Dutchman Pieter Weening leads heading into today's sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia, a 216km trek through the hills from Orvieto to Fiuggi.

Other big news this morning is that Mount Etna is erupting. Owing to the ash, Catania airport has been closed. Race director Angelo Zomegnan says there is no need to worry ahead of Sunday's stage in Sicily - which included two ascents of Etna. Firstly, the eruptions are only little; second, the airport should be open again; third, the roads used by the riders are currently unaffected. Should the situation worsen, alternative transfer methods will be put in place.

The Popovych five-man breakaway now has a lead of 3'55" over the peloton. The Ukrainian veteran had a pop yesterday on the first dirt track climb. He managed to open up a small gap but was in the end pulled back by Astana's Roman Kreuziger. Liquigas hot favourite Vincenzo Nibali then put on a masterclass of descending, showing no fear whatsoever as he ripped down the other side. Nibali is the best placed of the GC contenders at the moment - but were only talking seconds.

On to today's action now: five riders are out ahead. Jussi Veikkanen (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Kristof Vandewalle (Quick Step) instigated the break after 9km of racing and were joined 5km later by Yaroslav Popovych (RadioShack), Sacha Modolo (Colnago) and Frederik Veuchelen (Vacansoleil). After 20km the group has a lead of 2'55".

Millar was one of a handful of riders who spoke out yesterday about the dangers of riding so much downhill sections on the 'strade bianche' dirt tracks. The veteran Garmin-Cervelo rider said the dust clouds and the flying stones from under the wheels of support cars made it incredibly dangerous - as did the inclusion of many hairpin bends. Indeed, stage five was littered with crashes, many of which came on the white road sections. Food for thought after the Weylandt's tragedy.

Britain's David Millar had an eventful day in the saddle yesterday. The overnight pink jersey collided with Spain's Angel Vicioso while racing for the intermediate sprint and was then dropped on the first dirt track climb. The proud Scot managed to fight his way back into the leading group, but cracked on the final ascent into Orvieto. Our blogger Blazin' Saddles reflects on Millar's testing two days in pinkl, while says a few words about the late Wouter Weylandt.

There was a big scare yesterday when Tom-Jelte Slagter, the Rabobank team-mate of stage winner Pieter Weening, crashed heavily and lay motionless on the road. The 20-year-old Dutchman suffered a broken eye socket, concussion and multiple wounds to the face. He was taken to hospital and was forced to withdraw from the race.

Today's stage has breakaway written all over it - especially seeing that Weening's lead at the top is so narrow while tomorrow's stage sees the arrival of the mountains. As such, for many it will be the last chance to seize a day in pink. The 216-km slog is never entirely flat but there are no huge climbs. The finale features a punchy climb into the town of Fiuggi so expect some movement up front.

And they're off: the 194 remaining riders get stage six underway under the Umbrian sun.

Weening managed to hold off the challenge of a fast approaching chasing group on the final climb to Orvieto yesterday, and holds a slender two-second lead going into today's stage, a long 216-km slog south beyond Rome to the town of Fiuggi.