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Giro d'Italia - *Citta Sant'Angelo - Porto Recanati

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  1. 16:23 - VICTORY for Filippo Pozzato - the Italian champion records the host nations' first stage win by the closest of margins, just edging out Thomas Voeckler in the sprint to the line. Jerome Pineau, Garzelli, Vinokourov, Nibali, Pinotti and Scarponi followed.

  2. 1km - Under the Flamme Rouge with Scarponi leading Vinokourov.

  3. 2km - The gap is down to seven seconds.

  4. 4km - Evans is upset at the pace in the peloton and has just almost come to blows with Daniele Righi.

  5. 5km - A 10-man front group that attacked on the cat-3 climb and also includes Vinokourov, Basso and Pinotti has a 20 second lead over the maglia rosa group that includes Evans.

  6. 10km - The lead trio are caught on the third category climb. After an initial attack by Francesco Failli (Acqua e Sapone), Pinotti (HTC Columbia) and Bisolti (CSF Group-Navigare), Thomas Voeckler comes across but then a host of big name riders who lost time yesterday go on the attack. Scarponi is first over the climb followed by Stefano Garzelli and Vincenzo Nibali in a bid to claim back some valuable seconds.

  7. 15km - 20 seconds is the gap now.

  8. 20km - The gap has now been sliced to just 35 seconds.

  9. 25km - We have a 25km finishing circuit and with Garmin still powering away at the front, the gap has been whittled down to 1:37 as they go over the finish line for the first time.

  10. 30km - Michele Scarponi dropped to 21st on GC yesterday. He is local to this area, having been born in Filottrano in the province of Ancona which is only 30 kilometres from today's finish.

  11. 35km - Remember you can catch up with all the best pictures from the race. Giro gallery

  12. 40km - Porte is 25 years and 110 days old, making him the second youngest Australian leader in the Giro behind Evans. He is the fifth rider to wear the pink jersey this year.

  13. 45km - Garmin still driving the pace at the front of the peloton with the gap steady at three minutes.

  14. 50km - Bradley McGee has been speaking to the Australian newspaper about race leader Porte. He said: "Nobody had rated him or given any chance before the start of the Giro. They thought his first and only professional win to date in the individual time trial at the Tour of Romandie a few weeks ago was a one-off. But his performances over the last 12 days including holding onto the white jersey as the best young rider, is starting to win new admirers."

  15. 55km - At the GPM in Macerata, it was Kaisen who took maximum points. Tyler Farrar's Garmin squad lead the peloton which trails our lead trio by 3:17.

  16. 60km - Team standings 1. Saxo Bank 135hrs 24mins 13secs" 2. Liquigas +6:42" 3. Omega Pharma - Lotto +13:31" 4. Rabobank +15:44" 5. Katyusha +16:47" 6. AG2R +19:09" 7. Team Sky +21:40" 8. Acqua & Sapone +24:12" 9. Caisse d'Epargne +28:40" 10. Cervelo +32:21"

  17. 65km - King of the Mountain 1. Matthew Lloyd (Australia / Omega Pharma - Lotto) 29 points 2. Xavier Tondo (Spain / Cervelo) 16 3. Chris Sorensen (Denmark / Saxo Bank) 15 4. Jan Bakelants (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Lotto) 10 5. Paul Voss (Germany / Milram) 10 6. Simone Stortoni (Italy / Colnago - CSF) 10 7. Rubens Bertogliati (Switzerland / Androni Giocattoli) 8 8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / Colnago - CSF) 6 9. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan / Astana) 5 10. Stefano Pirazzi (Italy / Colnago - CSF) 5

  18. 70km - Here's the latest in other classifications. Sprinter standings 1. Tyler Farrar (U.S. / Garmin) 59 points 2. Cadel Evans (Australia / BMC Racing) 52 3. Jerome Pineau (France / Quick-Step) 48 4. Matthew Goss (Australia / HTC - Columbia) 47 5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan / Astana) 47 6. Robert Foerster (Germany / Milram) 47 7. Bradley Wiggins (Britain / Team Sky) 39 8. Evgueni Petrov (Russia / Katusha) 39 9. Chris Sorensen (Denmark / Saxo Bank) 37 10. Fabio Sabatini (Italy / Liquigas) 36

  19. 75km - Flens is first over the line at the TV sprint in Monte San Giusto with the peloton at 4:51.

