The Giro, my favourite tour of the year is only 2 weeks....

[Bonus]

Giant are talking on the radio to their race director . . .

One of the BMC riders is studying the race profile card while he rides . . .

[Bonus]

Half a dozen riders have pulled over for a wee! Last chance before things get serious I guess. . . .

[Bonus]

40km to go. Gap is now 7.26

[Bonus]

 

A reminder of the riders in the break:

 

Alessandro Bisolti (Nippo - Vini Fantini)

Eugert Zhupa (Wilier Trestina-Southeast)

Laurent Didier (Trek-Segafredo)

Pim Ligthart (Lotto Soudal)

Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal)

 

Peloton at 7'57.

['Dale]

The break might get away here

 

Seems if the Maglia Rosa and his team is not pace-setting, there's a lot of tentative teams

['Dale]

Over 8 mins with 35 kms to go

[Bonus]

8.52 mins now, with 32km to go. Unless anyone has a pretty spectacular trick up his sleeve, I think today could be breakaway day.

['Dale]

8.52 mins now, with 32km to go. Unless anyone has a pretty spectacular trick up his sleeve, I think today could be breakaway day.

Love it when the breakaway wins ????????????????

[Bonus]

Their advantage seems to be that no one in the peloton is fussed today. Unless they crack badly on the climb (unlikely) or start in-fighting (more likely) they must have it.

['Dale]

 

Into the final 30km and Orica GreenEdge push up to the front of the peloton and string the peloton out. The chase is on but really it's all about the battle for GC, the stage win should come from the riders in the break. The gap is at 8'31.

['Dale]

 

Didier takes a turn on the break. He rode for Riis a few years ago before finding his way at Trek. Decent rider, and workhorse but never really taken a major win. Could today be his day?

[Bonus]

Gap is coming down slowly now. 7.59 with 28 to go.

['Dale]

Nibali, jersey open, is sitting with his teammates near the front of the bunch. So much pressure on the Italian in this race, especially given that his contract is up and he failed to really deliver last year in the Tour de France.

 

And there's been a crash.

[Bonus]

Breakaway are on a descent and flying.

['Dale]

 

Lampre are back to the front, along with Nibali's Astana squad. The gap to the break is down to 8'00 with 27km go to as the break hit a bit of a false flat section.

 

Zhupa and Bisolit have been out in front since the first 20km off the race.

['Dale]

CRASH

 

Just one rider down, he's from Bardiani but no confirmation on the name yet. The fall happened near the back of the peloton. It's Bongiorno.