Welcome to LIVE coverage of stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia - a 214km largely flat ride from Caravaggio to Vicenza, which concludes with a Cat.4 bump 20km from the finish.

BREAK: Four riders have pulled out in front of the peloton. They are stage nine winner Maxim Belkov (Katusha), Luke Durbridge (Orica-GreenEdge), Gert Dockx (Lotto Belisol) and Miguel Rubiano (Androni).

It may be sunny today but there's talk that stage 19 and 20 are at risk because of snow, rain and cold conditions in the Dolomites. The Passo Gavia and Passo dello Stelvio (Friday) and the Passo Costalunga, Passo San Pelligrino, Passo Giau and Passo Tre Croci (Saturday) are all under threat of severe snow fall. Forecasts say the temperature atop the Stelvio could be as low as -14 degrees. After the shortening of the Col du Galibier on Sunday, this would be a blow to race organisers and fans.

After all the rain and snow that has wrecked havoc on this year's Giro, it's nice to see the sun high in a bright blue sky for today's stage. The temperature is 18 degrees Celsius and for many today should be a nice and relaxing day in the saddle ahead of three decisive back-to-back mountain tests.

As Benat Intxausti crossed the line yesterday he made an X with his fingers in memory of his former team-mate and friend Xavi Tondo almost two years after the Spaniard's death. "It's May 21st today and May 23rd is sad but a special day for me because it's the second anniversary of what happened. I'm sure he would have celebrated my victory and so this win is for him, my grandfather and my team," the Movistar rider said.

Italian sprinter Mattia Gavazzi apparently was caught taking repeated tows from team vehicles on the tough Cat.3 climb ahead of the stage 16 finish in Ivrea. He was last to finish the stage in a group more than 17 minutes down on stage winner Benat Intxausti. The disqualification means Gavazzi will not be able to contest the final sprint in his home town of Brescia on Sunday.

They're off! Two non starters today: Androni Giocattoli's Mattia Gavazzi, who finished the stage in last place and who was last place on GC, has been kicked out for holding onto his team car on a climb, while RadioShack-Leopard's Hayden Roulston does not start stage 17. That leaves 172 riders from an intial peloton of 207.

Today's stage could well be a chance for Mark Cavendish to extend his slender lead in the red jersey competition. The OPQS sprinter has 109 points to Cadel Evans's 103 - but this will be the last chance for the 28-year-old to add to his tally of four stage wins ahead of the final flat stage into Brescia on Sunday. The big question is whether or not he can get over that final climb still intention - or if a break will form and stay out to contest for glory.

Italian race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) finished another flawless stage in a select group alongside his main rivals 13 seconds down on the leading trio to retain his maglia rosa with 5 stages remaining. Cadel Evans (BMC) still trails Nibali by 1:26 in second place, with Rigobeto Uran (Sky) third at 2:46. But stage 14 winner Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini) cracked on the second of two climbs 20km from the finish to concede more than 2mins and drop from fourth place to sixth on GC.

Yesterday, Spain's Benat Intxausti won a three-way sprint to take stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia ahead of Tanel Kangert and Przemyslaw Niemiec in Ivrea. Intxausti - who wore the leader's pink jersey for one day during the opening week's individual time trial - gave his Movistar team their third stage win of the race after playing his cards right at the conclusion of the long 238km stage from the French ski resort of Valloire and back onto Italian soil.