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

['Dale]

Betancur is losing ground on the main field. He doesnt look comfortable at all.

['Dale]

Esteban Chaves: "Today is a really hard stage. It’s important to be in front on the climbs, especially so you can be on the front for the descents afterwards. There’s 4,000 metres of climbing but there’s a lot of downhill so it’s important to keep your attention all day, to try to follow the big guys."

['Dale]

Trentin, jersey unzipped, continues to set the pace for the peloton and his team leader. Up ahead and Denifl is still climbing on his own.

['Dale]

Etixx have eased off though, just slightly, and it has allowed the Cannondale/Ulissi group to move out to three minuntes clear.

['Dale]

91km remaining from 170km

3'30 between the peloton and Denifl now.

['Dale]

It's about containment then for Etixx at the moment as Trentin continues to set the pace for his leader. Denifl meanwhile, is close to the summit of the second climb.

['Dale]

Nibali is coming back through the cars. It looks like he went back to the team car briefly but up ahead Denifl is about to take the KOM points.

['Dale]

Cunego poised to once again sprint for the rest of the KOM points

['Dale]

Cunego goes, followed once again by Visconti, and this time he gets the better of his compatriot and both stay upright.

['Dale]

Matteo Trentin, still on the front for Etixx, zips up his jersey and leads the peloton over the climb and onto this next descent.

['Dale]

Denifl is having a great day out there - he's making his way downhill quite happily here with almost 2 minutes over the breakaway group and over four minutes now over the pink jersey group.

['Dale]

Geez, the pace is hot

The PROs will be crying for the rest day by tomorrow night ????

['Dale]

Denifl has lost his lead and is now back in the main breakaway group.

['Dale]

 

It's unclear how or why that happened but Denifl was stopped at the side of the road as the break caught up. He has now joined onto the back of that group.

['Dale]

So, the situation:

 

Large breakaway group (including Diego Ulissi)

 

+2:25

 

Pink jersey group

['Dale]

68km remaining from 170km

On the descent and Jungels is second wheel, and keeping out of trouble. Two more serious climbs to come as the gap moves at 2'37 with 68km to go.