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.

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).

The chasing group includes the likes of Danilo Di Luca (Katusha), Stefano Pirazza (Colnago), Pieter Weening (Rabobank), Carlos Sastre (Geox) and Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone). So, it's not too shabby a collective. Olivier Kaisen, who was in the initial break, has been dropped by both the leaders and the chasing group. So it's six up front, then the 11 chasers at 1:40, then Kaisen 20secs back, then the peloton at a further 1:10.

Sella and Hoogerland have been caught by the chasing group. A second group of 11 riders are 1:40 back, while the pink jersey peloton is at 3:10.

Sella and Hoogerland have dropped their five breakaway compations on the initial slopes of the first category Pian Cavallo climb. The duo have about 30 seconds on the chasers, with the peloton a further 1:45 back.

One withdrawal today: South African fighter Robbie Hunter (RadioShack). Unlike most sprinters, Hunter decided to ride two more stages after the final flat stage on Thursday. He said this was so he could do some mountain training, but yesterday's wet finish atop the Zoncolan finally proved too much.

Those seven riders in the break: Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli), Kevin Seeldraeyers (QuickStep), Yaroslav Popovych (RadioShack), Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil), Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Katusha), Olivier Kaisen (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Francisco Aramendia (Euskaltel).

Another break has formed on the road ahead of the first climb of the day. It includes Yaroslav Popovych (RadioShack) as well as those two riders who tried their luck earlier - Sella and Hoogerland. Full info coming up.

Owing to a series of cancellations, protests and general mishaps, yesterday's stage, for all its eventual fireworks, was something of a farce. Our blogger tries to explain why, although many people think he clearly got the wrong end of the stick...

Today's stage is ridiculously brutal. Ok, yesterday we had the Zoncolan - but that came after a cluster of lower category climbs. No such relaxation today: we have one 2nd-cat climb and four 1st-cat climbs, including the Giau (the highest peak in this year's race, at 2,236m), the fearsome Fedaia and the long final climb to the Val di Fassa summit finish, which culminates in a tricky gravel section. This could be even more arduous if the forecast rain arrives...

ATTACK: And early break attempt by Androni's Emanuele Sella and Vacansoleil's Johnny Hoogerland is thwarted by the peloton.

Yesterday belonged to Spain, with Igor Anton (Euskaltel) winning atop the Zoncolan and Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) further strengthening his grip on the pink jersey with yet another assured ride.

They're off! The start to today's gruelling stage was brought forward owing to concerns about the rainy conditions which might meet the riders later in the day. Currently, it's a fresh but bright day in Conegliano. In fact, the sun is out and the skies blue.