Cippo

Boonen again waves his hand in frustration that nobody has the strength or desire to work with him.

The riders hit sector 7, with Sagan and a Belkin rider off the front of the chasers.

Thomas tries and drags back the group up to Boonen. That is not a good sign for Boonen.

Boonen is away and nobody seems to have the legs to go after him.

Boonen breaks from lead group.

Sagan attacks.

Other riders are coming across to form a serious chase group.

Boom is on Cancellara's wheel. They need to work together after they leave sector number 8. The gap is 30 seconds.

Here we go! Sep Vanmarcke has surged clear and Cancellara has gone after him.

Could Cancellara try to go across the gap on his own?

Gregory Rast is now working for Cancellara at the head of the peloton but the gap is still growing. It is now 45 seconds.

The race is a knife edge. It could either way. Boonen's attack could stay away. But chasers could soon come after them with conviction.

14:34:39 CEST Wiggins and Sagan are also in the peloton.

The six have opened a 30-second lead and feed quickly after the pave. Behind Trek takes up the chase for Cancellara.

BMC is no longer chasing behind, forcing Belkin and Trek to do the work.

Boonen is on the front and is driving the pace. The arrival of Hushovd has changed the race and the chances of this move staying away.

Hushovd leads the attack but the peloton can see them.

50km remaining from 257km Here we go!

However things will get very serious very soon. It's time for the Mons-en-Pévèle sector. It is 3km long and always shakes-up the race.

The pave sector has split the peloton and a group has caught Boonen's group.

Bert De Backer (Giant-Shimano) is also with Boonen.

Thor Hushovd (BMC) is coming across to the four upfront.

Yannick Martinez (Team Europcar) is also there but the peloton is coming up to them.

Only Thomas seems able to go with Boonen into a stiff headwind.

As expected Boonen surges again, attacking on the grass on the side of the road.