Hello and welcome to live coverage of what could be the key stage of this year's Giro d'Italia - it's stage 19, a mammoth 184km ride from Venaria Reale to Bardonecchia that includes the Cima Coppi - the Colle delle Finestre - a second 2,000+ metre climb to Sestriere and the final steep ascent of the Jafferau. If yesterday was tough, then this takes things to a whole new level...

Froome is taking some serious risks here on the descents, cutting corners and throwing scant caution to the wind. But that's the nature of his - and his team's - ride today: they've gone for broke and what we're being treated to could be the most spectacular day's racing in modern history. He's 1'30" ahead of the Dumoulin group, 2'35" ahead of the Pozzovivo group and 15'10" ahead of Simon Yates.

Meanwhile, Simon Yates is still on the ascent - and suffering something rotten.

CORRECTION: It's 45pts and not 50pts for Froome over the top of the Cima Coppi - the highest point in this year's race. That means Froome trails Yates by 10pts in the KOM standings, and will surely be the new maglia azzurra tonight after the next two climbs - unless he pops spectacularly.

Froome is descending like a boss! His gap is up to 1'10" now over the Dumoulin-Pinot group, which slows to discuss tactics. The Dutchman, who is the virtual race leader, looks over his shoulders to gauge whether it's worth waiting for the Pozzovivo chase group, who are a further 1'15" back.

Heart-in-mouth scenes as Froome really goes for it on this narrow, winding, wet descent. It's terrifying, what with the steep slopes off the side of the road and so many slippery bits. It will be amazing if no one falls at some point - especially with so much at stake.

It's really muddy going over the summit with the dirt track quite moist. When the chasers come through, Pinot's back wheel spins as he avoids Lopez, who slows to pick up a fresh bidon.

Froome crests the summit of the Colle delle Finestre to pick up 50 KOM points that put him just 5pts shy of Simon Yates in the maglia azzurra standings. But he's more concerned with Yates' pink rather than blue today...

Mechanical for Pinot! The Frenchman needs to stop and sort out his rear mech. But he remounts and rejoins the chasers...

Froome is onto the final kilometre of this climb now as the crowds thicken.

Poels is caught by the Pozzovivo group after his off foray off the front. Meanwhile, it's Dumoulin who puts in an acceleration in pursuit. The Dutchman has been pulling up Pinot, Carapaz and Lopez, who is struggling to hold on, for a while now.

The gap is up to 38 seconds over the Dumoulin group, 1'52" over the Pozzovivo group and - wait for it - 8'58" over Yates, who will not be in pink by the end of the day.

Froome calls for the cavalry? Wout Poels suddenly zips clear of the second chase group. Perhaps the plan is for the Dutchman to bridge over on the descent, or at least be there in reserve if his team leader has a wobble.

Here was Froome's attack earlier on the climb...

Behind, there's a six-man chasing group of Sam Oomen, Davide Formolo, George Bennett, Domenico Pozzovivo, Ben O'Connor and Wout Poels. They're one minute down on the Dumoulin group and 1'35 down on Froome, our lone leader. Simon Yates, poor soul, is seven minutes down.

Lopez has managed to join the three chasers so they're getting strength in numbers. Remember, there is still a LONG way to go in this stage. As it is, Froome has 30 seconds over the quartet behind, so Dumoulin just needs to keep his cool.

Stunning climb, this - and Froome is really tearing it up.

Dumoulin, Pinot and Carapaz are together now in pursuit of Froome - the Dutchman mindful that he doesn't need to go crazy just yet because he had a large three-minute gap on Froome in the overall standings.

Lopez has managed to ride back onto a chasing group that includes Pinot, Reichenbach and Carapaz. They trail Froome by 15 seconds. The Pozzovivo group is 45 seconds back, while Yates is now 4'30" in the red. He'll be off the podium tonight, maybe out of the top five.

Now Froome attacks! The four-time Tour de France winner puts in a huge dig to drop Dumoulin and the others...

With David de la Cruz dropping back, Kenny Elissonde really takes it up. The diminutive Frenchman puts in a huge dig to blow the leading pack apart. Dumoulin, Pinot, Reichenback and Carapaz hold on but Pozzovivo, Formolo, Bennett, Poels and the others have no answer. King Kenny!