Postpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist at the Tour de France
It is not really turning out to be what could've been a spectacular stage in terms of the GC.
It is all very calm at the moment.
Summary
Stage 9: Nantua - Chambery, 181.5km
Rigoberto Uran wins photo finish
Chris Froome retains yellow jersey
Porte crashes heavily on Mont du Chat descent
Thomas out of Tour after crash on descent
Postpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Green jerseypublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Michael Matthews got 20 points for his efforts at the intermediate sprint. He now has 160 points, points race leader Marcel Kittel has 212, with Arnaud Demare second.
That was a lot of effort for 20 points.
Demare, BTW, may well struggle to make the time cut today.
Image source, EPAPostpublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
We're on our way up the category four Cote de Jongieu. Looks pretty steady on the TV compared to the other beasts we've seen so far today.
Postpublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
The calm before the Mont du Chat storm? The Sky train looks in complete control at the front of the peloton at the moment.
Postpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist at the Tour de FranceTeam Sky should not be panicking - Froome still has several team-mates with him.
Nairo Quintana has been back to his team car for a chat - perhaps asking what Betancur is doing up there in the road.
Losing Thomas is a big blow to Froome - he was obviously in good form. He knows he can 100% put faith in Geraint but he laid it down in the descent and even he cannot ride with a broken collar bone.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 14:36 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
#bbccycling
Not jealous. Not me!
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50km to gopublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
So, 50km remaining from what already feels like a mammoth stage.
But is the real drama still ahead of us?
We've lost Geraint Thomas after he crashed out coming down the Col de la Biche.
But with the yellow jersey group steadily closing the gap on the men at the front of the road will we have any more attacks like the AG2R one on an earlier descent, the sort of attack that could be this race open and - dare I say it? - make it a little more intriguing?
Green jerseypublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
So, first at the intermediate sprint is Michael Matthews, who closes the gap on Marcel Kittel and the struggling Arnaud Demare at the top of the green jersey standings for the race's top sprinter.
Matthews was led out by team-mate Simon Geschke and pulled away from Tony Gallopin, who is a team-mate of Andre Greipel, with 250m to go.
It's sunny (ish)published at 14:25 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Still dry. Sun shining in fact. A not inconsequential development, I'm sure you'll agree.
Closing the gappublished at 14:22 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Rob Hayles suggesting that Nairo Quintana has changed his bike.
The gap between the lead group and the peloton is coming down all the time, 3.30 now.
Intermediate sprint up shortly.
Pierre La Tour has a puncture.
Avoid the bonkpublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Nothing quite like that moment when you totally, absolutely, painfully run totally out of gas.
I like to think that the small army of nutritionists that ensure the riders have enough of what they need mean that the race is a no-bonk zone.
Certainly Maciej seems to have been tucking into the right type of stuff last night - I presume the bottle of red was cropped out.
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Food station alertpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Time for some sustenance.
I've just eaten a peach. Finally got around the demolishing that sandwich I got out of my luncbox at literally the moment AG2R launched their multiple attacks.
Almost as if that was their cue to go.
Image source, AFPUnder pressurepublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist at the Tour de FranceAt the moment there is a bit of pressure on the yellow jersey and their team-mates - it is about time they had to do some work.
Up to now they haven't had to do much at all.
Postpublished at 14:11 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist at the Tour de FranceIt is a really tricky finish to this stage - when we drove in it was wet and very slippy. Hopefully it will have dried out by then. I lost count of the twists and turns.
Postpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
The lead group is growing - it is now at 12 I think, which means that Carlos Betancur is now the virtual leader of the race (again).
Sprinter Michael Matthews is with that lead group - and has his eye on the forthcoming intermediate sprint. Let's face it, he has worked incredibly hard to get there.
The lead group might be getting bigger but their lead over the peloton is slipping - now under five minutes.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
An alternative view...
David Howell: Thomas crashing out just made this Tour a lot more interesting. Was all set for Froome domination if he had his team intact...
And breathe....published at 14:05 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
All that drama so far and still the Mont du Chat to come.
You can listen to commentary with Simon Brotherton and Rob Hayles on this page right now.
What twists and turns remain today?
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
#bbccycling
Tim Little: Stage 9 of @LeTour, external has delivered and we've still got the final climb and descent to go. I'm hanging on to my sofa seat!
Polka dot jerseypublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
Warren Barguil now has 40 points, 10 clear of Primoz Roglic at the top of the King of the Mountains competition.
Postpublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 9 July 2017
And still Arnaud Demare brings up the rear - he is in a group of four about 30 minutes off the pace.
Surely the grupetto will swell over the next 80km?