The leading group of 54 are onto some rolling terrain, albeit largely rising steadily, about 10km away from the start of the Col de Vars.

The focus is understandably on the Izoard but this category one climb is no pushover at 9.3km long and a 7.5% average gradient.

Lots of jostling for position in the breakaway and it looks like an elite group are starting to break clear.

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist at the Tour de France

It's a tough one to call who can attack Chris Froome because he looks like he's really starting to find his legs in this Tour.

But if they do go on the attack, not only will they have to take those 27 seconds back (that's just for Romain Bardet and Rigoberto Uran), they will also have to take more time as a buffer, because we've got that time trial in Marseille, so it really is an uphill task for anybody.

Bardet certainly looks like the rider who is in attacking form, Uran we don't know yet. There were calls for him to have attacked yesterday but he didn't have to because we had that descent and he made sure he picked up those time bonuses.

So I think he is sitting and waiting. Allegedly he is feeling optimistic about today - whether that is optimistic about taking the yellow jersey or holding on to his podium position - we'll have to wait and see.

Image source, EPA

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

In just under 10 minutes, you'll be able to click the tab at the top of this page and hear live commentary from Simon Brotherton and Rob Hayles.

A final word from Rob before he starts commentary duties...

Matthew Denney: How much time do you think Froome could afford to lose today and still be able to make it up on Saturday?

Froome was 39 seconds and 51 seconds quicker than Romain Bardet and Rigoberto Uran respectively in the opening 14km time trial in Dusselforf.

Saturday's time trial in Marseille is 22.5km so, roughly, Froome could be able to complete the course around a minute or so faster than those two (I'd suggest Uran under-performed in that opening time trial).

There is a climb in the middle of Saturday's stage and time trials at the end of tough three-week races can throw up odd results so this it's difficult to tell for certain.

But Froome could end the day between 30 seconds to a minute behind his two main rivals and still make it up in the time trial. Of course, he won't want to be behind at all - if he retains any lead, this Tour title should be his.

The peloton head through a feed zone - Team Sky on the front but it's been a relatively calm day so far for Chris Froome before the expected storm later.

That big break of 54 riders leading by around eight and a half minutes now.

Image source, EPA

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist at the Tour de France

Attacks have got to happen, it's no good waiting for tomorrow for general classification because that will more than likely come down to a sprint stage, so it'll be controlled by the sprinters' teams - the ones that are left, as there aren't many.

If his rivals wait until the time trial, the chances are on paper that Chris Froome will take even more time so it's got to be today, and I think they will try to go early just to try and isolate Froome.

Image source, Reuters

Bahrain Merida sprinter Sonny Colbrelli steals a march on the break and crosses the intermediate sprint point first.

That doesn't matter much at all for the Italian but it effectively means Michael Matthews will end the race as the green jersey winner, provided he isn't forced to abandon.

Andre Greipel needed all remaining realistic points to even just draw level with Matthews but the German sprinter isn't in the break.

There are technically enough points remaining for Greipel to overhaul Matthews but he'd need to finish up there on today's stage - which he won't - AND win Saturday's time trial - which he won't.

The gap from the breakaway to the peloton is up over eight minutes now.

There are four Astana riders up there - is Fabio Aru planning something for later?

The group are about to contest the intermediate sprint...

So turns out quite a few of you have mastered - or at least survived - the Col d'Izoard, where today's stage ends.

Keep 'em coming.

Image source, Twitter / @ant_eck

Image source, Twitter / @jpd3000

The group of seven have been caught by the massive group behind and it's back to 54 riders up the road.

They have a lead of 7'41'' on the peloton.

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist at the Tour de France

I think the Tour will be decided today for general classification riders.

Whether it means Chris Froome loses the jersey, he may do, but that might not necessarily decide if he cannot win the Tour.

There is going to have to be a buffer taken out of Froome before that time trial, so Chris may well lose the yellow jersey but it might actually decide that he still wins the race, it's a complicated affair!

Image source, EPA

That break of seven still holding a lead of about 35 seconds over the big group of 47 behind.

The peloton seem more than content to let this one go - the gap going out over seven minutes to them.

With the GC so close, attacks behind could see that lead eroded very quickly, though.

David Macrory: How unusual is it to win the yellow jersey without winning a stage? Last time it happened?

Plenty of asterisks and caveats in answer to this question. The last time a rider won the yellow jersey without winning a stage was in 2006. Sort of.

Floyd Landis was original winner at that Tour de France, largely thanks to a 120km solo breakaway to win stage 17, having dropped from first to 11th on stage 16.

Landis' urine sample taken after his stage win tested positive for testosterone a week after the Tour and the American was later stripped of the stage - which went to Carlos Sastre - and the overall title, which went to Spaniard Oscar Pereiro, who did not win a stage on that year's Tour.

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist at the Tour de France

Today's stage is the final opportunity for the general classification contenders to take the yellow jersey off the shoulders of Chris Froome.

He has an advantage of 27 seconds over Rigoberto Uran and Romain Bardet.

At this stage of the race it is so tight, so close to call and even if you go back to sixth or seventh position, they're only a couple of minutes behind.

But today, the final ascent, the Col d'Izoard - 14km of brutal climbing, it's their opportunity to take it. If anyone wants it, it's got to be done today.

Image source, Reuters

A group of seven have ridden clear of that huge breakaway group out front.

Serge Pauwels, Sylvain Chavanel, Gianluca Brambilla, Angelo Tulik, Simon Clarke, Florian Vachon and Britain's Ben Swift are the men in question.

They have 35 seconds on the big group behind and 6'27'' on the peloton.

Thomas de Gendt was first over the climb, picking up two points but he's got far too many to make up on current polka dot jersey wearer Warren Barguil.

Image source, Getty Images

The breakaway are working their way towards the top of the first climb of the day - the category three Cote des Demoiselles Coiffees.

Lilian Calmejane, Thomas de Gendt and Nicolas Edet have popped off the front to try and be the first over the summit.

Team Dimension Data announced the death of their mechanic Werner Lenk earlier.

A tough day for all connected with the team and our thoughts are with them.

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That group of 54 riders has a gap of around five minutes on the peloton after 50km of racing.

Absolutely sterling work, Cliff. No mean feat on classic bikes too.

Anyone else ridden this monstrous climb of the Izoard?

Let us know on #bbccycling

Image source, Twitter / @CliffTheGuvnor