Matej Mohoric is really putting in a shift. Every crest on this lumpy section of terrain is greeted with an acceleration which puts further stress on his three companions.

Astana's Alexey Lutsenko pops as David de la Cruz and Neilson Powless head off in pursuit of Matej Mohoric and Mathieu Burgaudeau.

Matej Mohoric finally snaps the elastic. He's joined by French rider Mathieu Burgaudeau. They have a slender seven-second advantage.

Matej Mohoric looks keen to go again. The Slovenian won two stages in 2021 but is closed down again. Matteo Jorgenson has around 30 seconds. The main bunch is almost 14 minutes back now.

That move from Matteo Jorgenson has done for Guillaime Boivin, who drops away from the chasing group.

Matteo Jorgenson blasts clear of his former breakaway colleagues. The American is a time-trial specialist who can climb.

Not really someone you'd want to allow away with a tailwind behind him.

The Movistar man has taken 20 seconds.

And they're all back together again at the front. Victor Campenaerts and Matej Mohoric, look desperate to get away here prior to the rather punishing final climb.

After a little bit minor jockeying for position.

Michael Woods, Mathieu Burgaudeau, Matteo Jorgenson, Jonas Gregaard and Alexey Lutsenko make their move.

The 14-man group at the front of the race has been split.

Guillaume Boivin is reeled in as he heads up the Cote de Pontaumaur.

Neilson Powless then puts the hammer down to pick up another couple of KOM points. I'm not sure the reward matches the effort for that.

The breakaway looks nailed on to get to the finish first now. Their advantage has creeped up past 12 minutes.

Guillaume Boivin attacks from the leading group. Neilson Powless and Matej Mohoric both put in shifts in pursuit.

Surely they could rely on others to do that and conserve some energy.

Lots of drinks and energy gels being taken in the main bunch in advance of the Cote de Pontaumur.

As soon as the riders make the 3.4km climb that averages out at 5.3% there'll be a long descent towards Clermont-Ferrand before we get down to business and a gruelling concluding climb.

The time gap widens to 11 minutes. I've got to be honest I thought it looked as though the peloton had slightly increased their speed. Clearly not.

Movistar's Matteo Jorgenson who placed a creditable 20th on GC on his Tour debut last year, looks a little uncomfortable.

The American, who is in this 14-man breakaway, has the TV cameras trained as some sort of insect flies into his face.

Meanwhile, Denmark's Jonas Gregaard, who is chasing back onto the group after puncturing and needing a wheel change.

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Jumbo-Visma have a couple of riders sat on the front of the peloton. Wout van Aert is not one of them. The Belgian, who it seems can do virtually anything on a bike, has been ferrying back and forth to his team car to grab drinks for his team.

It's all been pretty relaxed so far hasn't it?

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The time gap is still north of 10 minutes between the leading group and the peloton.

Neilson Powless picks up another uncontested point on the Cote de Pontcharraud.

Ineos Grenadiers directeur sportif Steve Cummings has been chatting to his riders over the team radio.

Given it's pretty warm day in central France the message has been pretty simple.

“High fuelling, hydration," Cummings said.

"It's super important. Hydration, hydration, hydration.”

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Neilson Powless takes the KOM point on the Cote de Felletin.

You'd have thought that the American, who is sporting the polka-dot jersey for a sixth day (excluding the finish of stage one) and Canada's Michael Woods will be the big favourites to win this stage should the break succeed in staying clear.

The break has over 10 minutes now as they head on to the Cote de Felletin a punchy 2.1km climb with an average gradient of just over 5%.