to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of the 19th stage of the 91st edition of the Giro d'Italia, a 228-kilometer race from Legnano to Presolana and a mountaintop finish at Monte Pora.

This is not an easy one, folks. The first 150 kilometers are quite flat, but then the road tips up for a tough, tough finishing 78k. First up is the Category 1 Passo del Vivione, 19.8km climb that averages 6.8 percent, with ramps that hit 13 percent. It's a narrow road, both on the way up and the way back down.

After that, there is a tough route to the base of the Passo Della Presolana at 216km and then the finishing climb to Monte Pora.

Of particular concern today will be the descent off of the Passo del Vivione, since it is one of the narrowest roads the full peloton will be on in this Giro. With today's rainy weather, it could prove to be dangerous.

Speaking of weather, the forecast calls for a 100-percent chance of precipitation with highs in the mid-60s (22c) at the start and cooler than that in the hills.

we join the race already well underway. We have a seven-man break, now 10 minutes ahead of the field.

The men in the break (with their positions on GC) are:
34. Nicki Sorensen (DEN), CSC, at 33:25
35. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR), Team High Road, at 37:45
45. Vasil Kiryienka (BLR), Tinkoff, at 45:30
77. Gabriele Missaglia (ITA), Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 1:34:18
90. Alexander Efimkin (RUS), Quick Step, at 1:44:28
94. Giairo Ermeti (ITA), Team L.P.R., at 1:52:11
126. Steven Cummings (GBR), Barloworld, at 2:25:57

These guys have been on the attack for much of the day, with Gerolsteiner's Sven Krauss spending much of that time chasing, stuck in no-man's-land. He finally gave up and was pulled back into the peloton at 78km.

If you have comments or questions or a complaint, go ahead and hit the "contact our editors" link below our Live Update Window. We'll do our best to answer as many questions as we can and we'll even try to post a few during our coverage today.

the men in the break are enjoying an advantage of 14 minutes over the peloton. It's a little more than 50km before the day's first big climb, but the men up front aren't really posing much of a threat to the overall contenders, nor do any threaten Emanuele Sella's hold on the KOM jersey, so there may not be a lot of motivation to waste energy chasing this crew.

the leaders are 14:30 ahead of the peloton. Ahead is the Category 1 Passo del Vivione, which will do a lot to break up the peloton. We can expect Alberto Contador to be put under pressure over the course of the final 78km of the stage.

the men in the break are still out on the flats. They are now at 111km and have a lead of 17:45

They really don't care about these guys, do they?

the gap is at 18:40. It looks like someone from this break may emerge as the day's winner, but keep in mind that the best-placed rider out there is Sorensen and he's more than half-an-hour down on GC.

The men in the break (with their positions on GC) are:
34. Nicki Sorensen (DEN), CSC, at 33:25
35. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR), Team High Road, at 37:45
45. Vasil Kiryienka (BLR), Tinkoff, at 45:30
77. Gabriele Missaglia (ITA), Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 1:34:18
90. Alexander Efimkin (RUS), Quick Step, at 1:44:28
94. Giairo Ermeti (ITA), Team L.P.R., at 1:52:11
126. Steven Cummings (GBR), Barloworld, at 2:25:57

We'll keep track of those guys, but our main focus will have to be the battle in the peloton today.

that rain is also soaking the road on the descent of the Passo del Vivione, which could raise some safety concerns. It really is a narrow road, both up and down.

Anyway, at 128km, our leaders are now 21 minutes ahead of the field. There is simply no chase underway.

Meanwhile reader Tyson B writes:

Siutsou?

Tour of Georgia winner at Brasstown Bald? Maybe he could get a stage today and surprise some folks.

Yeah, it's one and the same. He's certainly a talented climber and could be the biggest beneficiary of today's break... and lack of a chase.

the break is having lunch after passing through the feedzone. Man, they could stop at a nice cafe' and enjoy a sit-down lunch, if they wanted. The peloton is now 21:45 behind the escapees.

our leaders are at the 140km mark. They are 10km from the base of the climb. The gap is now 22 minutes.

So, as our escapees near the base of the Passo del Vivione, let's look at what they're facing.

It's a narrow - almost bike path narrow - road up to 1828 meters above sea level. This paved goatpath (our description) twists and turns all the way up and down the climb.

