On the ticker
14:59 CEST
Classics specialist Flecha (who will laugh about this weather) is the best-placed rider in the group. He is currently 27th behind yellow jersey Robert Gesink (Rabobank), at 8'24" - but isn't going to steal the overall lead from a team-mate... or would he??
15:05 CEST
BMC's Mathias Frank is quite a phenomenon. He was already in the break yesterday, and again today. The Swiss native is very motivated for his home race...
The gap has come down slightly, to 4 minutes.