Nibali going for it on the descent...

...and reeled back in early on the next climb. All that's achieved is to take some effort out of Peter Sagan's legs.

Tommy Voeckler, no tour is complete without him destroying himself for a place on the stage podium - what a guy

Room for one more Voeckler banzai manouvre on Bastille Day...
Thought that Big Jens was going to get the win today, but he was done about 1500m from the line. I think that would have been a popular win.

Well controlled by Sky, for whom Richie Porte was absolutely magnificent.

Jen Voigt on twitter: OK that officially a hard day, gotta admit. More than once I yelled at my legs "Shut up legs". That man is a legend. He went on to say he's going to avoid the top 100 tomorrow and just hide. Hide and survive. Also, just ordered Racing Through The Dark. David Millar is always worth listening to, so why wouldn't he be good to read as well?

Jen Voigt on twitter: OK that officially a hard day, gotta admit. More than once I yelled at my legs "Shut up legs". That man is a legend. He went on to say he's going to avoid the top 100 tomorrow and just hide. Hide and survive. Also, just ordered Racing Through The Dark. David Millar is always worth listening to, so why wouldn't he be good to read as well?

It's a fabulous book.

Spartacus has pulled out of the Tour. His missus being about to drop and preparation for the Olympics are the cited reasons

Agreed. I would also recommend reading 'Riis' and 'Slaying the Badger' from some of my recent reads.

30-man breakaway in the foothills of the Madeleine. BMC have committed three men - Burghardt, Gilbert and Cumming - to it, but there doesn't seem to be any real threat in there to the yellow jersey. Sky at the head of the peloton, but not sure they really need to chase the breakaway just yet. Might even serve them well to let it go for a bit

Van Garderen shoots off from the peloton up the Croix de Fer and takes Evans with him. Big attack. Sky responding with Knees, Rogers and Porte with Wiggins tucked in. The BMC boys waited until EBH had done his stint and dropped off.