🤡Hello and welcome to today's coverage live from the Tour de France. The 𒁃rest day is behind us and it's time to race again, on the menu a 163km stage from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Gap.

The road rises steadily all the way until the main difficulty of the da🦩y, the 2nd-category Col de Manse. At almost 10km, this climb is long enough to split the lead group. The drop from it into the finish takes in the Rochette descent where Joseba Beloki memorably came to grief in 2003.

No scorching roads today like back in 2003, although the rain has at least ไstopped at the start - we hཧad a huge downpour earlier today.

The big question 🅠for the riders is how are their legs after the rest day. Days off might sound like fine idea but it can play havoc with the body's systems and if they bunch hit the climb at full g🌊as there could be a few key players struggling.

Sylwester Szmyd says...:

We're about 10 minutes away from the of♛ficial start.

As for the climb today, it's not too troubling. It's 9.5km long with an average gradient of 5.3 per cent. There are a couple of trickier sections of beꦯtween 6-9 per cent but the road is smooth and nice and wide.

The descent might𒅌 be more of a challenge though as it's narrow and very fast. Not similar to Mende in too ma⛦ny ways but it could be an opportunity for a GC rider to test Voeckler's position.

We're hearing reports that the dry spell is over  - has been for some time - and that there'♛s rain and heavy w🎀inds. There's some talk of the stage being cancelled. Surely not?

We're hearing on French radio that an ASO employee has been found dead in Gap a🌱nd an investigation has been launched. We'll bring you more details as soon as we can.

The race has now officially started and the riders are off, Prudhomme s🧔ignalling the st♉art of the action. Conditions seem to have improved some what.

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 12:15:27

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Here's where we standꦜ on GC heading into to𓆏day's stage:

1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 65:24:34
2 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:49
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:02:06
4 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:02:15
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:16
6 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:03:44
7 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:04:00
8 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:04:01
9 Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:05:46
10 Kevin D⛄e Weert (Bel) Quickstep Cycli😼ng Team 0:06:18

As we thought, there's a lot of attacks off the bunch so far and the bunch are racing hard. Pꦜlenty of teams𒀰 will see today as a great opportunity to put someone in the break and there are plenty of squads that haven't won a stage yet. With the mountains, a TT and a sprint stage into Paris, this - and the stage that finishes in Italy -  could be their only chance.

157km remaining from 163km

6km raced and𒁃 no break 𝓡yet but the attacks keep coming.

In the race for green, Cav has a healthy lead over Rojas and Gilbert but tod🐎aไy he might lose out slightly.

The intermeꦓdiate sprint comes at 117km but that secondary🌠 climb could see him dropped and both Rojas and Gilbert are better climbers than him.

1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 319 pts
2 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team 282
3 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 248
4 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo 192
5 André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 170
6 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 159
7 Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 141
8 Mickaël Delage (Fra) FDJ 122
9 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling 105
10 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD 96

148km remaining from 163km

15km and it's still all together.

And it's Cav's men🌜 who are on the front chasing down a group of four riders as we speak.

The breaks have typically been made quite early in this year's race but today it's taking a bit more time. The last move was neutralized but we have a rider from Sky off the front. Still a very fast pace being set. HTC can't keep it together all the way until the first sprint though, so they'll have to let something go. It all depends on the make up 𒉰and size of the break.

In some ways a big grou𓃲p off the front helps Cav but it does reduce the chance of Goss talk෴ing the win.

Over 55kph at the moment, so t💝hey're rocketing along.

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 12:29:56

138km remaining from 163km

Over 25km of racing and the fast pace is stopping any meaningful move from getting a gap. We could have this situation for somཧe time as there's a strong tailwind out there.

Greipel and Roy have bo꧋th been active off💜 the front in the last few moments.

A move of 8 to 10 ride🧸rs then♏ try their luck not they're brought back as well. The pace still high.

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 12:50:57

We have a leader, it's Dries Devenyns. He's got a small gap, perhaps 100 m👍eters or so.

127km remaining from 163km

The Quick Step rider has 8 seconds on the bunch.

So who is your pick for t🍎oday? Goss, Gilbert, perhaps Cav (he's climbed a second cat climb to win stage before) ﷽or perhaps one of the GC riders will have a pop and hold on for the win?

twitter.com/dnlbenson

C🎃aught. Flecha then tries h🥀is luck but he's been caught too so we're all back together.

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 13:06:31

Millar tries his luck this time and 🐬the Garmin-Cervelo rider has a gap of 15 seconds. He's been on the attack a few♑ times.

𓆏Garmin did try and put him in the move with Voeckler the day the Frenchmaꦯn took yellow but Millar crashed.

