A lady on a motorbike holds up a blackboard to the breakaway group.

It's not today's specials - it says 1'30'' on it - which means the gap to the peloton has decreased to one minute 30 seconds.

With 50km still go to, don't expect the pack to speed up the chase just yet.

Image source, BBC Sport

It may be quiet on the road, but Peter Sagan's fan club are keeping themselves entertained.

The gap to the breakaway is still more than two minutes - 2mins 4secs to be precise. Not a lot happening.

Somehow we've manged to fill three and a half hours without any meaningful action. 

Our powers of waffle are boundless.

John Rodway: Following Brexit make Chris Froome stop and show his passport when the Tour passes into neighbouring countries.

Erich: Only one man can stop @chrisfroome and that man is Sir Bradley Wiggins

Aiden Mac: Make him ride a fixed wheel bike should at least slow him down

There's a few crumbs of sprint points for the peloton to have a crack at.

Peter Sagan, Marcel Kittel and Mark Cavendish fancy it.

Cav goes but gives up on it and Kittel, seeing that Cav is not a threat, allows Sagan to cross first.

None of them looked interested until 100m before the line, when Cesare Benedetti spins off the back of the four and gets the jump to the line.

If there was a gentleman's agreement to not compete, Benedetti was not involved.

Regardless, do breakaway boys Howes, Elmiger, Benedetti or Roy fancy a little competition between themselves to the intermediate sprint line?

Image source, AP

It's been five years since someone other than Peter Sagan finished the Tour with the green jersey.

The Slovak wears green right now - he's tucked in behind Chris Froome in the peloton - and has a 90-point cushion on Mark Cavendish.

Speaking of sprinting, we're a few kilometres away from the only intermediate sprint on this stage, which comes up at La Fayette.

Not that there's any doubt about who will be wearing the green jersey in Paris.

So, can Mark Cavendish move a step closer to Eddy Merckx's record of 34 stage wins?

The Manx Missile is on 29 victories.

Don't forget, that all 29 have been from mass finishes - not time trials. Only 18 of Merckx's wins were mass finishes.

You are witnessing a legend of the sport, folks.

Image source, .

Jonathan Taylor: If Stage 16 to Bern ends in a full-on sprint, then I'll eat my chamois! The cobbled ramp up from the river will break it all up!

We'll check back in with you on Monday, Jonathan...

It's very much as you were out on the road. Alex Howes, Martin Elmiger, Jeremy Roy and Cesare Benedetti are in a breakaway  - although their lead has diminished to 2mins 44secs.

Image source, AFP

Mark Cavendish could make it four stage wins this year and 30 in his career today. He spoke to Eurosport before today's stage.

"It's going to be a long day with a headwind all day. Hopefully people will go in the breakaway and it will be a chase, the sun could affect people's fatigue for the finish.

"It's been a hard week, there a two more sprint opportunities after this so we have to make it count."

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist on BBC 5 live sports extra

It is most definitely a day where we should see Mark Cavendish competing for another stage win...

So long as we don't see anyone run up the back of him and give him a mechanical like he had a couple of days ago."

The peloton ate a minute out of the gap to the four-man breakaway, but the time has stablilised again at 3mins 20secs.

It's a bit early to start thinking about swallowing up the breakaway and setting up the sprinters.

Shay McStravick: Use a bike with stabilisers that are wonky

Colleen Furness: Pinch his wheels

Marcus R. Edwards: Froome sits there waiting like a big eagle ready to pounce #unstoppable

Mathias Frank of IAM Cycling has withdrawn during this stage because of gastroenteritis.

The jerseys of Etixx Quick Step, Lotto Soudal and Dimension Data are grinding away at the front of the peloton - they'll be looking to move it along for their sprinters Marcel Kittel, Andre Greipel and Mark Cavendish respectively.

Peter Sagan and Alexander Kristoff are names you could throw in there too. And what about Briton Dan McLay?

There may be a sprint on stage 16 to Berne too, perhaps.

Rob Hatch
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

Stage 14 should be one for sprinters.

The reason I think it will be a sprint is because it's probably one of the last opportunities for the sprinters. 

They have today and the Champs Elysees, that is it.