Its the stage to Vesuvio (or Vesuvius) and the last really big chance for time gains for all of the leading GC contender, bar Cunego who is pretty much uncatchable
Theres a sizeable breakaway - 12 riders eventually got clear, Dessel, Vila, Ponzi, Eltink, Van Goolen, Sonnery, Tondo, Moinard, Redondo, Summerhill, Talabardon and Wu
They had dropped Summerhill by 34km to go and had a few minutes on the peleton, when surprisingly - Sella attacks!
There was only a slight rise there and it is mostly flat until Vesuvio starts with around 14km to go, but Sella is able to maintain a 40 second lead
And then with 20km to go, still on the flat, Pellizotti attacks - perhaps looking to safeguard 2nd overall?
They link up and hold 50 seconds on the pack with 16km to go and are just under 2 minutes behind the 11 remaining breakaway riders
Onto Vesuvio and they quickly make their way up to the break
And Sella leads the way as they chop through them, only Redondo briefly keeping up
Rujano, Contador, Lovkvist, Nocentini and Devolder had attacks the pack - but they are swallowed up again along with the breakaway.
Sella and Pellizotti are around 2 minutes ahead, with Redondo in the middle, when Cunego attacks!
Ricco and Pozzovivvo are quick to pursue Cunego knowing that they cannot afford to miss his move
These 5 riders have really dominated the mountains, Cunego more so than the other 4 of course, and now they have taken control on this final mountain stage. Sella is leading and starting to drop Pellizotti now with Ricco and Cunego pursuing, just ahead of Pozzovivvo
Pozzovivvo manages to catch Ricco and Cunego - only to see them attack away from him
Pellizotti had been slightly dropped by Sella but he has dug deep and been able to catch up - and moments later Ricco and Cunego have caught them
We now see Ricco trying to attack away from the other 3
But they come back together and Pozzovivvo manages to catch up too
Behind them here is the situation with 2km to go for the leading 5:
+1'12: Rujano
+1'54: Anton, Marzano, Nocentini
+2'32: Contador
+2'51: Nibali, Devolder, Lovkvist
+3'18: Karpets
It doesnt look like Di Luca has even attacked!
The pace up front slows with no one willing to play their hand - this benefits Rujano and the Venezuelan is able to catch the 5 Italians
But we now go into the final kilometre and Cunego charges away
Ricco and Sella chasing after him, Pellizotti just keeping up, Pozzovivvo struggling and Rujano gone just as quickly as he arrived
But after the sudden burst, is Cunego now struggling a little? Ricco and Sella do seem to be closing in
But Sella cant keep with Ricco and starts to struggle as Pellizotti comes sprinting up beside him
And Ricco is daring to take on Cunego!
Through he goes as well! What a sprint by Riccardo Ricco and he wins the stage!
Cunego takes 2nd, while Pellizotti is the fastest finisher of all 4 and takes 3rd ahead of Sella
Thats an important finish by Pellizotti though - having just missed out with the gaps on Blockhaus it is Sella's turn to feel aggrieved as he is given a time 20 seconds slower than the other 3. And to make matters worse he loses 9 KoM pts to Cunego - meaning that Cunego snatches the King of the Mountains competition - a 5 point lead is now unassailable with only 3 available on Stage 20.
Pozzovivvo was tailed off at the end, finishing 44 seconds behind Ricco
Rujano put in a great effort to catch the leaders in the penultimate km, only for it all to be undone in the final km. He finishes +1'21 but does move up 2 spots to 6th overall.
Also up 2 GC spots is Marzano who finishes +1'42 and is now 8th overall
Anton and Contador are +2'15, Nocentini +2'26
Nibali is +245 ahead of Lovkvist, Devolder and Karpets +2'55
Good rides for Casar and Rohregger for 15th anf 16th before finally Danilo di Luca. Why didnt he attack? Who knows, but he drops from 6th to 10th overall, just seconds ahead of 11th placed Contador - finishing +5'51.
Iglinski is next with Scwab +5'59, then Gerdemann + 6'14 before a group with Ardila +6'21, the Festina rider dropping from what was a comfortable 13th down to 14th.
And there were no eliminations! 91 riders look set to finish the Giro now, including all 9 of Wiggle's.