The bunch haven't let Millar get too much room though and they're lined out. A few riders are trying to come across to Millar, Chavanel included. They formed part o🌌f the break into Barcelona in 2009.

Gorgeous scenes from the CN blimp today as the bunch race through a valley with the sun out. Millar has been joined by a number of riders now, Chavanel and To♒ny Martin, Bole, Flecha, Zubeldia and a handfu🥂l of other riders.

100km remaining from 163km

One man who many think can win today - Gil💜bert - hangs at the back of the bunch, taking things easy.

Meanwhile the Mill🌊ar group is splitting and reforming again, while the bunch are keeping the pace high. We could have this situation all the wa🍨y until the feed at 81km.

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 13:08:00

As soon as Millar and co are caught there's another attack. No dic🍌e though, it's chased down immediately.

Duque has hit the deck. He's sᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚitting up but that looked like another bad one.

The Cofidis man is on his feet and waiting for a n♋eꦐw front wheel.

Meanwhile another small group of around 5 riders jumps off the front but just like♏ be𝕴fore they're only given a very short advantage.

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 13:28:29

Geipel has a flat, gets a new wheel and starts chasing. It's going to be tough, but♎ he'll do it.

The bunch still racing hard as Vande Velde has a g✱o but is brought back.

91km remaining from 163km

It's hard terrain from𒁏 here on in though as the road begins to kick up slightly. It's going to make the race incre✨asingly difficult for the sprinters and those with bad legs from the rest day.

FDJ fire a rider up the road but the move is poun♈ced𝓀 on straight away and we're all back together again.

One rider has a pretty ༒good gap. ꦯWestra. He's got around 150 meters.

The problem is that more riders are trying to join him and they're being chased b🍰y the bunch. I dare say it will all come back together in the next few minutes.

Hesjedal is trying to catch Westra but he's got a ꦬrider from FDJ on his wheel, and more and more riders are coming across.

We 💖might have a move now. It's big so we'ꦓll start gathering names now.

82km remaining from 163km

Over a dozen riders in this move, as Hushovd has a ꦏpuncture.

Roche is up there too!

It wouldn't be a TDF break without🃏 him, Hoogerland is up there as well. Two Sky riders are also present. Be꧅hind them the bunch is still active and more riders are trying to come over. We're adding more riders as we can.

12 men in total in the move. Three men🎐 trying to chase up. Duque is still off the back of the bunch.

Roman Kreuziger there too.

They're coming to💮 the feed station and although the harmony isn't great at the moment, this could be the break of the day. It's a powerꦕful one.

Roman𒐪 and Ryder have a slight gap on the others and they'll have to ease up slightly and wait for theꦕ others.

Sky are chasing hard even though they have two men in the move. Not sure what the plan is there. 𝕴Perhaps they're looking to get Boasson Hagen up there for the sprintᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ?

Hoogerland isn't happy with the work done by the others and throws his hands in their air. That's not a great sign at this year stage. Ah Sky are chasing because of Jeannesso꧑n. That makes sense, he's a real threat in th༺e battle for white, with Uran leading. I wasnt aware that the FDJ rider was up there.

Poor old Duque,😼 he's🐻 still back in the cars chasing.

89km remaining from 163km

Less than 75 to go.

Wet road ♒now and Duque finally makes contact with the bunch again. The rain starting up.

Sky are in fact splitting the bunch.

Hushovd and Rojas both up there in that𝕴 mini split.

The leaders have 13 seconds 🎶on the Sky lead bunch.

Hushovd is powering the chase group along. 🐟He's seen the opportunity and latched onto the Sky group. It's just 11 seconds but that could be enough. The question is whether any of the GC guys are in this move.

The rain seems to have cleared up fꦜor now. Half the chase group has sat up but still some riders persisting with the move. There are riders all over the road. The intermediate sprint is less than 20km to go.

Well, those dry conditions didn't last too lonไg. Wet roads again.

The pace seems to have eased in the bunch and new break has𒉰 formed from the remnants of the previous ✱moves. We'll brings you the names as they come into us.

The leaders have 50 secꦚonds but the bunch iಌs starting to react.

57km remaining from 163km

There were five chases but they've been caught. The bunch has lined out and the gap to the leaders is down to 45 seconds. We've seen some great racing today, the bunch hasn't let up 🔯for a single km.

AG2R dont have a man  up there and they're c🅷hasing. Liquigas also moving up to the f🧸ront of the peloton as well.

Europcar has also moved up.

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 14:16:36

The break ൲will survive for a good while ꧒yet. Cav is at the front of the bunch and has sat up. The gap is now close to 2 minutes. It's taken over 100km to establish.

