welcome to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of Stage 8 of the 91st Giro d'Italia, a 206-kilometer ride from Rivisondoli to Tivoli.

The weather today is relatively pleasant, with temperatures at the finish in the mid-70s (25c), partly cloudy skies and winds at around 10mph. The high today is expected to be right around 79 (26c) and humidity at 62%.

is punctuated by the Category 2 Forca d'Acero at 57km and while that is the day's only rated climb, perhaps the most decisive rise is the slight 3.8km jump to the finish in Tivoli. Given the events of the past few days - especially with that big gap that developed on Thursday - the potential GC players are going to have to remain vigilant.

With a finsh like today, we may see another stage win by a talent of the likes of a Riccardo Ricco from Saunier Duval. He seems to thrive on finishes like today's. Of course, this may suit Danilo Di Luca who is still expecting to make an impression in this Giro.

We're still getting spotty reports from the road, so it may be a bit before we can update you on the situation on the road.

the day's only ranked climb, the Forca d'Acero, and are now at the 97km mark, heading to the feedzone at 100km. It's not a flat shot to the finish, so we can expect a little action on the road to Tivoli today.

of five riders, with a 5:40 advantage over the main field, at 111km. The men in the break (with their positions on GC) are:

8. Daniele Nardello (I), Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, at 7:53

44. Fortunato Baliani (I), CSF Group Navigare, at 10:42

58. Alessandro Spezialetti (I), Team L.P.R., at 19:13

123. Mathieu Perget (F), Caisse d'Epargne, at 50:06

149. Adam Hansen (Aus), Team High Road, at 59:07

If you get a chance, drop us a note if you have a question, comment or complaint, simply by clicking on our "Contact our Editors" link below the update window.

that the presence of Nardello in the break is bound to make some people nervous back in the peloton. He's in 8th place on GC and that could pose a risk. Right now, at 118km, the gap is up to 6:00

the men in the lead - Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare), Alessandro Spezialetti (Team L.P.R.), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) and Adam Hansen (Team High Road) - have a lead of 6:13.

It could be. The five leaders - Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare), Alessandro Spezialetti (Team L.P.R.), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) and Adam Hansen (Team High Road) - are at 6:13. It looks like the peloton is picking up the pace. With 73km remaining, we'd have to bet that there will be a catch before the finish in Tivoli today.

We won't have Live Coverage on Monday, because it is the Giro's first rest day. We'll be here tomorrow, of course, and back again on Tuesday morning at 8:00 (Eastern time in the U.S.).

Right now on the road, we have five leaders - Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare), Alessandro Spezialetti (Team L.P.R.), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) and Adam Hansen (Team High Road) - 135km, with a lead of 6:05.

the peloton is inching closer, and the gap is now down to 5:50.

Folks, I can't come up with the answer off the top of my head, can any of you help reader Dave, who writes:

Hi,

I really like the voice of the woman singing the aria in the Giro d'Italia commercial that opens the video section of your online magazine. Is there someway you could find out for me the name of that movement or opera, the singer and orchestra? I'd like to buy that CD. Thank you for your help and for a great magazine.

the gap is slowly coming down, with the peloton trailing the leaders by 5:15. As a reminder, the men up the road are:

Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare), Alessandro Spezialetti (Team L.P.R.), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) and Adam Hansen (Team High Road).

the leaders are holding an advantage of 5:05.

was won by Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare), who crossed the line ahead of

Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) and Alessandro Spezialetti (Team L.P.R.)

Reader Gregory S. writes in to tell us that the aria in question comes from La Wally by Alfredo Catalani, making VeloNews.com the only cycling site on the web which (with a little help from our friends) answers opera questions... even when it involves an Opera not produced by Pinarello.

to our friend and editor at-large Patrick O'Grady, for covering our Live Coverage these past few days. The Live Update Guy took a little "vacation time" (otherwise known as "finals week" in lawyerin' school) and Patrick stepping up to the plate made that possible.

