Mattias SKJELMOSE. 10 and with honors. Try asking this 24-year-old Danish guy what it means to win the Amstel by beating both Pogacar and Evenepoel, that is, the world and Olympic champions. Try asking him what he feels, what the thrill is, far from boredom and predictable races. This is possible because there are two riders universally greater than others, Tadej and Remco, complete like few and universal like none. Mattias made no mistakes, he resisted like few, he countered when needed, sprinted like never before, surprising himself, surprising the world, and leaving two world champions behind. Can Pogacar be beaten? Of course. You just need to be at his level, believe in yourself, hold the wheel of two champions, and he did it: like a champion.

Tadej POGACAR. 8. He takes Alaphilippe's wheel as he accelerates on the Gulperberg, attacks and creates a gap 45.5 kilometers from the finish. Then at -42.4 on the Kruisberg he goes away alone without even attacking, without even getting out of the saddle. After winning the Amstel after a 28-kilometer breakaway, he tries to improve, but this is not the best Pogacar, the Roubaix aftermath - perhaps - is still with him. Perhaps even shorter cranks are less effective for a sprint, given that he has lost several sprint finishes. But one thing is certain: when he's there, there's a battle, total and absolute competition. Don't like it? Watch Norris or Piastri: that's your sport.

Remco EVENEPOEL. 9. Unbreakable, indestructible, uncontainable and tireless: a giant. If that guy is crazy, this one is no less. Perhaps less universal than Tadej, who does whatever he wants in every race and gets what he wants, but Remco is of a "monster" and "strong" dimension. Today the two show their greatness, equal to their ambitions, then they pay the price, because they too have two legs, a heart, and a tank, and today they waste a lot, drain their reserves and Mattias sinks them. A delight for those who love this sport, absolute pleasure for those like us who feed on champions. If Taddeo is Merckx's heir, Remco is Hinault's. Think about our luck: we're living with open eyes a magical moment, in a cycling where Merckx and Hinault are racing together, and it's not a video game: it's much better. It's reality.

Wout VAN AERT. 5.5. Sure, a fourth place, but he's never really in the race, always behind chasing and pursuing. He suffers the race as has been happening for too long. Good on pace, much less in rhythm changes.

Michael MATTHEWS. 6. At 34, he's still there, fighting like a child. He loses the sprint with Wout, but it's clear that for the Australian this defeat is less of a defeat than for the Belgian.

Louis BARRÉ. 7.5. This 25-year-old French guy from Intermarchè Wanty rides well. A precious 6th place, adding to several placements obtained this year.

Romain GREGOIRE. 7.5. The 22-year-old from Groupama confirms his talent with an absolutely technically valuable performance and a placement that doesn't make him just another rider, but an absolute value rider in perspective.

Thomas PIDCOCK. 5. It's his race, since he's won it and has also obtained two podiums here, but today he remains in the best group without ever making an impact.

Ben HEALY. 5. He has legs, desire, but misses all the timings, always and constantly behind. It's a continuous shooting, often in vain.

Thibau NYS. 6.5. He's only 22 and gives the impression of being able to stay with cycling's elite, he gets close, but pays something. It's only the second race in his career over 200 kilometers, but at the Arrow you'll see he'll be there fighting.

Julian ALAPHILIPPE. 5.5. Finishes his effort in 20th place, after having given us hope with that beautiful action to which only Pogacar can respond. Then he suddenly fades and his race becomes a chase.

Davide FORMOLO. 5.5. He's the first Italian (27th), too little for someone like him, who aspires to much more.

Marc HIRSCHI. 4. For now, the Swiss is a poor copy of what was admired for a long time last season.

Remi CAVAGNA. 6.5. The 29-year-old TGV from Clermont Ferrand takes off, dragging the day's breakaway with seven wagons behind, from Michel Hessmann (Movistar) to Robert Stannard (Bahrain Victorious), from Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin Deceuninck) to Cedric Beullens and Jarrad Drizners (Lotto), up to Hartthijs De Vries and Jelle Johannink (Tietema Rockets). A sumptuous action conducted by the French rider from Groupama FDJ, who, except for Hessmann who is the last to give up, surrenders just before.