Welcome to stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia - the day that the fight for the GC should really hot up. The 186km stage from Falzes to Cortina d'Ampezzo features five climbs, including the fearsome Cat.1 Passo Giau, before finishing at the fashionable ski resort after a long, technical downhill.

No one apart from Rabottini seems too concerned about the points here: the other four riders are more concerned with putting on some long-sleeves ahead of this fast, long descent. Rabottini takes the points, uncontested, to consolidate his lead in the KOM standings.

The leaders are nearing the top of this long climb. They are above the tree- and grass-line: they're flanked either side by rock, the odd bush and small piles of snow.

Back on the front of the peloton it's Liquigas and Euskaltel setting the tempo. Already the pack has splintered into multiple groups.

Samoilau leads the quintet up the climb. They're passing open lush meadows that would usually be ski runs in the winter. There are quite a lot of ski lifts and chalets dotted around, and the pine trees are rather pretty. In short, specatcular views - especially of the snow-capped mountain peaks in the distance. Seeldraeyers takes up the pace before passing over to Montaguti.

They're edging up the Cat.2 Passo di Valparola and the five leaders have almost six minutes on the bunch. Blue jersey Rabottini will be readying himself for the points to consolidate his lead in the KOM standings.

The five leaders now have 4:20 over the bunch.

Of course, it's not just about the climbs today - the descents may be crucial too, in particular the long run to the finish. The first descent from the Passo Valparola to Agordo is very fast, while the others are more technical and complex. The last descent is interrupted by a short climb to Pocol, 8km from the finish. Riders like Damiano Cunego and Roman Kreuziger could take time from a more timid downhiller such as Ivan Basso.

Matteo Rabottini, the blue jersey, is the only rider in this break to have won a stage on a Grand Tour. The young Italian, of course, won Sunday's stage 15 to Pian dei Resinelli. The lead is creeping up, with the peloton content to sit back and wait for the bigger tests later in the day. It's almost four minutes now.

The gap is up to two minutes now for the leading quintet. Belgian Kevin Seeldraeyers is the best place in the GC, 14:57 down on the pink jersey. It's nice to see Belorusian Branislau Samoilau in the break - the Movistar rider will be trying to take the win for Xavi Tondo today.

A cluster of riders set off in pursuit of the RadioShack pair, prompting their sweeping up. The five leaders now have a decent one minute gap over the bunch so this should stick for a while.

RadioShack-Nissan, who have had a torrid Giro (not to mention season, full stop), are now working to get onto the break. They have two riders - Oliver Zaugg and Thomas Rohregger - riding in pursuit of the leading group.

BREAK: Five riders are now out in front, including the blue jersey... They are: Branislau Samoilau (Movistar), Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini), Kevin Seeldraeyers (Astana), Jose Serpa (Androni Giocattoli) and Matteo Montaguti (Ag2r-La Mondiale). They have 35 seconds on the bunch.

Another withdrawal to report: Belgian Gaetan Bille, one of the quieter Lotto Belisol riders, has called it a day. News of another break coming right up...

20 riders managed to pull ahead of the bunch - including stage 15 winner, Rabottini - but they were reeled in, so we're back to the drawing board.

Still no break so far, but we're onto the nursery slopes of the first climb of the day, the Cat.2 Passo Valparola, so expect some action soon. Who do you think will win today's stage? Who would you like to win? What will happen in the battle for the pink jersey? Joaquim Rodriguez has a history of tailing off in the third week of Grand Tours... will it happen in Italy?

The news filtering in is that Sky's Peter Kennaugh actually withdrew after the start of the stage, as opposed to didn't start the race. We'll keep you updated on that one.

There are four classified climbs today: Passo Valparola: 14.1km, 5.5% average, 13% max - Passo Duran: 12.2km, 8.1% average, 14% max - Forcella Staulanza: 12.3km, 6.9% average, 11% max - Passo Giau: 9.9km, 9.3% average, 14% max. The big one is the Passo Giau, which Ivan Basso once famously likened to "a slap in the face".

In the other jerseys, Italy's Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini) still holds the blue mountains jersey after his exploits in stage 15; Brit Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) proudly wears the red jersey and continues on towards Milan, unlike any of the other sprinters; another Sky rider, Colombian youngster Sergio Henao, is in the white jersey as best young rider.

The peloton still rides as one. They have got over the first unclassified climb of the day. The sun was out at the start in Falzes, with a temperature of 17 degrees centigrade.

One team that will be motivated more than any today is Movistar: today marks the first anniversary since the tragic death of Xavi Tondo, who passed away on 23 May 2011 after a domestic accident at home in Spain. The likes of Benat Intxausti and Andrey Amador will be keen to get in the break today to pay homage to one of cyling's nice guys.

A reminder of the standings in the GC: Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) leads Canada's Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin) by 30 seconds at the top. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) is third at 1:22 ahead of Astana pair Paolo Tiralongo and Roman Kreuziger - at 1:26 and 1:27. Defending champion Michele Scarponi (Lampre) has been quiet but lurks in sixth at 1:36.