Welcome to live coverage of the stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia, a hilly 155km ride from Seravezza to Sestri Levante. Four categorised climbs will no doubt be conducive to a breakaway and may shake things up at the top of the overall standings.

The leaders pass the feeding zone at La Baracca. The main part of the descent is coming up, so it's going to be a rather technical and fast lunch.

The peloton cross the summit just over four minutes in arrears. Confirmation of the order over the Cat.3 Valico Guaitarola: 1. Golas (5pts), 2. Jac. Rodriguez (3pts), Bakelants (2pts), Txurruka (1pt).

Jackson Rodriguez launches his sprint in search of those mountain points - he's clearly trying to take them to protect his team-mate Miguel Rubiano's blue jersey. But Golas takes his wheel and then easily pulls ahead to take maximum points. With three points in the first climb and now five in this one, Golas is level with Rubiano in the blue jersey standings.

Absolutely incredible aerial views from the heli cam. These mountains are covered in pine trees which reach for the skies. Back on the roads, it's Bakelants of RadioShack who sets the pace, before allowing Amador in for a go.

Liquigas, Lampre and Katusha are on the front of the peloton: they're the respective teams of big race favourites Ivan Basso, Michele Scarponi and Joaquim Rodriguez. The gap's up to 3:47.

The break are combining well on this climb. Vacansoleil's Martijn Keizer must be exhausted: the Dutchman has been involved in at least three breaks so far in this year's Giro. Of the nine, you'd have to mark out Txurruka as the danger man. The Spaniard is a tidy climber. Casar also has a lot of experience.

Confirmation of the revised leading group: Sandy Casar (FDJ-BigMat), Ivan Santaromita (BMC), Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Giocattoli), Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan), Andrey Amador (Movistar), Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Lars Bak (Lotto Belisol), Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel) and Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM). They have 3:30 over the bunch.

CRASH: Australia's Adam Hansen (Lotto Belisol) has hit the deck aty the start of this climb. He's okay, but appears to be a bit winded. Perhaps he landed on his chest, or banged a rib with his handlebars.

The leaders are onto the Cat 3 Valico Guaitarola climb. They have a lead of 2:38 as Katusha seem to take their feet off the gas and allow Sky to come to the front of the bunch. The peloton are still back in a grand coastal town. There has been a bit of misinformation coming through: Luca Mazzanti (Farnese Vini) is not in this break. It's Euskaltel's Amets Txurruka.

It's a stunning sight from above, this winding descent through the Ligurian hills. The gap is still under two minutes for the nine leaders as the peloton stretches out on the downhill.

The leading nine-man group are onto the descent but their gap is down to 1:40.

Finally we have confirmation of the order over the first climb of the day, La Foce: 1. Golas (3pts), 2. Bakelants (2pts), 3. Bak (1pt). No it's no surprise, with Polish rider Golas making some in-roads in his pursuit of the blue jersey.

Back in the peloton, it's the Katusha team of pink jersey Joaquim Rodriguez who are controlling the pace. The danger man up ahead is Frenchman Casar, who is only 4:01 down in the GC. They have completed the first classified climb of the day, La Foce, but we have not had confirmation of the order over the summit. The race is now on the uncategorised Passo de Termine ahead of the second major test of the day.

We now have a nine-man breakaway 2:35 up the road after the chasing pair caught that initial escape group. Full composition: Sandy Casar (FDJ-BigMat), Ivan Santaromita (BMC), Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Giocattoli), Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan), Andrey Amador (Movistar), Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Lars Bak (Lotto Belisol), Luca Mazzanti (Farnese Vini) and Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM).

Keizer has joined Rodriguez (Jackson, not Joaquim) as they combine in a bid to reach the seven leaders, who hold a 25 second lead over the chasing duo and 3:15 over the bunch.

Another withdrawal to report: apparently Denmark's Mats Christensen (Saxo Bank) did not take to the start today.

Jan Barta was reeled in by the peloton, but another two riders are trying to reach the escapees. They are Jackson Rodriguez of Androni and serial escapee Martijn Keizer of Vacansoleil-DCM. The seven leaders have 1:10 over the peloton.

So, Colnago's Miguel Rubiano didn't make the cut - but his blue jersey rival Michal Golas is there. The Pole will certainly have his eyes on the points over the summit of today's climbs. The rider in pursuit is Jan Barta of NetApp.

The seven escapees now have 25 seconds on the bunch. They are: Sandy Casar (FDJ-BigMat), Ivan Santaromita (BMC), Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan), Andrey Amador (Movistar), Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Lars Bak (Lotto Belisol) and Luca Mazzanti (Farnese Vini). One or two riders are trying to bridge the gap.

BREAK: A cluster of riders have forced a gap off the front of the peloton. They include Sandy Casar (FDJ), Lars Bak (Lotto Belisol), Michal Golas (Omega Pharma) and Jan Bakelants (RadioShack).

If and when a break forms today, expect stage six winner Miguel Rubiano to be involved. The Androni climber leads the mountains classification and will look to consolidate his blue jersey with four classified climbs on the agenda today. He currently has 24 points, and leads Michal Golas (OP-QS), who has 16 points. Tied for third on nine points are Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) and Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago), both stage winners already.