Hello dear Eurosport Live Text fans, I must apologise once again that it is not Felix Lowe in the hotseat today, but rather I, Tom Owen. Felix will be back on Tuesday, I promise.

Crash! Jens Debuscherre is down and he looks sore.

Those names again in the break are... Markel Irizar (Trek-Segafredo), Marc Soler (Movistar), Marco Haller (Katusha-Alpecin), Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Tobias Ludvigsson (FDJ), Anthony Turgis (Cofidis), Lluis Mas and Diego Rubio (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Conor Dunne (Aqua Blue Sport) and Ricardo Vilela (Manzana Postobon).

We have 115km to go. The break's gap is looking stable at about three minutes. Nobody serious on GC here, so the peloton may well let them go.

Nothing like a bit of comparison with the pros to humble a guy...

I have just dug out my time from the Cumbre del Sol, which I rode in November this year. Strava says I did it in 24 minutes. The top guys are expected to do it in just under 12 today. The record is held by Tom Dumoulin, who did it in 11:21 on his way to win in 2015.

If you're just joining in, the big news today is that Cannondale-Drapac is on the hunt for $7million to secure its future as a WorldTour team. They even have a crowdfunding campaign on the go...

It's a long way till we hit the first ascent of the Alto de Puig Llorenca and the advantage the break takes into that first climb will be vital to their chances of success overall.

The gap is creeping up now, as it approaches the three-minute mark.

I would contend that 'the Tashkent Terror' is the best all-time cycling soubriquet. Very keen to hear your favourites too! You can find me at @owentcharles...

As cycling nicknames go, it's not the most imaginative, is it?

Dunne is known as 'El Alto' by Spanish cycling fans, which means 'the tall bloke', basically.

Connor Dunne of Aqua Blue Sport is in the break today. He told journalists earlier in the week that he has been finding La Vuelta quite tough, which may have something to do with him being 204cm tall and weighing 88 kilos.

Cannondale-Drapac are currently working on the front of the peloton to try and keep in touch with the break. The gap currently stands at 2'32".

I’m talking, of course, about the Cumbre del Sol, where Tom ‘Windmills’ Dumoulin won in 2015 on his way to capturing so many hearts (but not, crucially, the red jersey).

A rare chance for me to look well-researched today, as the stage actually finishes on a climb I have ridden myself. From what I remember, it’s terribly steep, quite dusty and runs through what I can only describe as a half-finished retirement village for sunburnt English people. 

Some familiar names in this break: Markel Irizar (Trek-Segafredo), Marc Soler (Movistar), Marco Haller (Katusha-Alpecin), Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Tobias Ludvigsson (FDJ), Anthony Turgis (Cofidis), Lluis Mas and Diego Rubio (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Conor Dunne (Aqua Blue Sport) and Ricardo Vilela (Manzana Postobon).

I must've put the mockers on Cannondale, as we now have what looks to be the day's break of 10, with not one single member of the US outfit included in their number.

Alberto Contador spoke yesterday about the need to "contain" the race leader, Chris Froome.

I will be doing my best to answer your tweets, which you can address to @owentcharles, or by using the hashtag #homeofcycling...

It's looking like a long, hot, flat one today. They will climb the Alto de Puig Lorenca twice, once at 128km, before cresting it again for La Vuelta's first summit finish.

What does this mean for the race? Well, I'd be very, very surprised if there wasn't some activity from the men in green today, expect them in the break and expect Woods to double down and attack on the final climb, the Cumbre del Sol, again today too. They are all ostensibly on the hunt for a new contract as of today.