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.

Garzelli and Sella are zipping down the descent together, a cluster of seconds ahead of the following escapees. Back in the peloton, it's Liquigas on the front setting the pace.

Hoogerland attacks in a bid to snatch those mountain points, but Italians Sella and Garzelli react, with the latter crossing the summit of the Forella Cibrani in first place.

Saxo Bank are coming to the front of the peloton, in view of Nieve's virtual pink on the road.

Another withdrawal to report: Colnago climber Domenico Pozzovivo. The Italian has been short of form this year and calls it a day.

Some outside-the-box predictions for today coming in below. Halfwheel suggests Quick Step's Jerome Pineau, while Thomas thinks Johann Tschopp is the man to watch from the breakaway. Derek Adams is going for Philip Deignan, whilst Ra has his money on Seeldraeyers. Oh and Thomas, you're correct - the points atop the Giau are not doubled, but there will be bonus points for the first two over.

The 18-man leading group is onto the second climb of the day, the Cat.2 Forella Cibiani, which climbs 10km at 7 per cent.

A reminder of those 18 riders in the break: Garzelli, Tshopp, Pirazzi, Nieve, Sastre, Di Luca, Losada, Pasamontes, Petrov, Weening, Deignan, Sella, Hoogerland, Aramendia, Kuschynski, Seeldrayers, Popovych and Bakelandt. The gap is still just under 10 minutes.

The leaders are approaching the feeding zone with a 9:45 advantage.

The lead has stabilised: it remains 9:20 but with all those major tests lying up ahead. Reading your comments below, some of the names thrown in the hat for the win today are Nibali, Scarponi, Menchov, Garzelli... Is anyone going to think outside the box a little?

Of course, the highlight of today's stage is the climb of Giau, which is the site of this year's Cima Coppi prize - awarded to the first rider to reach the Giro's highest peak. There will also be double king of the mountains points atop the 2,236m summit. In honour of Italian cycling champion Fausto Coppi, it's quite a prestigious prize so expect one of the Italian riders to give it their best shot. In fact, it could be the reason why Garzelli is out ahead today.

Bakelants has managed to join the leaders, making a more-rounded 18-man group. They're 9:20 ahead of the peloton, making Euskaltel's Mikel Nieve virtual maglia rosa on the road. The riders are on a bumpy plateau following a minor climb, and will now descend towards the feeding zone before tackling the remaining four gruelling climbs.

The leading group - which includes Sastre, Di Luca, Garzelli, Nieve, Sella, Weening, Popovych, Deignan and Hoogerland - now have 8:25 on the peloton.

Igor Anton's win yesterday propelled the Basque rider up the standings to third place, just one second behind Vincenzo Nibali. With the pair 3:20 and 3:21 behind Contador, many say it is now a fight for second place.

One rider is trying to bridge the gap between the peloton and the leaders. It's Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-Lotto).

The leading 17-man group have 4:12 over the peloton as they rip through the valley in the second - and last - flat section of today's stage.

Confirmation of the order over the Cat.1 Pian Cavallo summit: 1. Sella (15pts), 2. Hoogerland (9), 3. Popovych (5), 4. Seeldraeyers (3), 5. Aramendia (2), 6. Kuchynski (1).

Who do you think will win today's stage? Can anyone topple Alberto Contador? How many minutes will Johnny Hoogerland lose to the stage 15 victor? Would a victory for Di Luca or Sella leave a nasty taste in the mouth? How would a real Belgian pronounce Seeldraeyers? Send in your thoughts below...

The 11 chasing riders have joined the six leaders to create a psuedo 17-strong super-group. They have 3:30 over the pink jersey group on the descent from the Pian Cavallo. With the calibre of some of the riders in this group, it should stay out for quite some while - perhaps right until the final climb of the day.

Two more withdrawal's to report on today: Frantisek Rabon (HTC) and Manuel Cardoso (RadioShack).

Of the leading group, Sella is the best placed in the GC, 15:54 down on Alberto Contador. For the chasers, it's Nieve who's best placed at 9:08. As such, no need for Saxo Bank to be too concerned for the time being.

The 11 chasers in full: Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel), Johann Tschopp (BMC), Carlos Sastre (Geox), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone), Pieter Weening (Rabobank), Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago), Evgeni Petrov (Astana), Alberto Losada (Katusha), Danilo Di Luca (Katusha), Luis Pasamontes (Movistar), Philip Deignan (RadioShack).