Friends - Cadel Evans and Carlos Sastre swap notes on yesterday's decisive stage...
EVANSBMCGIRO
The Giro is in Tuscany again - even if the skies are dark it is still a spectacular region...
Charly Wegelius is leading Matthew Lloyd out on the first categorised climb of the day
WEGELIUSGIRO
Lloyd is about to make his sprint and take valuable climbing points at the summit...
LLOYDGIRO
It's a brutal pace so far - Tyler Farrar digs deep to stay in contact...
FARRARGARMINEFFORTGIRO
Young Australians, Jack Bobridge and Cameron Meyer, are also in trouble...
BOBRIDGEGARMINGIRO
The speed has sent 100 riders in front, with Astana looking formidable...
Ted King is chasing at the head of the dropped riders - they're a minute down...
KINGGIRO
An escape has been let loose - and David Moncoutie leads it instead of being at the back of the peloton today..!
Gilberto Simoni is leading Lampre, who have reacted once the gap became four minutes...
Steven Cummings is driving the escape along, all the same...
CUMMINGSESCAPESKYGIRO
The peloton has regrouped but the pace is still fast as the Terminillo looms...
SCENERYGIRO
Thomas Voeckler is pulling hard to get Tschopp on to the uphill finish with some advantage...
Wegelius is on the attack for himself this time...
Stefano Garzelli guards the main group with Bakelants and Vinokourov nearby...
VINOKOUROVGARZELLIGIRO
Chris Anker Sorensen is starting to look very strong at the front of the escape - they still have two minutes with 10-kilometres to go...
SORENSENGIRO
Simone Stortoni has gone away with Sorensen...
Alexandre Vinokourov looks composed with Basso and Cunego right behind and looking anything but composed...
VINOKOUROVASTANAGIRO
Michele Scarponi takes the front with five-kilometres to go - they are over one minute down on the leading pair...
SCARPONIGIRO
Sorensen is out in front alone and giving it everything he's got..!
Tondo has attacked from Vinokourov's group - his team leader Sastre has gone backwards and freed Tondo up to attack...
Cadel Evans responds to another attack - but he looks tired after yesterday's efforts...
The pace has blown Bradley Wiggins out as well, he too must be tired after yesterday's epic stage..!
WIGGINSGIRO
Chris Anker Sorensen wins stage eight atop the Terminillo pass...