Stage eight is a 200.7km run from Libourne to Limoges
The stage is only the second in this year's race with a distance in excess of 200km.
Jonas Vingegaard is the overall leader and wears the yellow jersey
David Millar, who of course won four stages in this great race, has given a lovely little demonstration of why the finish won't be for the pure sprinters today over on ITV4.
With the run to the line ramping up over 3% in the last kilometre it is definitely one for the Tour's strongmen.
The break is holding at around the four-minute mark. I'm expecting that to drop right down once we hit the lumpy section that kicks off with the Cote de Champs-Romain.
Image source, Getty ImagesTim Declercq gives a new meaning to the term fast food.
1. Anthony Delaplace, 20 pts2. Anthony Turgis, 17 pts3. Tim Declercq, 15 pts4. Jasper Philipsen, 13 pts5. Jordi Meeus, 11 pts6. Danny van Poppel, 10 pts7. Mark Cavendish, 9 pts8. Bryan Coquard, 8 pts9. Corbin Strong, 7 pts10. Biniam Girmay, 6 pts
Jumbo-Visma restore order and catch that small Mathieu van der Poel-led group of riders.
You'd imagine that Wout van Aert will be looking for a first stage win at this year's race a little later.
Jumbo-Visma head to the front of the main bunch and up the tempo. They don't look like they want that group to go.
Up ahead Mark Cavendish sits up. The Manxman has clearly decided he doesn't want to burn any unnecessary energy.
Oh hello. Mathieu van der Poel attacks off the back of that intermediate sprint, taking several sprinters including Mark Cavendish with him.
Jasper Philipsen opens up and now takes the dash for fourth, snaffling up 13 points towards the green jersey.
It's time for the intermediate sprint in Tocane-Saint-Apre. Tim Declercq shows no interest at all.
Anthony Delaplace does have a little dig and zips over the line first.
Anthony Delaplace, Anthony Turgis and Tim Declercq almost have five minutes now.
Just under 60km from the first climb of the day at the category three Cote de Champs-Romain, which is 2.9km in length with an average gradient of 5.2%.
Image source, Getty ImagesA scene fit for a canvas.
Intermarche-Circus-Wanty and Alpecin-Deceuninck are pretty much content with keeping the leading trio at around four minutes and 20 seconds.
Biniam Girmay, Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen are likely in mind.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe breakaway has a touch over four minutes as we approach the intermediate sprint in Tocane-Saint-Apre.
Intermarche-Circus-Wanty and Ineos Grenadiers are up near the front now keeping things ticking along.
As various riders in the main peloton stop off for comfort breaks, the leading trio take their advantage out to nearly three minutes.
Torstein Traaen has been getting more running repairs at the medical car, getting his right knee bandaged.
The leading trio have a lead of 27 seconds as a number of riders get active at the front of the peloton.
Tim Declercq (Soudal-Quick Step) who is known for pulling on the front of the main bunch to close breakaways down attacks and is joined by Anthony Delaplace (Arkea) and Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies).
Image source, Getty ImagesNorwegian climber Torstein Traeen hits the deck and will need some repairs on the move as he gets going again.
He was close to withdrawing after a crash on stage one saw him fracture his elbow.
Absolutely zero change at the top of the GC standings in the last 24 hours.
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) 29hrs 57mins 12secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +25secs
3. Jai Hindley (Aus/Bora-Hansgrohe) +1min 34secs
4. Simon Yates (GB/Team Jayco-AlUla) + 3mins 14secs
5. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa/Ineos Grenadiers) + 3mins 30secs
6. Adam Yates (GB/UAE Team Emirates) +3mins 40secs
7. David Gaudu (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +4mins 03secs
8. Romain Bardet (Fra/DSM) +4mins 43secs
9. Thomas Pidcock (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time
10. Sepp Kuss (US/Jumbo-Visma) +5mins 28secs