  20. 80km - And in breaking news, Philippe Gilbert will not ride in Tour de France. The winner of Amstel Gold will ride the Vuelta to prepare for the World Championship in Australia.

  21. 85km - The big news in the world of cycling today is that Floyd Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after failing a dope test, has sent a series of e-mails to cycling officials and sponsors admitting to the use of performance enhancing drugs. Full story

  22. 90km - For those without access to pictures, I can tell you that for once the weather is good. The sun is out as the riders leave the Adriatic Coast and head on an inland loop. The time gap back from our three leaders is five minutes.

  23. 95km - You can watch the race now LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin 521) and on the Eurosport Player

  24. 100km - Yuriy Krivtsov is 31 and from Pervomaysk in Ukraine. He has been at Ag2r-La Mondiale for seven years, having had two seasons with Jean Delatour before that. He is riding his fifth consecutive Giro and the biggest win of his career came with a stage success at the Tour of Romandie in 2003.

  25. 105km - Rick Flens is a 27-year-old from Zaandam in the Netherlands. Flens finished second in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne earlier this year and is making his Grand Tour debut. Three of his four pro wins have come in time trials.

  26. 110km - Let's have a look at the breakaway riders with Olivier Kaisen who is a 27-year-old Belgian from Omega Pharma-Lotto riding in his second Giro. He has been a pro for Lotto for five years and has two pro wins, in last year's Tour of Turkey and at the 2007 GP Gerrie Knetemann.

  27. 115km - Flens-Krivstov-Kaisen lead by 5:50 with the average speed so far, 37.3kmh, behind even the slowest of the time schedules.

  28. 120km - Remember you can read our cycling blog, Blazin' Saddles, every day during the Giro. Trivial Pursuit

  29. 125km - Milram sporting director Christian Henn: "That was a totally crazy stage, I have never experienced anything like it. When the large group got away, all the favourites stayed calm, nobody reacted and the group built up a huge lead unbelievably quickly. This situation was naturally optimal for us. Linus Gerdemann made the leap to the group together with Matthias Russ and make up a lot of time. In the finale, Linus gambled and went for the stage win. Too bad that it didn't work out."

  30. 130km - Ivan Basso said this morning: "For the GC, yesterday was a blow. But we can not pack our bags and go home. The race no longer has a logical outcome, even Kiserlovski and Agnoli will have a chance for the overall. What counts is to remain united."

  31. 135km - John Lelangue, the director sportif of Cadal Evans' BMC team, said: "It's difficult to come back on 60 riders when you only have a group of 26 chasing. The Giro is still a long way from Verona. We are only halfway. The big week of mountains is coming on Saturday. So it's still open - even if it will be difficult. Anything is possible."

  32. 140km - Porte also thanked by Stuart O'Grady who recommended him to Saxo Bank."Stuey is the only reason I'm over here and racing professionally. I owe Stuey big time. We first met racing against each other at the Jayco Herald Sun tour in Victoria and he must have seen something good in me the year he won it two years ago. I'm still pinching myself. Being in pink has just blown me away. It feels awesome."

  33. 145km - Porte, a former swimmer and triathlete, finished the stage in 13th place, to take the maglia rosa. The 25-year-old from Hadspen in Tasmania is a neo-pro with Team Saxo Bank and was still an amateur a year ago. "Even if the Giro ended today, I can look back one day and say I've had it good. This doesn't really happen to a neo-professional, but I do know I'm going to defend the jersey until my a gets ripped," he told The Australian.

