In case you missed the news last night, today's stage has been cut short to to the expected high on top of the 'Giant of Provence'.

This is what Christian Prudhomme, the Tour de France race director, had to say about making that decision following yesterday's stage.

“As you saw [Wednesday], there is a lot of wind. It will be more windy tomorrow [Thursday] according to the weather forecast. So the finish line will be on the Chalet-Reynard, six kilometres away from the summit of the Mont Ventoux. It is at the end of the [forest]; after it is only rocks and it will be very, very windy.

“So for safety, to go further away for the riders and for the fans and even for all our technical things at the finish line…it is impossible to do something, apart from something with chalk on the road [laughs]. And that won’t be the case. So the finish will be at the Chalet-Reynard.

“It is very important for us to have a battle between the best riders in the world tomorrow. It will be ten kilometres with an average of nine percent. It will be very tough and I am sure it will be a big battle.”