. . . and welcome to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of stage 5 of the 2008 Giro d'Italia.

Today's stage starts in Belvedere Marittimo, at the edge of Pollino National Park - at 1820 square kilometers, the largest natural park in the country - and ends 203km later in Contursi Terme, at the confluence of the Sele and Tanagro rivers. It's a first for both, as neither community has hosted the Giro before.

The stage takes the field through Diamante, Santa Maria del Cedro, Scalea and Praia a Mare, typical North Calabrian Ionian seascapes with ancient villages tucked among the rocks along the mountain ridges, which serve as a backdrop to the series of beaches. Then it's on to the province of Potenza, in Basilicata, through Rivello, Lagonegro and up the category-3 climb at Fortino, before entering Campania and the province of Salerno. Here the cyclists pass through Montesano Scalo, the center of Sala Consilina, Polla, Buccino and San Gregorio Magno.

The 190 riders who started today's stage may be particularly happy to see Contursi Terme, given the rigors of the first four days of this Giro. The town was renowned for the restorative qualities of its waters even in Roman times - its warm waters are said to relieve sufferers of osteoarthritis, arthritis, skin disorders and breathing problems, while the cold treats digestive problems and urinary illnesses as well as regulating blood pressure and hepatic functions. We're not certain which temperature is best for road rash, bruises and broken bones.

Yesterday's stage, won by High Road's Mark Cavendish, was tough on more than one rider. Nick Nuyens (Cofidis) broke his right clavicle in that finishing-straight pileup in Catanzaro and left the race in an ambulance. Also out are Dominique Cornu (Silence-Lotto), who abandoned the race after 3km yesterday following an early crash, and Tom Stubbe (Française des Jeux).

. . . the bunch has been active today. The average speed for the first hour of racing was 44.6 km/h, and there has been a series of breakaway attempts. Big Maggy Backstedt had a go early on, but was pulled back; so, too, were Luis Laverde (CSF Group), Johannes Frohlinger (Gerolsteiner) and Theo Eltink (Rabobank).

. . . but Laverde and Frohlinger had another go, and this time they got away, with David Millar (Slipstream) and Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff). Francisco Perez-Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) bridged to make it a five-some and we were off to the races.

With 150km to race, the leaders had an advantage of six-plus minutes on the peloton.

Atop the leaderboard going into stage 5 were:

1. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas, 16:21:46

2. Christian Vande Velde (USA), Slipstream-Chipotle, at 0:01

3. Danilo Di Luca (I), Team L.P.R., at 0:07

4. Morris Possoni (I), Team High Road, at 0:08

5. Vincenzo Nibali (I), Liquigas

6. Nicki Sorensen (Den), CSC, at 0:17

7. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr), Team High Road, at 0:18

8. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Team L.P.R., at 0:19

9. Andrea Noe' (I), Liquigas, at 0:22

10. Daniele Bennati (I), Liquigas, at 0:24

Pellizotti would like to hold onto that maglia rosa for another day, but said yesterday that he felt today's stage seemed better suited to Saunier Duval's Riccardo Ricco or LPR's Danilo Di Luca. "My team worked very hard today to make sure I could keep the jersey," he told The Associated Press. "It will be difficult to keep it after tomorrow, but I will try. Tomorrow will be a test for everybody who wants to win this Giro d'Italia."

Italian climber Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier-Duval) stacked it at 43km, but easily rejoined the bunch, led by Pellizotti's Liquigas mob. Incidentally, Pellizotti is aboard a specially painted Cannondale Super Six with a metallic blue paint job that Cannondale says is intended to commemorate this Giro.

Slipstream-Chipotle's David Zabriskie has returned stateside to recover. There's probably no truth to the rumor that the airline required him to buy a second seat for his moustache.

After two hours in the saddle, the average speed has dipped to 39.4 km/h. The cat.-3 Fortino ascent probably had something to do with that. Our leaders are up and over and headed for the feed zone with an eight-minute cushion.

. . . the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic got under way yesterday with a 1.7-mile prologue in downtown Portland, Oregon. Web editor Steve Frothingham and ace photog Casey Gibson were there, and you can catch up with them here.

