And with that, it's time for me to get stuck into the report.

Don't forget OJ Borg, Rob Hayles and Simon Brotherton are aiming to be live on the BBC Radio 5 live Sport Facebook page from 18:00 BST to analyse today's stage. If you miss that, it will be available as a podcast and accessible from the BBC Sport cycling pages.

Sunday's stage nine features three hors categorie climbs, and there is apparently the threat of rain, which could make descending interesting.

That's me done for this year's race, thanks for all your company over the opening week.

Paul Fletcher will be here from around 11:00 BST, with radio commentary from 14:30. Be sure to join them.

Image source, Tour de France

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So no change in the race for the overall Tour de France victory.

Chris Froome continues to lead the way, 12 seconds clear of Geraint Thomas, with a third Briton, Simon Yates in sixth.

Yates will also continue in the white jersey as the fastest rider under the age of 26 - a classification, you may remember, that was won by his twin brother Adam last year.

1. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) 33hrs 19mins 10secs

2. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) +12secs

3. Fabio Aru (Ita/Astana) +14secs

4. Daniel Martin (Ire/Quick-Step) +25secs

5. Richie Porte (Aus/BMC Racing) +39secs

6. Simon Yates (GB/Orica) +43secs

7. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) +47secs

8. Alberto Contador (Spa/Trek) +52secs

9. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +54secs

10. Rafal Majka (Pol/Bora) +1min 01secs

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1. Lilian Calmejane (Fra/Direct Energie) 4hrs 30mins 29secs

2. Robert Gesink (Ned/LottoNL) +37secs

3. Guillaume Martin (Fra/Wanty) +50secs

4. Nicolas Roche (Ire/BMC Racing) Same time

5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze/Orica)

6. Fabio Aru (Ita/Astana)

7. Michael Valgren (Den/Astana)

8. Rafal Majka (Pol/Bora)

9. Nathan Brown (US/Cannondale)

10. Romain Hardy (Fra/Fortuneo)

Image source, Reuters

After an unbelievably chaotic start to the stage, that was almost an anti-climax.

Take nothing away from Lilian Calmejane, who is a deserving victor, but nobody in the general classification race had the legs to take on Chris Froome.

They all crossed the line 50 seconds behind Calmejane.

I reckon they are all saving their legs for Sunday's stage, which promises to be an absolute stonker.

All the yellow jersey contenders cross the line together. And that means Chris Froome will continue in the yellow jersey.

Image source, Reuters

The Frenchman had one final look over his shoulder to acknowledge his team car and then celebrated with the fans as he crossed the line.

Robert Gesink is second over and here comes the peloton...

Lilian Calmejane wins stage eight

Image source, Getty Images

Lilian Calmejane has a huge smile spread across his face. He is shaking his head as he comes up the finishing straight. He won a stage in the 2016 Vuelta a Espana and he's going to win a stage in the 2017 Tour de France...

As I type that, there is an attack in the main bunch. It looked like Dan Martin might have been having a go.

Has Lilian Calmejane been taking tips off his Direct Energie team leader Thomas Voeckler? His tongue is out, his face is contorting. He's got a long way to go to match the master of the gurn.

1km for Calmejane.

Does Robert Gesink know what has happened to Lilian Calmejane?

Dutchman Gesink looks like he is toiling as well though. And Calmejane is back in a rhythm. Using a lower gear seems to have helped the Frenchman and his lead is going back up beyond 30 seconds again.

It is surely his to lose now.

The peloton are happy enough 90 seconds back.

Lilian Calmejane is on what looks like a nice bit of smooth tarmac as he continues to push on. He keeps looking over his shoulder but he can't see Robert Gesink.

Oh no. The poor bloke. As he rides under the 5km to go banner, he almost comes to a standstill. Is it a bit of cramp? He is trying to stretch his calves out. He's gone into a lower gear. But his rhythm has gone.

Over half of his advantage has gone.

Lilian Calmejane, you may recall, was in a break earlier in this year's race. I wonder if he was just testing his legs that day, seeing how he felt, knowing he had this day to come.

He also picked up a King of the Mountains point in that breakaway, and adding that to the 10 for reaching that last summit first, he takes control of the polka dot jersey.

A great day out for the Frenchman already. Can he top it off with a stage win?

He's still 30 seconds clear of Robert Gesink with 7km remaining.

The stage leader Lilian Calmejane is being cheered along. A French winner always goes down well on Tour, although I'm not sure how many of those watching know it is one of their own racing clear.

"It's going to be a long, lonely 10km for Calmejane," says Rob Hayles.

Image source, Getty Images

Inside the final kilometre of the climb and the road narrows a little more and it's not much more than a farm track. Lots of holes for the riders to avoid.

Lilian Calmejane is riding at 12km/h up this hill. But it is fast enough to open his advantage over Robert Gesink who is now 25 seconds and 135m adrift.

Frenchman Calmejane takes the summit first.

Team Sky are leading the peloton but they are not interested in winning this. A bigger day to come tomorrow with three hors categorie climbs to negotiate.

Lilian Calmejane is out of the saddle, shoulders rocking and rolling as he starts to toil. He is 11 seconds clear of Robert Gesink.

Nic Roche and Serge Pauwels are 40 seconds back. The peloton is still at 90 seconds.

Chris Froome, Richie Porte, Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana and Simon Yates are all together. Will anyone put in a burst to try nick a few seconds back off Froome?

The yellow jersey group is still 90 seconds behind stage leader Lilian Calmejane.

Robert Gesink of Lotto Jumbo-NL is a handful of seconds back.

If these two get over the top together, in 3km, can they work together to the finish line?

Lilian Calmejane is pushing on here and is 12 seconds clear of Irishman Nic Roche, who is now struggling.

Robert Gesink comes up alongside him and races by, while Serge Pauwels drops in behind the BMC rider for a few seconds' breather.

Can Dutchman Gesink go on and catch Calmejane?

"It's like they are riding through sand," says Rob Hayles on race commentary.