Meanwhile, the peloton has pulled back a little bit of time. The gap is now down to 21:00. Still huge, though.

at least the leaders are. It may be a while before the peloton gets there.

is still out on the flats, trailing the break (now on the climb) by 20:52.

albeit by very, very small increments. The leaders are on the climb and the peloton is about to begin working its way up the hill. At this point, our most recent time check gives the still-intact break an advantage of 20:15.

With the weather and the climbs on the final 80k, this is not going to be an easy ride to the finish today.

As a reminder, the men in the break (with their positions on GC) are:
34. Nicki Sorensen (DEN), CSC, at 33:25
35. Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR), Team High Road, at 37:45
45. Vasil Kiryienka (BLR), Tinkoff, at 45:30
77. Gabriele Missaglia (ITA), Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 1:34:18
90. Alexander Efimkin (RUS), Quick Step, at 1:44:28
94. Giairo Ermeti (ITA), Team L.P.R., at 1:52:11
126. Steven Cummings (GBR), Barloworld, at 2:25:57

They are about 9km into this nearly 20km climb. They are still enjoying a lead of more than 20 minutes. At this point, we'd probably put our money on Siutsou to take the day... but we'll see.

As the men in the break work their way up this long climb, our latest time check puts them 19:35 ahead of the main field. It's still a big gap, but it does keep it well within the range of concern for the GC contenders.

No, they're not out there today, but they were 20 years ago. For those of you following the series, we have posted the fourth and final entry in John Wilcockson's series Hampsten and the 1988 Pink Jersey" ...

Also we've received a few letters asking for the perspective of the man who won that stage over the Gavia. Fortunately, our own Andrew Hood ran into the now-retired Erik Breukink and use the opportunity to chat with the man who won one of the most brutal stages in the history of the Giro.

Well, there goes Missaglia. He's unable to hold the tempo of the rest of the men in the break. They are, by the way, still about 5km from the summit.

are slowly making their way toward the top, but still have about 2km to go. We do not have a time gap back to Gabriele Missaglia, who faded out of the group about three kilometers back.

has rejoined his breakaway companions, just as they near the summit.

Meanwhile 20 minutes down the road, we've seen a little action coming out of the peloton, but no attacks from the big players....yet.

leaders have crossed the summit of this long, long climb. The rain continues to fall.

work their way down the back side of the climb, the peloton is about 19:50 down the road, so they have plenty of climbing left.

are about 6km down the descent, while the peloton is still climbing on these wet and narrow roads. While we called the route up this climb a "paved goatpath" we do need to add that the quality of that pavement is quite good. It looks like it's been recently resurfaced.

all the way to the finish. When we saw Missaglia at the start this morning, we thought he was a cyclo-tourist, gray poncho, and all.

Stefano Garzelli won a stage close to here in 2004. Over the Vivione and up the Presalona and ending in the valley. Today's stage has one more climb to the Monte Pora summit. Garzelli - winner of the 2000 Giro - isn't racing becuase his team wasn't invited.

Meanwhile the gap is at 18:23 and Emanuele Sella just jumped out of the peloton on yet another climbers' attack. What is this guy putting in his Muisli in the morning?

Sella has a 99-point lead in the maglia verde contest, but maybe he just wants to make sure. He's also hoping to climb closer to the podium - this is just what Astana was hoping for. The Italians will start racing against each other, playing right into Contador's hands.

David P writes

Love your coverage - beats hell out of working! ;-)

Checking in from work?!?!?!?! We're shocked, shocked we say!

As expected, Julian Dean didn't start today for Slipstream. Four riders remain. We talked with Vande Velde, who said, "These next two days are going to be hard! This was supposed to be training for the Tour, but it's been a really hard Giro."

Sella has company. Guess who? It's his teammate Perez Cuapio?

Journalists are enjoying some of Paolo Savoldelli's wine in the press room. Il Falco has a small vineyard in the region - grazie! - burp

Johan Bruyneel talked to journalists about his phone call to Contador to interrupt his vacation 8 days before the Giro started when he told him he was heading to Italy.

"He was very mad and he said it was impossible. Nevertheless, there was no other option, his presence at the Giro was not negotiable. I spoke with him and we ended up agreeing that he had to go, at least, to the start and later we'd see what happened. Later I spoke with Zomegnan and I told him that Alberto would be in Palermo, but that I couldn't promise anything else. He understood that."

has come apart. We're still getting spotty video in the press room, since the weather is interfering with the signal.

