Welcome to live coverage of the toughest day of the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia - a 229km trek through the mountains which features four first category climbs, including the race's highest peak.

No sign of Anton as yet, so Scarponi will be up to 2nd place on the podium tonight. Contador will stay in pink, with Nibali, despite losing time, in 3rd.

Gadret takes fourth, at 2:30. Rujano at 2:36. Nibali pips Rodriguez at 3:37. Then Kreuziger at 4:00. What an amazing day's racing.

Garzelli will hold on for second - just. Meanwhile, Scarponi is just metres behind the pink jersey! On to the gravel goes Garzelli. And he crosses the line at 1:40 for second. Contador comes home 10 seconds later, and Scarponi 7 seconds further back.

Nieve wins! What a titanic effort to chase down Garzelli and take the biggest and best scalp of his career.

The end is in sight as Nieve hits the gravel section that will take him the last 100m to the finish.

Nieve is getting closer to the finish, but it's now the steepest part of the climb. He should hold on for the win, but Garzelli may well be nipped for 2nd place by the pink jersey.

They have been in the saddle for almost seven and a half hours. What a day!

Scarponi has dropped Gadret - or vice versa. Contador passes the banner. The Spaniard could take his fourth second place if he catches Scarponi.

Under the one-to-go banner for Nieve, who will certainly win today. Garzelli is well over a minute back now - and there's more chance of Contador catching him than the Italian catching Nieve.

Nieve approaching the flamme rouge. What a ride.

Bakelants, one of the early escapees, is caught and passed by Contador.

Before yesterday, Basque team Euskaltel had never won a stage in the Giro. Now they'll have two in two days.

Contador has about 15 seconds on Gadret and Scarponi.

Nieve has 30 seconds on Garzelli.

Meanwhile, Nieve is getting near the top. He goes over a few concrete sections of road. This will be a second Grand Tour victory for him after a stage scalp in the 2010 Vuelta.

Contador already has 20 seconds on Nibali. He is just sensational.

Rodriguez also feeling the pain.

Nibali is with Menchov and losing time fast.

Now Contador is distancing both Gadret and Scarponi. Ruthless riding from the best rider in the world right now.