In this episode of The Telegraph Cycling Podcast, Richard Moore and Lionel Birnie are reunited with Daniel Friebe to discuss an intriguing fifth stage, which took the riders 216 kilometres from Limoges into the Massif Central.

With four climbs in the final 40 kilometres – including two ranked second-category – it was anticipated that some of the overall contenders might use it as an opportunity to test the legs of their rivals.

And that is what happened and, although there were few dramatic developments, we did discover that Giro d’Italia champion Vincenzo Nibali was telling the truth when he said he was not here to challenge for the yellow jersey. He lost eight minutes.

Spain’s Alberto Contador, who crashed on each of the first two days, suffered too – hanging on as Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde and the Movistar team set a fierce pace on the final climb but getting dropped slightly when Frenchman Romain Bardet accelerated towards the top.

Up ahead, Belgian riders finished first and second, with BMC Racing’s Greg Van Avermaet taking the stage win and the yellow jersey by more than two-and-a-half minutes from Thomas De Gendt.

Peter Sagan, who was dropped on the climbs, relinquishes the yellow jersey but retains the green jersey of points competition leader.

In this episode we dissect the clues from the first tentative climbs of the race, discuss BMC Racing’s overall chances with VeloNews reporter Caley Fretz, hear from Britain’s Adam Yates, who is handily placed overall after a solid day.

There’s also the daily award of the Pédaleur de Charme prize and a chat with Team Sky’s Dave Brailsford about Wales’ chances in the Euro 2016 semi-final against Portugal.

The Telegraph Cycling Podcast is supported by Rapha and Eurosport.