The gap now 2:48 and we're 10km from the first sprint of꧋ the day.

Hagen is on the front taking a turn but takes the opportunity to look around and watch his rivals for the day. The climb shouldn't be too much trouble for him so if he can ඣget over the top his main rival will be Hushovd for the sprint. Hushovd has a teammate in Hesjedal with him and he could certainly come into play. A stage win for the Canadian would really rescue his Tour de France.

46km remaining from 163km

The gap is continuing to rise, it's now at 5:07

45km remaining from 163km

Close 🧸to 6 min🐽utes now. Time to pick a winner from this group.

Hushovd and Hesjedal have a quick word at the back of the group and the Norwegian passes his teammate a bottle♔. The world champ is riding so well it's hard to tell who will work for who on the last clim🃏b.

Hushovd didnt go for the points in the intermediat🎉e sprint. That's interesting. He won a stage in the mountains and today could be another chance꧑ for him.

Back in the b💮unch and Voeckler is back with his team car picking up a jacket.

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 14:39:29

The bunch or rather AG2R are doing the work on the front of the bunch. The gap arouඣnd 6 minutes.

Okay, they've missed the break but AG2R dont really have to work. The French team.... ah they're French. Voeckler is Fren🌠ch. Enough said.

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 14:43:28

The🌱 break are wor💙king well and the gap isn't coming down. the climb of the day is still some way off and Europcar have now moved up to the front of the bunch.

Some of the harmony seems lost in the break as 😼team cars move up, talk to riders, and then slip back again🔜. They're still over 6 minutes clear though.

Ten Dam is back with the medical car receiving treatment 𝓀to his face. The weather will have affected the dressing around hi🃏s wounds. He's a tough nut, and he's hanging in there.

AG2R 🌠are still on the fr꧑ont, holding the gap to the break at 6:14

More rain coming down and AG2R are increasing the pace, a few GC leaders positioning themselves ✤for this final climb. The gap still 6:16 aꦯnd we're going to see fireworks on the final climb, certainly from within the break and possible in the bunch.

21km remaining from 163km

The leaders are starting to watch each other more and there have been a couple of litt🙈le 🍃digs off the front.

Cervelo the only team with two men. Will Ryder attack or will𝔉 be just try and keep it together for Hushovd?

Ignatiev attac🍸ks for the second time an🐎d had a small gap.

The Rus𝓀sian grits his ൩teeth through the rainy conditions, in the saddle and churning a big gear. Katusha has had a poor race so far. This could turn it all around though.

Ignatiev has around 15 seconds b♈ut he's being chased, we're on 💎the slopes of the climb.

🌟Perez and Dries are chasing. The weather is💃 so poor now. Dries attacks Perez!

Marcato is the first rider dropped from the break, Ryd🦄er is doin🐈g the work on the front.

The bunch hit the climb and BMC turn on the heat.

Perez has been caught by the break.

Up ahead Ignat🧔ie๊v takes a corner on the climb, getting out the saddle for just a brief moment.

Hesjedal doing all the 💯work on the front, Hushovd on his wheel. I think we know the Garmin tactics for today.

BMC are working hard on the front. It'ꦕs been such a tough day out there toda☂y with the pace and the weather. We could see attacks from the GC guys.

Ryder ꦑhas gone too hard and has to wait foꩵr the others but Dries has been brought back, just Ignatiev left now.

16km remaining from 163km

Hesjedal has tak💧en off and is about to catch the Katusha rider. Job done and the Russian sits on. Behind them Roy does a turn but they all look to be watching each other. Sma♒rt moves from Garmin.

Back in the bunch and Liquigas bring Basso to the front. The Schlecks are hoverinꦦg too.

The🐟 Garmin man calls Ignatiev through but he doesn﷽'t help.

And Contador has attack and he's alone!

Cancellara on the front but Contador is gone.

Cancellara isnt a man you want chasing. he has Schleck A and Evans with him and Voeckler. incredible scenes as Ryder is now alone and Hagen attacks from his⛄ gro🙈up.

Frank💖 Schleck is there with Contador, Sanchez too.

Voeckler 🎐took his time but made it to the Contador group. Nice riding.

Andy is trying to get them to workꩲ because Ba🍃sso has missed the split.

Garmin are working for Danielson behind.

And♕ it's back together in ♔the peloton. That's a shame that was fun.

Saxo attack again but it's not C🍨ontador. The Saxo rider is caught but the pace is hi♏gh. Surely Contador will go again before the top of the climb.

