Welcome to live coverage of stage nine of the Tour de France, a 41.5km individual time trial from Arc en Senans to Besancons. With Britain's Bradley Wiggins and Australian Cadel Evans separated by just 10 seconds, this will give us a better idea of who the major favourite for this year's Tour de France crown really is.

Thbaut Pinot is 1:26 down at the first check - that's even slower than Frank Scheck. The Frenchman feeling it after his ride yesterday.

Off goes Chris Froome for Team Sky! People forget that he beat Wiggins in the Vuelta ITT last September... big day for the 27-year-old. Jurgen van den Broek is on course too.

Schleck only sets the 24th best time at the first check, 1:23 down on Van Garderen. And that was the uphill section best suited to the Luxembourg rider. Just goes to show: the time trials in this year's Tour were always going to be a bridge too far for Schleck, regardless of his showing in the mountains. The same could have been said about Andy, were he not injured.

Janez Brajkovic goes through the first check in fifth, 25 seconds down on Van Garderen.

Peter Velits (OPQS) is third at the finish, 1:02 down on Cancellara.

Chavanel on his time trial: "To get close to the best in the world on such a demanding course is good for me. You have to maintain your rhythm and stick with it."

We have a new leader at the first check: Young American Tejay van Garderen has just taken three seconds off Cancellara's time. Superb effort from the BMC man, who could be back in white tonight, depending on how Taaramae rides.

Rein Taaramae of Cofidis is on course. The Estonian has the white jersey as the best young rider. He leads Tony Gallopin by 46 seconds in the standings, with Pinot third at 1:14.

Chavanel passes Rémy Di Gregorio of Codifis in the final straight before crossing the line to set the second best time at the finish, 27 seconds down on Cancellara. The national champion should be pleased with that one.

Andreas Kloden at the first check: the German veteran is 28 seconds down with the fourth best time. Pretty solid.

Pierre Rolland crosses the first check 1:41 down on Cancellara. The white jersey from last year's Tour had a mixed opening nine days in the Tour: he rode well but lost time when hurting his elbow in that big crash in stage six.

In the start zone, both Brad Wiggins and Chris Froome of Team Sky are on the rollers - they're off in about 20 minutes.

Down the ramp goes the youngest rider in this year's Tour, yesterday's winner Thibaut Pinot. The Frenchman has a tattoo on the inside of his right bicep that reads "Only victory is beautiful". Safe to say, today won't be a beautiful day for the FDJ man.

Chavanel crosses the second time check 26 seconds down on Cancellara, who still leads. The top 15 about to start.

Fourth fastest for Jerome Coppel at the first check.

Kloden, Basso, Van Garderen, Brajkovic are all on course, with Frank Schleck the next to leave. Then we'll be into the top 15.

Team Sky's Mick Rogers is fifth fastest at the first check, 39 down on Cancellara.

Peter Velits is currently third at the first check, 13 seconds down on Cancellara. So that's two Omega Pharma-Quick Step riders in the top three at that stage - Chavanel is still second.

Spartacus is powering his way towards the finish. He looks pretty magnificent on a bike - but we won't know just how good he is until the likes of Evans and Wiggins are on course. He he comes, and Cancellara crosses the line with a time of 52:21. That's 1:19 faster than Tony Martin. We have a new leader.

We're on to the top 20 now as Europcar's Pierre Rolland rolls down the ramp.

Sandy Casar crosses the finish line in Besancon for eighth place, 53 seconds down on leader Tony Martin. Peter Sagan crosses a bit later, a whole 4:31 down on the top.