Welcome to live coverage of stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia, a 151-km ride past Lake Como from Morbegno to San Pellegrino Terme.

The peloton comes home 6:04 down on the winners, meaning Alberto Contador retains his pink jersey with ease. No change in the GC.

The remnants of the initial break are led over the line by Russell Downing, who outsprints Oscar Gatto, 4:35 down.

Brambilla takes fourth and Tiralongo fifth, 1:22 down on today's winner Eros Capecchi.

Pinotti opens up the sprint, Capecchi comes to the front, and neither of his opponents can do anything. An easy win for the Liquigas man.

Pinotti is still leading...

One-to-go banner passed!

The three almost come to a standstill on the approach... what tactics and gamesmanship...

Pinotti in pole, with Seeldraeyers and Capecchi in his wheel.

Capecchi and Seeldraeyers start to talk: they know that they have to combine together if one of them wants to beat Pinotti in this sprint.

Pinotti is powering off the front, prompting Seeldraeyers to get on his wheel. It's back together.

The game of cat and mouse begins... the chasing duo could benefit from this, although they are still the wrong side of a minute off the pace.

Five-to-go for the leaders. The peloton are seven minutes down now.

So, the forecast showers never materialised out there: the leaders are approaching San Pellegrino under bright sun.

Tiralongo has not given up though - the Astana rider urges his fellow chaser on as they pedal through a tunnel quick in pursuit of the leaders.

The chasing duo are still 1:34 back. So, it's two Italians vs one Belgian for the finish. Place your bets now...

Tiralongo has caught Brambilla... the peloton is really taking it easy now: 6:35 the latest check. Pinotti is the best placed rider in the break - and he's almost half an hour down in the GC.

Visconti has caught Pineau, who in turn is swept up by the peloton. The leaders still have 1:30 on Brambilla, with the chasing group just behind the Italian. Wiothout a doubt, one of Pinotti, Capecchi and Seeldraeyers will win it today.

Visconti continues his lone pursuit - but surely this is just a PR move more than any realistic attempt to make an impact today.

The trio are on to the final rise before the final rundown to San Pellegrino, where no doubt there'll be a suitably fizzy finish.

Wouldn't want to be doing this descent from inside the peloton... the road surface isn't great and there are patches of dust, gravel and water... Brambilla is now 53 seconds back so his chances look to be evaporating.