Meanwhile, our five leaders - Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare), Alessandro Spezialetti (Team L.P.R.), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) and Adam Hansen (Team High Road) - are now at the 159km mark, with an advantage of 4:40.

are 45km from the finish and the gap is now below the four-minute mark, at 3:50.

the gap is down to 3:25. It's clear that the peloton - now under the guidance of the Quick Step crew - is working to catch these guys. The men in the lead are:
Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare), Alessandro Spezialetti (Team L.P.R.), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) and Adam Hansen (Team High Road

the gap is coming down fast. Our five leaders - Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare), Alessandro Spezialetti (Team L.P.R.), Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) and Adam Hansen (Team High Road) - are now just 2:26 ahead of the peloton.

is throwing a few riders into the chase. The five leaders are losing time quickly, as a result.

a couple of you have written in to mention the inconsistent time stamps on our updates. We have been having some technical issues here, but we are working on it. The current time in Italy is 3:59 p.m.

the leaders are just 2:11 ahead of the main field. We may be hearing our fat guy singing in a few.

is now less than 2:00 minutes. The peloton crossed under the 30km to go banner at 1:56.

our crew here seem to be divided. Our Live Update Guy (yes, I know I'm referring to myself in the third person) is going for another Ricco win today and European correspondent Andrew Hood is going for Bettini.

With 25km to go for the break, our leaders are a scant 1:36 ahead of the field.

continue to drive the chase and the two teams are really kicking it in overdrive. This break is bound to be swallowed up here pretty quickly.

"Alberto isn't in his best right now, but he's the best rider in the world in my eyes, so even when he's not in the best condition, he can compete with the best, which he showed yesterday," Sean Yates said.

"Alberto had a crash today, so we'll see how he is after the stage," Yates said. "We start with three equal leaders, we'll see better after the time trial Tuesday where we stand."

"We could see that Di Luca was going very fast with Ricco, maybe Alberto was a little on the limit, but he's improved since Agrigento and he's slowly coming up. He's improved since the Giro started."

20km from the finish, with a gap of just 1:12.

In answer to that aria question, reader Andrea P writes

Did Dave ever get an answer to his question? The aria is from La Wally and it's sung by Wilhemina Wiggins Fernandez (it's on the soundtrack to the movie "Diva")

The leaders are 18km from the finish, but the are just 1:09 ahead of the field.

the five escapees are fading; they're working really hard and looking quite fresh. Unfortunately for them, the Saunier Duval and Quick Step teams are pouring on the horsepower behind them and the gap continues to shrink. It's just 55 seconds.

The peloton is strung out, folks... and we mean that in the classic sense of the word, as in single file.

the time trial champion of Australia has a moment of inspiration and decides to leave those other guys behind. So we now have Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare), Alessandro Spezialetti (Team L.P.R.), and Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) chasing the 27-year-old Adam Hansen (Team High Road) with 12km to go. He's driving hard.

The four chasers are behind Hansen by 10 seconds, but the peloton is coming up fast, at just 40 seconds. The Gerolsteiner team is putting riders into the mix now.

Hansen is driving like a mad man, but he may be facing an uphill battle... literally with that tough little climb at the finish coming up.

the peloton has caught Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare), Alessandro Spezialetti (Team L.P.R.) and Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne).

Hansen is 36 seconds up the road.

to go. The pace in the field is really picking up. New riders and new teams are lending a hand in the chase. Hansen's time might be short.

Are they helping with the chase or more concerned about keeping their leaders out of trouble?

with an advantage of 32 seconds, with 5km to go.

The ground beneath Hansen's wheels seems to be tipping upward.

Hansen is still holding on to a 30-second lead. Astana is driving at the front of the field.

and Hansen's lead is now at 23 seconds.

The chase is really kicking up and the peloton can see Hansen up the road.

Hansen is done... punches his bars. Now who?

Is driving at the fron, with 2km to go. He has company.... lots of good legs.

A lot of the favorites are in the mix.... Piepoli is still driving

Di Luca and Bettini and Ricco are in there

Rebellin, chases.... here comes Bettini and Ricco charges! Ricco gets it, with Bettini right there, too!

"The victory is important, but so are the time bonuses at the line. The team did a great job to set me up for the win. Things are on the right track," Ricco said.

1. Riccardo Ricco (I), Saunier Duval

2. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step

3. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner

Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) keeps his lead on GC, and he has extended his lead over Matthias Russ (G), Gerolsteiner, to 34 seconds.

that's a wrap for today. We'll be back for tomorrow's flat stage, which is bound to end in field sprint. We'll be here at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time (in the U.S.)