After sharing culinary pleasantries breakaway trio Michael Schar, Frederik Backaert and Yoann Offredo - who have been working in tandem for most of the day - are switching into race mode as the first categorised climb of the day approaches.

I know it's early doors but here's a quick reminder of how the GC standings looked at the end of the third stage:

1. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra/Deceuninck-Quick Step) 9hrs 32mins 19secs

2. Wout van Aert (Bel/Jumbo-Visma) +20secs

3. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Jumbo-Visma) +25secs

4. George Bennett (NZ/Jumbo-Visma) Same time

5. Michael Matthews (Aus/Sunweb) +40secs

6. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos) Same time

7. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos) +45secs

8. Enric Mas (Spa/Deceuninck-Quick Step) +46secs

9. Greg van Avermaet (Bel/CCC) +51secs

10. Wilco Kelderman (Ned/Sunweb) Same time

Ouch!published at 14:10 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

14:10 BST 9 July 2019

Just watching some pictures of Tony Gallopin limping after coming off his saddle a few kilometres ago.

Fortunately the French Ag2r-La Mondiale rider appeared to fly over the gravel at the side of the road into some shrubbery cushioning his landing. His face is still a picture of pain though.

Gianni Moscon, 25 from Ineos was also involved but both are on their way back to the peloton. We are yet to have an abandonment at Le Tour this year.

The breakaway trio Michael Schar, Frederik Backaert and Yoann Offredo are all having a bite to eat in the feed zone.

But what's this has Schar missed his bag of goodies. The CCC rider looks a tad miffed as Offredo appears to obstruct him but all is well.

The Frenchman makes a peace offering of some of his grub.

Talking of which. Time for me to grab a sandwich.

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking of Julian Alaphilippe... former Great Britain rider Rob Hayles says the Frenchman has a real determination to do well in the mountains after shedding some pounds of his frame.

Speaking on the BeSpoke podcast Hayles said: "He's lost a couple of kilo's in the last 18 months and he's spent a lot of time at altitude, which of course is vogue for anyone who wants to do well in the mountains.

"It all began in 2018 when he was winning the Paris-Nice and he crumbled in the final two or three kilometre climb. Deceuninck-Quick Step thought after that he still needed to get a bit lighter so there's been a determined ambition to do that."

Just a quick reminder that none of the three breakaway riders are likely to cause any of the big hitters in the GC a cause for concern, even if they were to stay clear.

However, unlikely that is of course.

The trio (Michael Schar, Frederik Backaert and Yoann Offredo) all began stage four almost 14 minutes down on the race leader Julian Alaphilippe, so there is no pressure on the GC teams to reel them in.

BBC Radio 5 Live

The Bespoke podcast at the Tour is well worth a listen.

There's a new one every day to coincide with each stage as Gareth Rhys Owen, Rob Hayles and Simon Brotherton take us through the race.

Just take your pick here.

Defending champion Geraint Thomas has just been having a right natter to yellow jersey wearer Julian Alaphilippe.

They are barely breaking sweat out there.

The peloton is still sweeping along in serene fashion with the first categorised climb at Cote de Rosieres of the day approaching soon.

There's only one point available as it's a category four climb, around 1km long up a 7% gradient, which will presumably be taken by one of the breakaway riders who still have a two minute and 40 second lead.

Here's something you don't see everyday.

Breakaway rider Michael Schar has stopped to answer the call of the nature, with Frederick Backaert and Yoann Offredo, holding back on their effort to wait for him.

Jumbo-Visma rider George Bennett has got one eye on events at the Cricket World Cup, where New Zealand are taking on India at Old Trafford in the semi-final.

Not sure quite what the Kiwi would make of his nation being 152-3 but I'll take a bidon!

Matt: What's the betting on Julian Alaphilippe putting in a Thomas Voeckler-esque performance and keeping yellow through Bastille Day? That said, he was KoM last year so can climb.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Remember you can stay in touch with everything on stage four of the Tour de France with our friends at BBC Radio 5 Live.

They will be covering the race live online from 14:40 BST.

You can listen to that by clicking the link at the top of the page.

Jumbo-Visma's Wout van Aert is the closest rider to the yellow jersey, 20 seconds down on Julian Alaphilippe but his team's focus today is centred on setting-up Dylan Groenewegen for a bunch sprint in Nancy.

“Dylan is our main leader in a stage like this”, the white jersey holder said this morning.

“He is in my opinion the fastest rider in the peloton. If we deliver him to the right position, he will be able to win.

"It’s true there is a climb at the end of the stage, but we are confident Dylan will be able to cope well with it.”

Marc: A traditional Mark Cavendish stage today at Le Tour... little bumps towards the end but sad not to shout “Gew On Cav Lad” this year.

That man Tony Martin is doing a run on the front of the peloton.

The German Jumbo-Visma rider spent most of Monday's stage controlling the tempo and he's at it again.

Maxime Monfort (Lotto-Soudal) and Yves Lampaert (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) are hovering just behind the three-time world champion.

There's absolutely no secret that all three are trying to line-up a sprint finish for Dylan Groenewegen, Caleb Ewan and Elia Viviani respectively.

Image source, Getty Images

Jakob Fuglsang who was injured in a crash in stage one reckons he's not quite at 100% yet but lost no sleep over Julian Alaphilippe's stage-three-winning attack on the Cote de Mutigny on Monday.

The Dane who is hoping to challenge in the general classification (GC) standings at the business end said: "On a Tour de France, there is nothing such as an easy day where you can relax completely. I didn’t say exactly I could cover Alaphilippe’s move.

"I just knew he was going to attack and I considered following his move, but I decided that I shouldn’t waste energy on that as I am focusing on the GC.

"I’m happy that I finish the way I did yesterday and that I managed to stay there with the injuries I sustain. It’s good for Julian he won the stage. My strategy for now on is to take it as easy as possible until the Planche des Belles Filles.

"We are doing what we can to improve my condition. Planche might be too hard for Alaphilippe, but we’ll see."

Ouch!published at 160km

160km

Still the same breakaway riders up front. Michael Schar (CCC), Frederik Backaert and Yoann Offredo (both Wanty-Groupe Gobert,).

The gap is still around three minutes but back down the road a couple of Cofidis riders have taken their eye of the road. Was that too much chat or did one of them lose control while chomping some food down?

Either way Pierre-Luc Perichon, looks like one, and Natnael Berhane is the other, who appear to have crashed into each other.

Both are back under way now though.

That does look narrow - funnelling towards the finish line in Nancy looks like loads of fun as the sprint trains get going!

Nothing to report really. The peloton sauntering along and have passed through the champagne region with the gap to the breakaway still up at three minutes plus.

There's a fair cross-wind out there but this is mimicking a leisurely Sunday afternoon ride out at the minute.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images