Look at these numbers.

Simon Gerrans was travelling at 56.3km/h (35mph) when he went a tumbling.

And because the peloton has slowed, the breakaway group have been able to stem the time they were hemorrhaging. The gap has steadied at 9mins 30secs and maybe, for the first time today, we could consider the possibility of a breakaway member winning this stage.

Simon Gerrans was able to get back on his bike and rejoin the peloton. He looks shaken though - he bumped hard into that barrier.

No sign of Ian Stannard though, who possibly came off worst. Team Sky may have to do without him today.

So, this crash has had some knock-on effects.

The yellow jersey group was essentially neutralised to allow the fallen riders time to get back in the mix.

Chris Froome too the opportunity to take a comfort break - but the second peloton group have taken the initiative and are back in the main bunch.

Orica's Simon Gerrans was taking a right-hander on the descent, leading the group, and completely misjudged the turn and lost his bike from under him.

He slides across the road and into the metal barrier. But Team Sky's Ian Stannard can't take evasive action and goes over Gerrans' stricken bike.

Ouch!published at 14:47 British Summer Time 14 July 2016

14:47 BST 14 July 2016

30.3km to go

Simon Gerrans, leading the yellow jersey bunch, has taken a nasty tumble.

The peloton is on the descent from Col des Trois Termes, while the breakaway is up the road, facing the prospect of one of the toughest climbs in cycling and considering whether it's too late to turn around and do a vineyard tour instead.

Here's a reminder of how the general classification looked at the start of the day...

Image source, Le Tour

The group that fell off the back of the peloton - which includes Thibaut Pinot, Peter Sagan and Warren Barguil - is 1min 45secs adrift of the yellow jersey group.

Chris Froome, Adam Yates and Nauro Quintana are eight minutes behind the leaders.

And it's Thomas de Gendt who is first to the top of Col des Trois Termes, to make it two from two on the climbs for the Belgian today.

Handy king of the mountains points snaffled.

Before you know it, there's another summit upon us.

The top of the category three Col des Trois Termes is approaching...

Andre Greipel, a sprinter when we categorise these things, is climbing with the best of them in the breakaway group.

Yes, his style might be a bit more ungainly, but he's cracking on nonetheless.

That group are 8mins 31secs ahead of the Chris Froome group.

Thomas de Gendt, who was with Greg van Avermaet in the breakaway for so long on stage five, is the first to the summit of Cote de Gordes - that gives him maximum king of the mountain points.

We're on the first climb of the day, up to Cote de Gordes.

Chris Froome may spot a few fans on the way...

BBC Radio 5 Live

It's not only the riders that have been short-changed by the winds.

All the broadcast media have been set up in a supermarket car park at the bottom of Mount Ventoux, including our boys at BBC Radio 5 live.

Producer Gemma Sterba says: "This is as close as they're getting to Mont Ventoux... but at least they both got the memo 'Rob, wear grey'."

Image source, BBC Sport

Chris Froome's group, which includes Adam Yates and Nairo Quintana - second and third in the GC respectively - is now about 10mins shy of the lead breakaway - that was as high as 18 minutes at one point.