Jai Hindley, who is in a group with Simon Yates, is some two minutes plus down on Jonas Vingegaard at present

The four breakaway riders remaining, plus the scattered remains of the front of the peloton are currently heading down a fast-paced descent to the valley floor.

They’ll have a few minutes to catch their breath, grab a drink and maybe an energy gel or two before the final climb to Cauterets-Cambasque.

Here's how that leading group went over the Col du Tourmalet:

1. Tobias Halland Johannessen, 20 pts2. Ruben Guerreiro, 15 pts3. James Shaw, 12 pts4. Wout van Aert, 10 pts5. Michal Kwiatkowski, 8 pts

Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers), James Shaw (EF Education-EasyPost) and Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar), who almost elbows Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X) in a sprint to the top of the Tourmalet - head off up the road.

Wout van Aert is waiting it seems for his team leader Jonas Vingegaard.

Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar are absolutely flying up the Tourmalet. This is some ride from Pogacar so far after what happened yesterday.

Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar both pass Julian Alaphilippe. Wout van Aert can company are just over a minute further up the road with around 750m left of this climb.

Jonas Vingegaard attacks and Tadej Pogacar jumps on to his wheel. This is gripping stuff.

Still almost two kilometres to the top of the Col du Tourmalet and Tadej Pogacar grimly hangs on to the wheels of Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss.

Jai Hindley has dripped back around 40 seconds and joins up with a group containing several other GC hopefuls. Can he limit his losses?

The group being led by Wout van Aert has a two minute and 20-second lead but is down to five riders.

Jai Hindley is cracking. He is falling right away from Sepp Kuss, Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar.

Dylan van Baarle drops away. Wilco Kelderman accelerates and splits what is left of the main bunch.

Tadej Pogacar and Jai Hindley are left with Jonas Vingegaard, Sepp Kuss and Wilco Kelderman.

Jumbo-Visma are setting the pace at the front of the peloton as Nathan Van Hooydonck peels off for Dylan van Baarle.

Up at the front, Wout van Aert ploughs on a sends Julian Alaphilippe out of the back of the group. The two-time world champion has been hanging on for at least a couple of kilometres.

The breakaway is down to nine riders, with Wout van Aert setting the pace and being followed by James Shaw. This is some ride from the British puncheur.

Julian Alaphilippe and Shaw's teammate Neilson Powless are still also hanging around.

Poor old Mathieu van der Poel has just been caught and passed by the yellow jersey group.

Jai Hindley looks like he is exchanging a word with Tadej Pogacar. The two start smiling and laughing, sat just behind the Jumbo-Visma train.

Not sure I'd have the energy for that on this brute of a climb.

Bob Jungels drops out of the main bunch. Another Bora-hansgrohe rider dropped. The yellow jersey of Jai Hindley, looks like he has Emanuel Buchmann as his main support now.

Christopher Juul-Jensen is now battling with his bike as Wout van Aert continues to set a relentless pace.

The break still has a good four minutes and 30 seconds on the main peloton as Jumbo-Visma head to the front, a move that immediately puts Colombian climber Rigoberto Uran and British National Road Championship winner Fred Wright in difficulty.

Ineos Grenadiers rider Daniel Martinez has also cracked. He was seventh on GC at the start of the day.

Julian Alaphilippe has knocked that move on the head. He looks a tad frustrated and looks out towards the scenery all around without acknowledging James Shaw.

Meanwhile, Mathieu van der Poel has cracked. His time in the breakaway is over as he drops back with every pedal revolution.

Julian Alaphilippe is on the attack with 11km of this daunting climb still to come. James Shaw of EF-Education EasyPost shadows him, presumably to guard against anyone else claiming KOM points.

Still a long way to go up here yet mind.