. . . and our escapees - Luis Laverde (CSF Group), Johannes Frohlinger (Gerolsteiner), David Millar (Slipstream), Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff) and Francisco Perez-Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) - have a nine-minute advantage.

Of the lead group, Perez is best placed, sitting 68th at 1:57. Frohlinger is 71st at 2:04; Millar, 76th at 2:14; Laverde, 77th at 2:18; and Brutt, 157th at 18:16.

. . . the gap is 9:10.

. . . as the gap starts coming down with Quick Step and Astana on the front. It was 7:20 as the bunch shot past the sprint point at 142km.

Nothing but blue skies and dry roads as our escapees motor along with 50km to go.

. . . the bunch is catching a bit of light rain. The gap is coming down, to 6:25 now.

So much for our bright, bright sunshiny day.

. . . is chatting with the team car and pulling on the old arm warmers. Danilo Di Luca has gone for the full-on rain jacket.

. . . is down to less than six minutes with 45km to race.

. . . are up front and drilling it.

. . . is looking a tad fatigued. Forty Ks for them.

. . . Mark Cavendish, is struggling in the finale as Charley Wegelius is once again cranking out the watts up front for Liquigas.

. . . with 40km to race for the bunch.

. . . has just taken a tour of the ditch. No idea how he got there, but the Silence-Lotto rider is up again and working his way back to the bunch.

And the Gerolsteiner car rolls up for a chat with Frohlinger.

He's skipping his turns and sucking wind.

Whatever he's eating for breakfast, we could use some. We don't climb that well in our car.

. . . with 35km to go.

These guys are gonna need some spa time after this one.

Good crowds lining the streets. The gap is down again, to 4:10.

And these roads are really getting wet now. The break is taking the corners very gingerly indeed.

And check it out - Astana's Levi Leipheimer has moved toward the front. Think he fancies his chances on the final climb to the finish?

3:40 the gap now. It could be a close one today, given the state of the roads.

Everyone is giving his neighbor a lot of room as the wheels kick up roostertails of water.

And the rain is bucketing down now.

He's taking his turns with the rest of the break.

. . . is 3:35.

And LPR is chipping in to the pursuit now. The chase is hitting 54kph.

They're chugging steadily on. We'll get a time check here in a minute.

The hounds are yappin'.

Liquigas is getting some help from the Killer's mob.

The leaders' advantage is dwindling.

One long line now as the race leader's team ramps it up. Wegelius again. Wow.

Di Luca must be feeling frisky today. The pursuit is hitting speeds of 67kph on this descent with less than 14km to race.

This is gonna be close. The break might just make it.

. . . is parked right on Pellizotti's wheel.

And Liquigas is back on the front. The bunch seems a bit tentative.

A brief descent and then it's 3km of up to the line.

And Bettini and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) are moving up.

And a Rabobank - Theo Eltink - gets shouldered off the road. He's back in business, no worries.

Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r) is switching a wheel with a teammate.

. . . and say that with 2:05 for the leaders and no organized chase at the back, these guys are gonna make it.

Brutt seems to be sitting at the back again.

Pellizotti is clinging to his jersey - but just barely.

The final climb looms.

Fran Perez is the best climber in the bunch. Laverde has a good punch. Millar has the class.

And the gap is coming down as Gilberto Simoni's team moves to the front of the chase.

And there goes Perez!

The break is snaking back and forth across the road with the bunch at 1:05.

Millar has a mechanical - a broken chain? - and chucks his bike over the barriers!

Zowie!

. . . but Brutt is gonna get it . . .

Brutt is fading fast . . .

Frohlinger second, Laverde third.

. . . for fifth at 31 seconds back.

David Millar is the new Huffy-toss champ, succeeding Bjarne Riis (Tour de France, class of '97).

Brutt looked like he was walking up a flight of stairs with a fat man on his back. Chapeau to the Tinkoff man.

. . . remains unchanged: Pellizotti, with Vande Velde second at one second and Di Luca third at 0:07.

Thanks for joining us - we hope to see you back here tomorrow for Live Coverage of stage 6 of the 2008 Giro d'Italia.