Sylvain Chavanel has lost almost half his lead in 10km. The 39-year-old Frenchman is just 2'20'' ahead of the peloton, who are now reeling him in quickly.

Most of that will be down that intermediate sprint with the pace in the peloton increasing sharply.

Rob Hayles
Ex-GB cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live, in France

Demare went a little bit early. Sagan had to go hard, from a long way out, to make sure he got the points but Gaviria played it well, sitting on his wheel. Then just past the line Sagan and Gaviria had a little chat. Was Gaviria saying "I could have had you there?" Bit of mind games perhaps?

Demare goes but Sagan flashes past him with ease. Gaviria gives it a bit of a go before sitting back, keeping his powder dry for now.

So Sagan takes the 17 points for second place - he'll keep chipping away at those intermediate sprints as he seeks a record-equalling sixth green jersey.

Ominous signs for the other sprinters though - Gaviria held Sagan's wheel there without much effort at all.

FDJ are there for Arnaud Demare, with Bora up there and Fernando Gaviria present too with 500m to go.

Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen, wearing the white jersey on loan from Fernando Gaviria, has popped off the back and won't be contesting the intermediate sprint.

Mark Cavendish has team-mates up the front but isn't prominently up there himself. He doesn't usually bother too much with these sprints, given stage wins are his main consideration.

Bora now come to the front for Peter Sagan.

Rob Hayles
Ex-GB cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live, in France

Chavanel is under no illusions. He knows he will get brought back within the final 15km of the finish. He's been around long enough to know what's going to happen.

Sylvain Chavanel wins the easiest intermediate sprint of his life, given he's the sole rider out in the breakaway.

He takes the 20 points for the first over the line, not that he cares much about that. He's all about pulling off an almost impossible stage win and perhaps putting himself in early contention for the super combativity award for most aggressive rider in the Tour.

There are 17 points on offer for the next man over the line, with points all the way down to the top 15.

Rob Hayles
Ex-GB cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live, in France

It's always nice on a stage like this for riders from a team going through a region they are based in as Chavanel is because Direct Energie are from the Vendee. Chavanel is in time trialling mode but although he is more than four minutes clear, it's not enough to stay clear of the peloton.

As a rule of thumb, on a flat stage, it takes 10km to reduce one minute of advantage and there is a little over 50km to go.

Dimension Data send a few of their riders to the front - a sign that Mark Cavendish is interested in this intermediate sprint perhaps?

Fabien Grellier pops briefly off the front of the peloton to wave to family and friends.

Up front, his Direct Energie team-mate Sylvain Chavanel looks set to keep clear through to the intermediate sprint in around 5km. The French veteran is still over four minutes ahead.

But with the sprinters competing for green jersey points behind that lead should come down quickly after they surge for the line.

Quick-Step are having a bit of a breather, having done all of the work on the front all day.

The peloton is spread across the road, with no single team prepared to take it on.

Sylvain Chavanel is still riding a steady tempo, keeping his lead above four minutes.

Here is confirmation from Trek-Segafredo that Tsgabu Grmay was forced to quit due to abdominal pain.

The Ethiopian became the first man to abandon the Tour de France earlier today.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Our commentary team of Tom Fordyce and Rob Hayles are now live to guide you through the finale of stage two, online only.

Tune in by clicking the tab at the top of this page.

The peloton are taking it easy, with riders taking on extra water bottles. Yellow jersey Fernando Gaviria has also dropped back, perhaps for a comfort break.

The result is that Sylvain Chavanel has extended his lead back out to over four minutes.

A massive bee lands on Sylvain Chavanel's arm and the Frenchman swats it away.

He's got his lead back up above the three-minute mark with the peloton slowing a tad.

Sylvain Chavanel's lead keeps falling - he's down to 2'48'' ahead of the peloton now.

There are around 20km to go until the intermediate sprint point - can the veteran Frenchman at least hang on til then?

Lawson Craddock, riding with a broken shoulder blader after a crash on stage one, is hanging on still, having been about 10m off the back of the bunch all day.

Rob Hayles
Ex-GB cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live, in France

A quick reminder we are 10 minutes away from live radio commentary - click the link at the top of this page from 15:00 BST.

Here's what Rob had to say about today's finish on the BeSpoke podcast.

"It’s a little bit technical inside the final 5km and with 2km to go the road loops round and goes underneath itself, so it will be another technical finish.

"We are going to see sprinters and their teams, and the GC guys trying to keep out of trouble, while fighting for limited space on the road. Don’t look away."

BBC commentary with Rob and Tom Fordyce, online only, from 15:00 BST.

Sylvain Chavanel is on a bit of an uphill drag, nothing major but tough without other riders to share the work.

The French veteran's lead over the peloton is coming down to near three minutes.

Ouch!published at 14:48 British Summer Time 8 July 2018

14:48 BST 8 July 2018

Rudy Molard has a fair few grazes on his left arm that are now being attended to by a medic leaning out of the medical car as the French rider hangs on.

He then switches sides and has some spray applied to the side of his right thigh. Ouch.