Four men are on the run right from the start-led by Jens Mouris...
No-one is chasing at first, so Tom Danielson has his seat post adjusted...
DENIELSONGARMINMECHANICPARISNICE
Sebastian Minard is next at the garage - he has gear trouble...
MINARDMECHANICPARISNICE
Laurent Mangel is big enough to provide the escape with some valuable horsepower - they are four minutes up...
Rabobank show their intention now, chasing steadily and keeping that gap within reach later in the day...
RABOBANKPELOTONPARISNICE
Geraint Thomas is re-adjusting his headwear in the freezing cold air...
David Millar seems happy enough with the conditions - he's in-line for a podium finish in Nice..!
MILLARPARISNICE
The peloton is averaging a high speed with a massive tailwind blowing them along...
On the long road to Limoges, the escapers are still three minutes up with 50-kiliometres to go...
MOURISESCAPEPARISNICE
Astana is near the front now, with Pereiro protecting Contador from any lurking dangers...
Little and large - Sebastian Rosseler is having no trouble protecting Levi Leipheimer...
ROSSELERSHACKPARISNICE
Koen DeKort is leading an escape that will have stayed away for over 180-kilometres by the time they get caught...
DE KORTESCAPEPARISNICE
There's some TV-inspired action on the last climb - Valverde rides near the front with Boom next to him and Contador just behind...
VALVERDEBOOMPARISNICE
William Bonnet wins stage two into Limoges - note Peter Sagan in second place and Luis Leon Sanchez in third: Sanchez takes 3rd overall away from David Millar...
BONNETBBOXPARISNICE
Lars Boom look quite invincible for now - but can he climb with the climbers in the coming days..?
BOOMPARISNICE