Miguel Minguez leads the day's obligatory and helpless escape - but they gain four minutes almost immediately..!
EUSKATELGIRO
With Craig Lewis apparently taking the day-off, HTC is using Gretsch and Rabon to do the chasing...
gretschGIRO
Yuk! Oscar Gatto has found himself some ugly wheels to try out today..!
Check out Fumiyuki Beppu's glasses - maybe they're for the high-altitude stages to come this weekend..?!
SHACKGIRO
Dario Cioni is discussing the Zoncolan stage with the race's head official - some technical issues have raised concerns in the peloton...
SKYGIRO
Richie Porte, revelation of last year's Giro, is now carrying water-bottles for his teamates...
SAXOGIRO
Craig Lewis is working today! - he's leading the chase into the last 50-kilometres...
Minguez, Bitti, Clement and Golas are still three minutes ahead at the halfway point...
VACANSOLEILGIRO
Where's Alberto?, Portre must be thinking as he carries five or six bottles to the front of the peloton...
Stef Clements is trying hard to keep the escape away, but they'll be caught with less than 15-kilometres to go...
RABOBANKGIRO
Appollonio has got alongside Cavendish in the sprint - can he beat the Manxman..?!
SKYGIROsprint
Michael Barry is protecting Davide Appollonio in the last 10-kilometres...
Mark Cavendish wins stage twelve ahead of Appollonio and Petacchi - and he'll probably stop this evening, on the eve of the big mountains...
No pasa nada - Alberto Contador has been delayed by a crash in the last kilometres, but he collects the same time as winner Cavendish...