It looks like Giairo Ermeti (Team L.P.R), Nicki Sorensen (CSC), Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff), and Alexander Efimkin (Quick Step) have gapped Kanstantsin Siutsou (High Road), Gabriele Missaglia (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) and Steven Cummings (Barloworld) by about 45 seconds on this wet, narrow descent.

are still 16:05 ahead of the peloton.

Folks, this road is a good example of why people don't drive Hummers over here.

Meanwhile, the fellows off the front have averaged 35.9kph today.

Kanstantsin Siutsou (High Road) and Gabriele Missaglia (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) have rejoined the leaders. Cummings is at 26 seconds.

is leading down the main pack on the sinuous descent ... that's safer for everyone.

has rejoined the leaders, so we have seven riders off the front and the gap back is still about 16 minutes. The odds are pretty poor that the entire break will be caught, with just 42km remaining. We may see one or two riders pulled back near the end, but we have to bet that today's winner will be one of these seven riders.

are off the Vivione descent and heading to the base of the Presalona. It's still raining on the riders, but still not raining up on top at the finish. It's partly sunny now with a breeze. The leaders are 39km from the finish.

The leaders are 16 minutes ahead of the Contador group, but the boys in the laughing group are another 12:40 behind the maglia rosa.

Di Luca and Savoldelli have attacked on the descent. They have 20 seconds on Contador.

We have to apologize, folks. We're only getting spotty reports, weak video and we tried to run alongside the break earlier today, but we dropped our laptop and suffered great embarrassment.

There's a Liquigas rider with Di Luca and Savoldelli ... it looks like Nibali... maybe not.

While Graham Watson complains about helmets and sunglasses messing up his photos, it's even worse on days like this when everyone is also wearing black rain jackets.

Nibali who is up there with Di Luca and Savoldelli.

Contador is on fourth wheel as there's a split in the main pack. There are 10-12 with the maglia rosa.... Ricco, Van den Broeck, Bruseghin, Simoni are there

is an amazing descender. He's dropping Di Luca.

in the break, Efimkin is leading the way up the climb.

are 30km from the finish. Efimkin doesn't have a huge advantage over the rest of the break.

The Savoldelli trio is about 30 seconds ahead of the Contador group. Meanwhile, Contador has lost Leipheimer, but he has Colom and Kloden with him. Leipheimer is trailing with Menchov by about a minute. It looks like Sella, Bruseghin, Ricco, Kloden, Contador, Colom, Simoni and Van den Broeck in the Contador group.

and crew have put a full minute on Contador on this descent.

35km for Savoldelli, Di Luca and Nibali. Savoldelli has ditched his rain jacket, but racing with arm warmers. With that wine, who needs tights?

Colom and Kloden are leading the chase for Contador. The split at -35km is 1:10.

We see that Pellizotti is also there.

improving a little. At least the rain is easing up.

for Kiryienka, who has some bad luck with his bike. The other men in the lead group are riding easy enough, so that he's likely to make it back after the switch.

Di Luca's knee warmers have become calf-warmers. It isn't pretty, but he's putting the hurt on the Contador group and he's put 1:25 into the race leader. Colom is leading, with Kloden, Pellizotti, Contador also in the chase. Simoni is getting dropped!

are now all back together. They still have about 14 minutes on the next group. The leaders are just 25km from the finish.

are still 1:25 ahead of Contador.

Contador is now pulled back some time. He trails Di Luca by 53 seconds.

Colom is burying himself at front of Contador group, which has lost Simoni

fights his way back to the Contador group. Menchov is about to rejoin, too.

are 20km from the finish. Behind them, Di Luca has added to his lead again and is now 1:03 ahead of the Contador group.

the lead group has broken up and we have Sorensen, Cummings, Kirylienka and Efimkin working their way through the final 19km of the stage.

Di Luca, meanwhile is holding on to a 1:03 lead on the Contador group, which has grown to about 20 riders.

The rain has stopped. The roads are still quite wet, though.

Ricco is getting some attention on his bike ...

on the Presolana. It's a tough 4km climb.

Di Luca is holding on to about a 1:00 lead on the Contador group, which is still being led by Colom.

Way up the road, Kiryienka is alone off the front

With the help of Savoldelli and Nibali, Di Luca has extended his lead over Contador to 1:35.

With the help of Savoldelli and Nibali, Di Luca has extended his lead over Contador to 1:35.

