Michele Scarponi is leading a 20-man escape away right from the first kilometres...

The peloton passes the picturesque village of Saltara in the Marche region...

Levi Leipheimer is well supported by teamate Steve Morabito - this is a big day for Astana, best to save energy while one can...

Scarponi has the help of teamate Serpa as the escape climbs the Monte Nerone after 156-kilometres - they have a four minute lead...

The peloton is about 30-strong as it approaches the summit of the Nerone...

Denis Menchov and Danilo Di Luca look comfortable enough considering the high temperatures today - they're barely sweating..!

Only three men are left in front on the Monte Catria - Cunego, Popovych and Bosisio...

Ardila and Ten Dam look tough enough to support Menchov as the last ascent approaches...

Popovych has escaped on the dodgy descent and heads for the finish climb with a 35-seconds lead...

The climb to Monte Petrano begins with Di Luca, Basso, Menchov, Garzelli and Leipheimer readying themselves for the final battle today...

Carlos Sastre has split this group and looks determined as he leads Basso, Menchov and Di Luca...

Has Lance Armstrong attacked? No, the American is waiting for Leipheimer who has been dropped...

Leipheimer's Giro challenge is over - he sits in behind other suffering riders...

Sastre is racing after Popovych - he'll catch him with three-kilometres to go...

Di Luca and Menchov are chasing Basso who's chasing Sastre...

Armstrong is escorting Leipheimer a few minutes further back - the 37-year-old looks stronger than his younger teamate now...

Carlos Sastre has finally won himself a Giro stage, and there may be more to come - he's also grabbed Leipheimer's 3rd-place overall...

Denis Menchov seems unbeatable with five days to go...