Welcome to live coverage of stage seven of the 2012 Giro d'Italia from Recanati to Rocca Di Cambio.

We're back tomorrow for a massive 229km schlep from Sulmona to Lago Laceno. Our coverage gets under way at 10:00 UK time. See you then!

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin) of Canada takes over the GC lead, 15 seconds ahead of Tiralongo. Rodriguez and Christian Vandevelde also there... still over 15 riders within a minute of the lead, so it can all change.

So, how does that affect the GC? We will find out once all the stragglers are over the line, but we can be sure Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD) is no longer in the Maglia Rosa because he dropped off the back of the peloton.

A great win for Astana's Paolo Tiralongo, who lies on the cobbles of Rocca di Cambio before being helped to his feet. A cracking ride from the 34-year-old.

It's Michele Scarponi versus Paolo Tiralongo... and TIRALONGO WINS IT! Frank Schleck third, Joaquim Rodriguez fourth.

Herrada is caught, and it is Michele Scarponi (Lampre) who hits the front - Frank Schleck and Joaquim Rodriguez also there...

Herrada is on his own and inside the final kilometre. Pirazzi has been caught.

Pirazzi runs wide on a right-hand corner! He loses momentum and that may cost him any chance of victory.

Pirazzi and Herrada give it everything on the downhill section, can they stay out? They have only got about 20 seconds to play with.

OK, so now it gets interesting - the leaders are over the peak, now they have a short downhill section and a final drag up to Rocca di Cambio.

Pirazzi empties a bottle of water over himself - on the seductiveness scale, it's not Myleene Klass, but he's probably got more important things to worry about. Rabottini has come off the front due to chain problems.

Jose Rujano (Androni Giocattoli) is pushing the pace at the front, but the gap remains constant. Herrara looks comfortable.

30 seconds now between the Herrada/Pirazzi/Rabottini group and the peloton. Not really enough, is it?

Jose Herrada Lopez (Movistar) has also made a break, and he is closing in on Pirazzi (Colnago) and Rabottini (Farnese-Vini). They are the three at the front, about 40 seconds ahead of the peloton.

The Maglia Rosa Adriano Malori has lost contact with the back of the peloton. His time in pink is coming to an end.

Stefano Pirazzi has made a solo break from the peloton, and is closing in on Rabottini, the last of the escapees still out there...

The leaders are less than a minute in front now, and any semblance of cooperation has disappeared. They have had it.

A few stragglers at the back of the peloton now, including Mark Renshaw. Don't think there's any danger of them getting timed out, though. Not far to go now.

The lead at the 20km mark was 1'58". Popular wisdom dictates you need 10km to reduce the gap by a minute, but I don't think it will be that close - especially on a climb.

Now it is Monistar's turn to take the strain as the peloton go under the '20km to go' archway.