05.19 - Giro d'Italia: Stage 11

There's a lot of attacks on the gradual uphill start - Linus Gerdemann is setting the pace...

GIROGERDEMANN

David Millar matches Gerrdemann and takes more riders away...

GIROMILLARATTACK

Matthew Lloyd races across the gap, there's climbing points to be had today..!

GIROLLOYD

Richie Porte follows Lloyd across...

GIROPORTE

Daniel Martin is getting across, though it's taking a bit longer...

GIROMARTINATTACK

The peloton enters the first tunnel, not imagining the day that awaits everyone..!

GIROMEYERTUNNEL

Jack Bobrudge wraps up for the day - it's raining again and he couldn't be happier..!

GIROBOBRIDGEGARMINFUN

Cadel Evans is anything but happy - his face shows concern at the size of the escape pulling away...

GIROEVANSWETCOLD

Even Vinokourov looks worried at the goings on...

GIROVINOKOUROVWETCOLD

Graeme Brown is sporting some interesting leggings...

Reason to be concerned - Michael Barry is pacing 53 other cyclists in the big escape including three riders from six big teams, a nightmare for Vinokourov and Evans even though there are BMC and Astana riders in there too...

GIROBARRYSKYESCAPE

It's taken over 40-kilometres for a chase to be organised - and the gap is up to 15-minutes..!

It's pouring down on the escape, but Barry is in his element...

GIROBARRYSKYESCAPE

The peloton is getting soaked as well on the main climb - but this is a group of just 50 riders now...

Evans, Vinokourov and Cunego look as miserable as drowned rats - they even look like drowned rats..!

GIROEVANSWETCOLD

Jufre and Stangelj have dropped out of the escape to help Astana chase, but Jufre is frozen after waiting - a mechanic tries to dress him in dry clothes...

GIROASTANAJUFRECOLD

Astana, Liquigas, Lampre and other teams have split the main group on the plateau, a weakness in their ability to chase...

GIROASTANACHASEWIND

Steven Cummings isn't exactly singing in the rain, but he's keeping the escape - and Bradley Wiggins - over 15-minutes ahead of Vinokourov and Evans...

GIROCUMMINGSSKYESCAPE

Chris Anker Sorensen is helping Saxo Bank carry Porte into the Maglia Rosa - at 40-kilometres from the finish they still have 13-minutes lead..!

GIROSORENSENSAXOESCAPEWETRAINCOLD

Let's not forget Caisse d'Epargne are carrying Davide Arroyo into 2nd-place overall...

Porte's life is about to change in 45-minutes, as long as he stays upright...

GIROPORTE

He cannot win this Giro, but Wiggins knows tough days like this can only do him good in the Tour - he'll move into 10th overall...

GIROWIGGINSWETCOLD

The Giro didn't visit L'Aquila for the excellent weather - signs of last year's earthquake are a reminder along the road...

Jerome Pineau has atacked on the last hill before L'Aquila...

Carlos Sastre has been hiding in this escape - he accelerates too, and will move into 8th place overall...

Dario Cataldo replaces Sastre in front...

Gerdemann and Bakelants have moved ahead of Cataldo with a few kilometres left...

GIROBAKELANTSGERDEMANN

Bakelants has gone into a corner a bit faster than Gerdemann...

GIROBAKELANTSGERDEMANN

Ouch - Bakelants hits the deck and loses a great chance to win the stage...

GIROBAKELANTSCRASH

Evgeni Petrov wins stage eleven into L'Aquila at the end of a memorable day's racing...

GIROPETROVKATUSHA

A distressed-looking Vinokourov arrives almost 13-minutes later - has he lost this Giro..?

Evans looks miserable at the thought that he too may have lost the Giro...

GIROEVANSWETCOLD

Richie Porte looks exuberant at taking the Maglia Rosa in his first-ever season as a pro...

GIROPORTEMAGLIA