Hello and welcome to this final ding-dong showdown on the 99th edition of the Giro d'Italia - it's the 134km stage 20 and it features three back-to-back Cat.1 climbs in France before a punchy uphill finish in Italy. Today it where the race will be won and lost - with three riders all within 1:05 at the top of the standings after yesterday's dramatic stage in France.

The pack is strung out on this descent with Valverde and Majka on the front, Chaves and Nibali just behind and Kruijswijk not far behind. It's a big test of his courage and resolve for the Dutchman after that crash on the descent of the Agnello yesterday.

The pack of the main favourites pick up water bottles from their soigneurs ahead of the summit - they're about to start this long descent, and it's show time. Kruijswijk is still there - despite his injuries from yesterday - which underlines once again that he's the strongest rider on this Giro, but was made to suffer from one lapse in concentration.

Nieve taking no risks on this descent. He's still 50 seconds ahead but he's not too bothered about the prospect of being joined by the other escapees.

Nieve looks like he's sat up and is waiting for his fellow escapees on the descent. Job well done for the Team Sky climber - now time to conserve some energy ahead of the finale. He could, after all, win a second stage in this race.

Mikel Nieve (Team Sky) crests the summit and he is now the virtual maglia azzura - with 145 points to Cunego's 134. The Italian can still mathmatically do it - but it's not likely because he's been dropped by the main pack...

Of course, it's entirely apt that Nieve should be leading the race over this snow-clad summit of the Col de Bonette - his name translates as 'snow' from the Spanish. He has 1:15 over the chasers, who are prepping their gilets ahead of the descent. The main pack is still 10:45 down on the lone leader.

Nieve is onto the hairpinned section ahead of the summit and he will bag the 35 points going over the top. Further back, Atapuma and Foliforov have been caught by Taaramae, Dombrowski, Kangert and Visconti. That may spell the end for Nieve's time ahead - but his immediate work is done, and the Spaniard will be into the virtual blue jersey, so he can rest up ahead of the final two climbs.

Still lots of snow in piles beside the road up here as Nieve comes within a few kilometres of the summit of this long, seemingly interminable climb. He still has a minute to play with and so should snare the points that he seeks to send him into the top of the blue jersey standings.

Astana easing back a little - and it's LottoNL-Jumbo, Movistar and Tinkoff who are doing more work, while Bob Jungels, the white jersey, is right up there. Meanwhile, Damiano Cunego, the blue jersey, is back with the peloton after featuring in the break earlier. He's really struggling and will lose the lead in the KOM competition today - right at the death.

Mikel Nieve, the race leader, finally passes some fans - it's been very quiet here in the isolated Mercan'Tour national park. Judging by their attire, many of the supporters here have cycled up themselves. The Spaniard's gap is 55 seconds now back to Atapuma and Foliforov. The peloton is now at 10:45 and so well out of the picture.

Another dig by Atapuma on the steepest 10% section of this climb of the Col de Bonette. He's reduced the lead of Nieve to 1:10 and they're struggling to follow. Foliforov is there, but Dombrowski, Kangert and Visconti have dropped back a little.

Nieve's lead was up to two minutes but has come down to 1:20 now after another acceleration by Atapuma, who has ridden clear in the break with Visconti, Dombrowski, Foliforov and Kangert.

Steven Kruijswijk is near the front right behind the Movistar train. Valverde's immediate target is the Dutchman's place on the podium - he's 1:48 down while Kruijswijk is 1:05 down on Chaves. Big test for Kruijswijk - it's not just about whether he can turn things round and win this race, but whether he can at least salvage a place on the podium for all his efforts.

Here's a peak of Chaves in the pink jersey. He's the seventh rider to wear the maglia rosa in this year's unpredictable race after Dumoulin (twice), Kittel, Brambilla, Jungels, Amador and Kruijswijk. The question is - will he be the last or will we see an eighth maglia rosa ride into Turin?

Now Movistar come to the front and Alejandro Valverde looks to be chomping at the bit. He has Rojas, Amador, Sutherland and Herrada pulling on the front. Remember, they have Visconti further up the road - and the Spaniard has managed to join the chasers with Taaramae.

Rafal Majka has four Tinkoff team-mates alongside the Astana train. The Pole hasn't won a stage in this race and he's one second sky of four minutes down on the GC, in fifth place.

Foliforov has joined the three chasers so we have a four-man group in pursuit of Nieve, who leads by 1:08. The peloton is now almost 10 minutes in arrears: the calm before the storm.

Now Atapuma takes it up in an attack that Dombrowski and Visconti manage to latch onto. Behind Foliforov is trying to bridge the gap.

It should be added that Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) managed to join the break on the descent, so they're up to 11 riders, although missing one in Nieve, who is currently 1:20 further up the road.

Astana have now come to the front in the pack, with three riders placing themselves inside the Orica-GreenEdge train, and four - including Nibali - tucked a bit further back. We know what they're going to try and do - it's just a question of when they pull the trigger.

Nieve has 50 seconds over the other escapees and 8:00 over the peloton. What a ride this would be if he can turn it into his second win in this Giro d'Italia. If he does, he'll win the blue jersey too - which would soften the blow for Team Sky following Mikel Landa's withdrawal earlier in the race.