Hesjedal is 1km fro🎶m the summit. He's on his ow🏅n, still with a gap.

The Canadian is a great climber but it's all going to be about th⛄e descent. Contador attacks!

Voeckler is awake to this one and goe𓃲s with him, A Schl💛eck too.

Evans chases.

Contador vs Evans.

Frank on Evans's wheel.

Contador caught.

Contador goes again! Voeckler is losing ground.

Voeckler is cracking. and Andy Schl✅eck🅺 is dropped too.

Contador, Evans, Sanchez are away, Evans does aꦿ ൲turn too. What a final to the stage.

These three have a substantial gap, Andy SChleck leads the chaꦫse behind.

Evans takes cont🌸rol. Is today the day he wins the Tour?

Up the road and Ryder is about to be caught by Hage🦄n and Hushovd.

No time gaps but the danger trio of Contador, Evans and Sanchez hav🔯e a good gap.

Such a dangerous down hill section now. Ryder is distanced straight awa♒y.

And Contador goes again. Evans fighting to get u❀p to his wheel. ♚Frank Schleck working behind now.

Voeckler is with them. Basso, Cunego too.

Evan♎s and Sanchez catch Contador but the Saxo man continues to set the pace. Rest days can do wonders for 🌸your recovery.

Evans takes over as the danger trio start to wor✨k together. Having Sanchez will help. He'll do the work on the descent.

Ryder H has caught the Norwegians and attacks. Garmin trying to work over EBH here. B﷽attles taking place all over the road.

The Contador group go over the top. Still no time gap but I'd estimate it's around🃏 30 seconds.

Evans is leading on the descent, then Contador and San🦩chez.

Frank Schleck is at the back of the chase group. He doesnt like this one bit. Great riding from Cadel. He's really stepping u�𝄹�p.

33 seconds between Contador and Schleck group.

Voeckler attacks but up ahead Husဣhovd attacks from the leading trio. But Hagen isn't a push over and he attacks, Hushovd chases.

Up ahead an FDJ rider crashes.

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 15:42:49

Tue, 19th Jul 2011 15:42:59

around 40 🐈seconds, and Evans and Contador are dropping Sanchez.

1km remaining from 163km

The leading trio are all looking at each othe💧r🔴. they have 1km to go.

Ryder leading out. He should open it up.

They need Hagen at the front.

Easier said than done. Neveܫr seen Ryder lead it out and Hushovd goes, and he's going to take the win. What a win! Another win for the world champion, Hagen second, Ryder, and then Martin in 4th. Good chase from him.

Very good ride from Martin.

Now the battle for yellow and Evans is clear of Contꦓador and Sanchez.

Almost a minute between Evans and Voe🐭ckler's group. Evans is well ahead, maybe 100 meters.

Great riding from Evans, Contador has to close the𒀰 door and Sanchez is helping him. 2km to go but Evans has a huge gap.

Andy and Frank leading the chase behind but Voeckler✅ is even ahead of 🔥them.

Evans, jaw locked, is really put♐ting everything on the line today. He;'s closing in on the yellow jersey.

Dri🎉ving to the line but Contador and Sanchez aren't giving up, the gap closing slightly.

The two Spaniards working well together.

Evans finishes 4 seconds up. Gilbert and Rojas and Gilbert come over the line soon after the Contador group. Frank 🍸Schleck is there but Andꦚy loses more time, Basso too. Andy about to come to the line. Bad day for the two brothers.

Cav is on his own but coming to the line. Great ride from himꦦ.

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Team Garmin-Cervelo
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
3 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo
4 Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad
5 Mikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha Team
6 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
7 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep Cycling Team
8 Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ
9 Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
10 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Pro Team Astana

1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 69:00:56
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:01:45
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:49
4 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:03:03
5 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:03:26
6 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank Sungard 0:03:42
7 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 0:03:49
8 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD 0:04:01
9 Thoma𝕴s Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:06:04

Contador and Evans put in almost a minute to Andy S𒁏chleck. Voeckler lost a few seconds but ꧋keeps his lead.

The big winner, apart fro🥂m Hushovd, is Evans. Cꦦontador and Sanchez also doing well.

Voeckler rode well. He didn't panic, he rode 💛at his pace and keeps his lead. Contador blew the ra💫ce apart though on that climb and it wasn't even that hard. Andy and Frank will face some hard questions at the finish.

What an intere🍸sting introduction to the final week of the Tour.  Things will really be interesting now!

Thanks for reading along with us and be sure to join us again tomorrow.  Will Voeckler manage to hold on to yellow?  Will we see more surprise ✤moves?  Who will be the big winner and the big loser?

We shall see....