No further withdrawals today: The 146 runners who started the stage of yesterday have all been to work this morning and are about to start running. Mr. Prudhomme raised his flag and the drivers Mitchelton-Scott, Quick-Step and Wanty-Groupe Gobert attack immediately.
Today 's deployment began: The peloton is coming out of Trie sur Baise, the runners are waiting race director Christian Prudhomme to give them the signal to start running.
Although it does not appear to have been photographed, Peter Sagan suffered a heavy fall during one of the descents yesterday and rolled over the finish line while watching very sorry for himself, with his shirt and shredded shorts, bleeding from several cuts. He is however able to start today even though he reported this morning that he was very sore. Sagan is guaranteed to win a record sixth green jersey at this year's Tour when he finishes the race in Paris on Sunday. Absolutely why he was risking his life and life in a seemingly crazy descent that was completely useless.
Jeremy Whittle on a bad day for Chris Froome , who had problems with his rivals on the way to the final climb of yesterday and problems with a policeman on his way back once the scene ended.
Sean Ingle was in Saint-Lary-Soulan to see Nairo Quintana wins his first stage of the Tour this year, while Geraint Thomas tightens his grip on the yellow jersey.
Geraint Thomas extended his lead over his main rivals yesterday, while his teammate Sky Chris Froome has dropped from second on GC to third. Tom Dumoulin, of the Sunweb team, takes second place, while Primoz Roglic, of the LottoNL-Jumbo team, will keep his hopes of stepping on the podium before the Sunday procession in Paris.
The top 10 in the overall rankings Photo: Tour de France
William Fotheringham: step by step guide: A brutal transition to Flat roads could offer an intriguing diversion from the main parcel; A similar milestone in 2012 witnessed a desperate competition to qualify for the first break, which was contested at the finish. This is the last chance for non-climbers to try to win the stage win – Edvald Boasson Hagen for example – and sprint teams may not be able to take over a group.