Di Luca and Nibali continue on and they have put another 10 seconds on Contator.

is now stomping on the pedals. He's dropping Nibali and is now extending his gap to 1:54. Did he get some of Sella's Muisli this morning????

is still riding with Kloden, Colom at front - but pace has picked up considerably.

Kiryiklnkea is now at the top of the Presolana.

has 11km to go. We are still trying to figure out where the rest of the break went.

Di Luca holding tough at 1:55. Astana will let Di Luca hang out there - wait for Ricco to react. Meanwhile Savoldelli is back in the Contador group.

has given it his all. He's blown. It's Kloden's turn to set temp in the group.

Remember that Efimkin and Cummings and we assume Sorensen are still up the road ahead of Di Luca - they scored KOM points.

He is being chased by Kloden, Contador, Bruseghin, Pellizotti, Menchov, Sella, Van den Broeck, Pozzovivo and Ricco.

has been dropped by the Contador group. He's having a tough time.

Di Luca is at the summit.

So now we're just waiting for the time check. Di Luca began the day in sixth place at 2:18.

and crew cross the summit 2:10. If this increases any more, Di Luca is working his way into the jersey.

that the stage will be won by Vasil Kiryienka. The Tinkoff has a six-minute lead on Di Luca... but the real race is really going on back with Di Luca and Contador.

Meanwhile Nibali has bridged out to Di Luca on the descent ...

we may see some action from the Liquigas man on the final climb. He has Nibali up ahead, if Pellizotti can bridge out of the Contador group.

is driving the pace in the chase. Contador looks like he's having trouble holding the pace.

has just dropped Nibali and he's now 2:15 ahead of Contador.

That Contador group includes all of the top favorites, except Simoni - who is off the back - and Di Luca, who is up front.

to go for Di Luca, he has 2:15 on Contador. If Contador wants to save the jersey he needs to..... and there he goes.

Kloden pulls off and Contador just flies off the front.

has trimmed the gap to 2:04.

attacks. And Ricco tries to go with him Contador is still under some serious pressure out there.

has attacked and now he's dropping Contador. So the jersey is under pressure from both Di Luca and Ricco.

is less than four kilometers from the top and already has 30 seconds.

is now three kilometers from the top. Ricco is setting a nice pace and may well be riding into the jersey.

is on his way to the finish. He's in the final kilometer.

has fought back to within 20 seconds.

He's with Sella, Pozzovivo, Pellizotti and Menchov.

wins, earning the second stage for his team.

looks to have lost a little of his momentum. We'll be looking for a time check.

Behind him Ricco is riding ala Pantani, hands low on the handlebars, standing out of the saddle.

the damage. We see Ricco passing some of the dying breakaway riders - there might be still some time bonuses for Di Luca and Ricco.

Meanwhile, Pellizotti is now chasing and helping Contador

is in the final kilometer.

It looks like he has 1:55 on Contador. It levels off near the top, and he's sprinting over the final 500 meters.

finishes 4:35 behind ... time bonus?

Di Luca has passed all but one of the break, so he finishes second on the day and gets 12 seconds bonus time.

Here comes Ricco.... at 5:44, 1:10 behind Di Luca.

comes in at 6:20.... It looks like Ricco may have ridden into the jersey. Let's see. We need to do the math.

how close is that?!?!? Contador mananged to hold the jersey by four seconds. WOW.

is not a happy fella.

poor Simoni is just now coming across the line.

On GC, it looks like Contador is keeping the jersey, by four seconds over Ricco and 21 seconds over Di Luca. Wow. Brusheghin is at 2:00 and Pelizotti is at 2:05.

1. Alberto Contador (Sp), Astana
2. Riccardo Ricco (I), Saunier Duval, at 0:04
3. Danilo Di Luca (I), LPR, at 0:21
4. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Lampre, at 2:00
5. Franco Pelizotti (I), Liquigas, at 2:05

that was exciting. The race for the maglia roasa may well come down to the last day. This race could end with a tighter margin than the '89 Tour.

This may well be an interesting weekend ... and we get the Gavia tomorrow to boot.

Thanks for tuning in. Andrew Hood will have a report soon and we'll try to have full results up as soon as they come out. Lots of changes on a big, big day in the hills.

Thanks for tuning in and we'll be back tomorrow and, of course, on Sunday for the finale into Milan. Until then, have a good day ... and go ride your bike.