The sprinters came to the fore once again as the Giro d’Italia passed its halfway point, with Roberto Ferrari (Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela) claiming victory. Here’s how the action unfolded…

Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) and Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) compare notes ahead of 255km in the saddle.

Race leader Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) gets the VIP treatment at the start of the longest stage in this year’s Giro d’Italia.

Five riders went clear early on the stage.

Rodriguez, wearing the maglia rosa for the first time in his career, sits safely in the bunch.

The lengths a motorbike cameraman will go to get great shots to your television.

 Cavendish drops back to one of Team Sky’s Jaguar’s for assistance.

With the peloton looming large, Manuele Boaro (SaxoBank) attacked from the break before being swept up.

Cavendish was paced over the final category four climb by his Sky team-mates.

The last time the Giro finished in Montecatini Terme, Mario Cipollini won in the rainbow jersey, with reigning world champion Cavendish favourite for stage victory on this occassion.

But it was Ferrari who claimed the sprint, with Cavendish fourth.

It wasn’t the result Cavendish was looking for but the Manx Missile did move into the lead in the points competition.