  34. 150km - Reaction to yesterday's stage. Stage winner Evgueni Petrov: "I attacked behind Cataldo and Gerdemann on the last descent and with 1km to go I caught Gerdemann and put in more power to get a good lead. With 500 meters to go I turned my eyes back to see the rivals in a distance, so I started to believe in my chance to win. I have tried a lot to take a victory. This time, I did it."

  35. 155km - Flens has been joined by Krivstov and Kaisen, they lead the peloton - which is led by Garmin and Columbia - by 6:12.

  36. 160km - Flens now has a 9:25 advantage over the peloton but Yuriy Krivstov (AG2R) and Olivier Kaisen (Omega Pharma-Lotto) are looking to bridge the gap and trail the Dutch leader by just 2:45.

  37. 165km - Have they got time to make up that lost time? Here's the pivotal moments yet to come. Saturday - cat 1 climb with 40km left; Sunday - cat 1 climb with 40km left & a summit finish; Tuesday - 12.8km mountain time trial; Wednesday - cat 1 climb with 67km left; Friday - cat 1 climbs with 65km and 32km left; Saturday - cat 1 climb with 105km left, highest ascent of the race, the 'Cima Coppi' with 29km left & summit finish; Sunday - 15km time trial

  38. 170km - The top 10 after Tuesday's stage - which contained most of the pre-race favourites - now hold places 12-21 on GC: 12 Alex Vinokourov (Kaz/Astana) +9:58: 13 Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC) +11:10: 14 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Liq) +11:28: 15 Ivan Basso (Ita/Liq) +11:49: 16 Marco Pinotti (Ita/Columbia) +12:15: 17 Francis De Greef (Bel/Lotto) +12:21: 18 Vladimir Karpets (Rus/Katusha) +12:32: 19 Stefano Garzelli (Ita/Acq&Sap) +12:42: 20 Damiano Cunego (Ita/Lampre) +13:03: 21 Michele Scarponi (Ita/Androni) +13:04

  39. 175km - Flens has opened up a lead of three minutes and 45 seconds over the peloton.

  40. 180km - The man in fourth place, Tondo, has had an early fall along with David Loosli (Swi - Lampre-Farnese Vini) but both are back on their bike unscathed. Rabobank's Rick Flens has attacked the bunch.

  41. 185km - The top 11 on GC were in the break: 1. Richie Porte (Aus/Saxo Bank) 45hrs 30mins 16secs; 2. David Arroyo (Spn/Caisse d'Epargne) +1:42; 3. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro/Liquigas) +1:56; 4. Xavier Tondo (Spn/Cervelo) +3:54; 5. Valerio Agnoli (Ita/Liquigas) +4:41; 6. Alexander Efimkine (Rus/AG2R) +5:16; 7. Linus Gerdemann (Ger/Milram) +5:34; 8. Carlos Sastre (Spn/Cervelo) +7:09; 9. Laurent Didier (Lux/Saxo Bank) +7:24; 10. Bradley Wiggins (Gbr/Sky) +8:14"; 11. Jan Bakelants (Bel/Omega Pharma-Lotto) +8:35

  42. 190km - Evgueni Petrov of Katusha won an extraordinary 11th stage yesterday which saw a complete new top 10 on GC after a 56-man group was allowed to breakaway. Video Highlights

  43. 195km - Wouter Weylandt (Bel - Quick Step and Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe - Saxo Bank) did not start this morning so there are 169 riders left in the race.

  44. 200km - The peloton has set off from Città Sant'Angelo, a town in the province of Pescara that is cited from the 12th century as "Castrum Sancti Angeli" (Latin for the Castle of the Holy Angels).

  45. 205km - This 206km stage should favour the sprinters with a flat finish on the coast in Porto Recanati although an inland loop takes in two small third category climbs toward the end of the stage at Macerata with 55km left and then the Potenza Picena 12km from the finish.

  46. 11:05 - The 12th stage of the Giro d'Italia winds its way up the east coast of Italy with young Australian Richie Porte in the pink jersey after yesterday's sensational stage.

 

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