One soul brave enough to share a pic with us #bbccycling

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist on Radio 5 live sports extra

"It's a little easier on the head knowing that he's on his own at the Tour, with constant media coverage, that helps.

"The fact that most guys train on their own for a big proportion of the time anyway, that's not an issue riding on your own.

"But yes, you need to be slightly more mentally strong and self motivated as you're on your own.

"Psychologically it's a much tougher challenge as you're having to do all the work on your own, unlike when you can slipstream behind a rider where you can save 30-40% of your energy."

Listen to Rob Hayles on BBC Radio 5 live's commentary from 14:30 BST, via the BBC Sport website.

Wanty-Groupe Gobert's Guillaume van Keirsbulck has 107km to ride to today's finish in Vittel.

He has a lead of a little more than six minutes, 30 seconds and the Belgian is getting some terrific support as he continues along his merry way through Pont-a-Mousson.

He's looking a tired boy though. It's the longest time trial of his life and although he'll not make the finish line first, I bet he's allowed first pick at tea-time.

Image source, AFP

Your tales of cleat-related woe are keeping me royally entertained. Keep em coming #bbccycling

Robert Rosenberg‏, external: Wearing a full body Spider-Man kit, went past the break spot, broke trying to turn, crashed to shouts of #wheresyourSpideysense, external

Ben Hardey‏, external: Puliing up to a set of red lights, braked hard, couldn't unclip in time, fell sideways and lay on a car bonnet still on bike #bbccycling, external

Ben Grimshaw, external: #bbccycling, external Completed my first >50mile cycle two weeks ago, no problems unclipping..until reaching the front door at home. Pride dented...

Team Sky's sport director Nicolas Portal has been explaining why his riders were not too bothered about chasing our long-time leader Guillaume van Keirsbulck earlier in today's stage.

He told French TV: “Our tactic depends on our priority. Clearly, we're here to win the Tour de France. The most important is to have the yellow jersey on the last day. Essentially, we want to keep some advantage over the other GC contenders. We don't want to waste energy if it's not needed.

"Today is a flat stage. It should be a sprint finish. It's up to the sprinters' teams to take their responsibilities.

"Tomorrow it'll be the first big appointment. There'll be a hard battle in the last 40 or 50km before La Planche des belles filles.”

Image source, Reuters

Also taking your stories of cleat-related misery #bbccycling

With 120km remaining, plenty of time to have a look at the state of the race.

In yellow...we have the legend that is Geraint Thomas. The Welshman is defending the jersey well and will expect to remain in it at the end of today's stage given his advantage over the sprinters who are chasing today's stage win and the 10 bonus seconds on offer.

In green...we have the sprinting sensation that is Marcel Kittel. This is the one jersey that could change hands today. Kittel is nine points clear of Arnaud Demare and 16 ahead of Peter Sagan. Lots of points up for grabs today with an intermediate sprint coming up which should be spicy with just one rider out front.

In polka dots...on American Independence Day as well, we have Nathan Brown. The Cannondale-Drapac rider is one of three US riders in the race this race and took the King of the Mountains jersey off the shoulders of team-mate and compatriot Taylor Phinney yesterday. Phinney would need to attack on today's only categorised climb to nick it back.

Monday's third stage will be remembered for the incredible finish that saw Peter Sagan recover from his right foot unclipping from his pedal during the sprint, to win, with a nonchalant wave as he crossed the line.

BBC Radio 5 live's Simon Brotherton described the scene as though "Sagan had been popping out for his morning paper". You can hear more from Simon and Rob Hayles via this very webpage from 14:30 BST.

Image source, Reuters

After Peter Sagan expertly managed to re-clip into his pedals while being involved in a sprint finish, I want to hear your tales of joy...or woe...#bbccycling

Back in the race and the lead is down to 10 minutes. I reckon a sports director or two has had a word with a few riders, probably reminding them that tea will be on the table at 5pm tonight and if they're not there, the chef will take it away and it will be served cold for breakfast.

Image source, AFP

Some sad news to report from the Orica-Scott team. Esteban Chaves' personal physio has died in a bike accident in Colombia.

According to Matt White, team director of the Australian-based team, she slid off on a wet descent and hit a vehicle.

Speaking on ITV 4, White added that the incident happened 36 hours ago and Chaves, the team's leader and general classification hope, alongside Britain's Simon Yates, has been told he can abandon the race if he wishes but so far wants to carry on.

Guillaume van Keirsbulck is ploughing a lonely furrow. There are no spectators on this section of road, which is weaving through some beautiful forestry as the riders continue south to Vittel.

He is 136km away from the finish and heading towards Chatel-Saint-Germain, which is a few kilometres west of Metz.

His lead is suddenly down to 11 minutes. The power of Thomas de Gendt reeling him in.

Here's some more video to keep you entertained. OJ Borg has reached the letter C in his A-Z...

The pace is, er...almost on. Lotto-Soudal have got bored of Team Sky leading the way and sent Thomas de Gendt to the front.

I definitely saw the clock indicate 13 minutes, 11 seconds and that appears as though it will be the maximum advantage gained for Guilaume van Keirsbulck.

His lead is now just under 13 minutes and according to LeTourData, GvK is riding into an 11km/h headwind.

OJ Borg, presenter of BeSpoke, and driving around France in this anonymous-looking van for the next three weeks, says his first time in cleats was on a borrowed mountain bike on the way to a triathlon.

He stopped, fell off, and injured himself enough to not be able to take part.

I'm sure you've got better stories than that. #bbccycling

If you see this van, pop over and say hello, just not in the middle of the night.

Image source, BBC Sport

Have we reached the limit of the break. It's been sticking in the 12 minute, 54-59 seconds range for a couple of kilometres now.

Go on Guillaume, one extra bit of effort to get to 13 minutes...

150km or so remaining.

Image source, Reuters

Right then, let's not have you lot sitting there idle in the peloton while I do all the work out front.

What do you want to talk about today? Stage winner predictions are always welcome for starters.

Do you agree with Rob Hayles that we may have seen the best of Mark Cavendish this year already?

Also, in tribute to Peter Sagan's sensational finish yesterday, I want tales of your best clipping/unclipping moments. There must be embarrassing stories aplenty...

Do we have any readers out on the route? Send in your pics if you are...#bbccycling is where I'll find you.

OK. so Guillaume van Keirbulck is riding in his first Tour de France. He joined Wanty this year after several seasons with Quick-Step.

I've been looking on his website and have used a translation service but I'm not sure it's working properly.

Question: Have you ever come into contact with doping?

Answer: No, and I want to love it.

Anyway, he describes himself as a good all-rounder, an attacker and he lists among his best wins, junior Paris-Roubaix.

He is "sometimes" superstitious.

Oh...and he comes from decent stock. His grandad Benoni Beheyt was road world champion in 1963.

Team Sky are on the front of the peloton. White jerseys, black shorts, yellow helmets. The yellow helmets indicate they lead the little-known team classification.

That is taken from the accumulated times of the top three riders and given they have Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome as one and two, and Michal Kwiatkowski in eighth, it's no huge surprise.

They are still not bothered by the threat of GvK - his lead is 11 minutes and still going north. 166.6km remaining as I type this.

OK James, here we go. He's number 208, rides for Wanty-Groupe Gobert. He's 26, 6ft 3.5ins...er...I'm digging around...