Three riders have just gone clear after the first climb, they are Di Gregorio/Cofidis, Vaugrenard/FDJ and Ludvigsson/Argos Shimano

Three has become five with the addition of Eijssen/BMC and Jerome/Eeropcar. The advantage is currently 2m 48s

Ludvigsson/ARG wanted the pace to be stepped up a notch so continuously kept attacking his companions in the break which wasn't helping matters at all

The three original escapees have gone clear again and opened up a 34s advantage

Linus Gerdermann of Radioshack-Nissan led the peleton up to the trio and went straight past and continues to set the pace at the front

At the ten kilometre to go banner he is still at the front of affairs

Posthuma takes over at the front as Radioshack look to deliver Nizzolo to the line first

As they pass under the red kite it could be anyone from ten who could get the win today as they all start the charge for the line

And its Assan Bazayev of Astana who takes back to back victories with another great show of strength in the sprint today

Assan Bazayev Astana Pro Team

Philip Deignan UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team

Simone Ponzi Astana Pro Team

Astana Pro Team

The guys could not do anything today, they were totally outclassed and outfought in every department. The only thing worth smiling about is the fact that Julien is still in the top five on the General classification

Well i am sorry to announce that there was a bout of sickness through the night and several of our riders and staff have been laid low by it.
We hope that it doesn't affect the performance we need but we can never be sure. The race doctor came to our hotel in the early hours of the morning and administered medicines to aid recover, so we hope that it will do the trick

A large group of eleven riders have managed to prise themselves away from the clutches of the peleton and have gained a massive advantage in a short space of time. The lead is 4m 43s and the best within the group on the general classification is Vogondy/COF who is 9th at 34s

The lead is still around the four and a half minute mark and has an additional rider in the name of Delaroziere of La Pomme

The gap is now under three minutes as Team Astana control the pack in defence of race Leader Bazayev

Thanks to the hard work being put in at the front of the peleton by Astana they have managed to close the advantage to just two minutes

With twenty kilometres to go the breakaway has reached one of the toughest sections of today's stage the Col de Gardes

Just as the break gets swept up, Mountains Leader Philip Deignan of UnitedHealthcare launches off the front to try and get pole position on the final climb of Mont Faron

Machado ofRadioshack-Nissan puts in a little burst at the front

Machado has 47s on second placed Lofkvist of Team Sky, surely he must win the stage from this position

What a Brilliant victory for Tiago Machado of Radioshack, but can he finish over 40s ahead of Bazayev to take the race win as well

Assan Bazayev Astana Pro Team

Nicolas Vogondy Cofidis, le crédit en ligne

Alexandre Geniez Team Argos - Shimano

RadioShack - Nissan

That was a very hard race for us today because we only had two riders in Julien and Jure who were capable of putting in some kind of performance. We sent Jure in to the break to try be there at the end for Julien but it wasn't to be, so we have to make sure that all our riders and staff make a quick recovery and we can try again