Hello and welcome - for the last time - to live coverage of Stage 21 of the Tour de France, a largely processional 103km ride from Montgeron to Paris which, after all the champagne and posing for photos, should conclude with the prestigious sprint on the Champs-Elysees.

Steve Cummings has now come to the front to lead the chase to help set things up for his Dimension Data team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen. The gap is 13 seconds as they come up from the tunnel and onto the Rue de Rivoli.

The gap is still 20 seconds for the nine escapees - although it fluctuates, sometimes dropping to 15 seconds before rising again. Simon Geschke of Team Sunweb sets the tempo in the chase, with Lars Bak and Thomas De Gendt of Lotto Soudal coming through every now and then.

It's worth remembering that Andre Greipel has won on the previous two occasions on the Champs-Elysees. In fact, last year, the German's first win of the race came on its final day. Can he repeat that today and make it a hat-trick? Greipel has been in poor form throughout the race - but he has not failed to win a stage on a Grand Tour since the Vuielta in 2007.

We had the Alpha Jets again earlier... just two days after they starred at Salons-de-Provence.

A reminder of this break: Imañol Erviti (Movistar), Miki Schär (BMC), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana), Daryl Impey (Orica-Scott), Julien Vermote (Quick-Step Floors), Marcus Burghardt (Bora-Hansgrohe), Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin), Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) and Dion Smith (Wanty-Groupe Gobert). Behind, it's Lotto Soudal, Sunweb and Dimension Data leading the chase.

Still 19 seconds for this select group out ahead as they pass over the finish line. Five more laps and the race really is on. The rain has stopped but the surface is still rather damp.

Barguil taking his life into his own hands as he bids to get back into the bunch following that puncture...

The breakaway cross the finish line after the second lap to mop up the majority of the intermediate sprint points - not that that will have any bearing on the destiny of the green jersey, which has already been secured by Michael Matthews. More importantly, this nine-man group has 15 seconds to play with. It's quite a stellar group made up of some top rouleurs and some serious powerhouses, so it won't be caught quickly.

Puncture for Warren Barguil who needs a rear wheel change. He only needs to finish to confirm his polka dot jersey - and he won't lose his place in the top 10 to Damiano Caruso unless he finishes some five minutes in arrears.

And we're getting the first drops of rain now... which could spice things up on the cobbles. Talk about a nervous finale to today's stage - not just for those wishing to win, but those needing to complete this race to secure their classification jerseys...

Nine riders out in front: Chavanel, Impey, Lutsenko, Schar, Erviti, Politt, Smith, Burghardt and Vermote. They have 20 seconds to play with.

So, who can win today? If it comes to a bunch sprint then there are still some big names out there despite all those withdrawals and disqualifications. Those looking for a win today include Andre Greipel, Nacer Bouhanni, Dylen Groenewegen, Michael Matthews, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Alexander Kristoff, Jens Keukeleire, Sonny Colbrelli, Greg van Avermaet, Ben Swift...

Impey has been joined by some decent riders out in front: Sylvain Chavanel, Nils Politt and Julien Vermote - with others in pursuit.

Impey is still ahead after the first circuit of the Arc de Triomphe, with numerous riders riding hard on the front in pursuit - including Pierre Rolland and Guillaume van Keirsbulck.

Daryl Impey of Orica-Scott has a small gap over a chasing group of around a dozen riders.

The first attack comes from Yoann Offredo, who we saw earlier riding clear to say hello to his family. He has sparked a flurry of activity behind.

After that extraordinary sideshow, the race gets going as the peloton hits the Champs-Elysees and - finally - we're under way!

The riders are almost on the famous Champs-Elysees circuit - and Froome is back with his Team Sky colleagues after his bike change. They're crossing the bridge beside the Grand Palais and then... they go into the building before something rather baffling happens.

Froome mechanical! You couldn't make this up...

CRASH: Well, that sums up Bahrain-Merida's race, really, as Tsgabu Grmay hits the deck as the race enters the centre of Paris. The Ethiopian is ok and should continue on his way, but that was a needless flirtation with the cobbles.

There are so many big-name sprinters who won't be here today to fight for the win on the Champs-Elysees, including four-time Paris winner Mark Cavendish, double Paris winner Marcel Kittel and the likes of Peter Sagan and Arnaud Demare.