Mads PEDERSEN. 10 and praise. He wins for the team, he wins for Wouter Weylandt. He wins, this Danish guy of immense class, who gifts Denmark its first pink jersey in history. A tenacious and capable athlete, former world champion, but today an all-round champion. Superb team, Vacek super. Pink jersey more than deserved, for a sport, a team, a family - that of cycling - that doesn't forget, doesn't lose memory. It's his first time in the leader's jersey in a grand tour: he won't forget this either. This is already part of history. Like his victories in all three Grand Tours. If the morning shows the day, I think there will be a good journey. I not only think it will be a good Giro, I believe it. For those who don't believe, and are therefore atheists, a reflection from the inimitable humorist Marcello Marchesi: the atheist is someone who believes in the here and now. Until tomorrow!

Wout VAN AERT. 5.5. He struggles, struggles a lot in the finale, to hold on uphill and to hold wheels. He knows there's only one man to take care of, but knowing things and doing them are two different matters. He treats them professionally, but in the end pulls out the usual second place. Tomorrow there's the time trial to try to wear pink, to try to come first. Calm down, there's no rush, wait a second.

Orluis AULAR. 6. The 28-year-old Venezuelan from Movistar pulls out a high-level sprint, even if with his approach he cuts out Van Aert.

Francesco BUSATTO. 7.5. The young guy from Intermarchè does an excellent sprint. At 22, he measures himself against the big names and doesn't look out of place.

Thomas PIDCOCK. 5.5. He was among the most anticipated, but today he's not seen, just glimpsed.

Diego ULISSI. 6. He feels the finish line and tries to see it, aim at it and hit it. The intentions are good, but it'll be for next time.

Richard CARAPAZ. 6.5. The old fox is there, up front, with ease. He said, "I missed the Giro so much, I couldn't wait to return. I asked the team myself, it's my race, I always have an extra, special motivation".

Nicola CONCI. 6.5. The 28-year-old rider from XDS Astana Team enters the centrifuge and doesn't get squeezed.

Davide PIGANZOLI. 7. The young guy from Polti VisitMalta stays there and in the end throws himself into the fray: excellent 10th place. A great way to start.

Giulio CICCONE. 9. In the finale he acts like a tamer, indeed he puts everyone to the whip. He lines everyone up, and while he's at it, stays in the vanguard zones. Sumptuous start. He said: "Many times I felt a bit undervalued, but what you achieve on a bicycle is never by chance. You don't end up on the podium in two Monument races by chance. I'm not surprised. But I don't want to think about having to get results in the Giro at all costs: I would pedal with a weight on my shoulders, and I don't want that".

Sam BENNETT. 5. The forcing begins and the 34-year-old Irish rider from Decathlon drops off. 36 km from the finish line, his race is already over. A bit too early.

Olav KOOIJ. 5. The 23-year-old Dutch rider from Visma practically lifts his foot from the accelerator immediately. It's fine that you're a sprinter, but this way you're too quick: to surrender.

Derek GEE. 5. Loses almost a minute, the start needs to be reviewed, even if to come back he really needs to show himself: repeatedly.

Andrea VENDRAME. 5.5. Arrives at the Giro not in top condition and in a stage that could have smiled on him, it overshadows him.

Primoz ROGLIC. 7. Attentive like few others. He said: "There's no right time to win, it's never too early or too late. Age is just a number and I feel ten years younger".

Juan AYUSO. 6.5. Falls, gets up, does what he needs to do. He said: "I'm coming to the Giro to win", his business card.

Egan BERNAL. 7. Pedals easily, even if the difficult part is yet to come. He said: "I'm 28 and so far I've raced the Giro, the most beautiful race there could be, only once. I don't know why".

Antonio TIBERI. 6. Sometimes he forgets to stay in the vanguard positions. Sometimes they have to go and get him. He said: "I'm ready, I can't wait to start".

Manuele TAROZZI 7. The guy from VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizan is a breakaway man, and goes in the breakaway. A man who attacks, and goes on the attack. A man who has no strong points but no weak points either, and goes hunting for points and seconds: his the first Red Bull km checkpoint. For him 6" of bonus.

Taco VAN DER HOORN. 6. The 31-year-old Dutch rider from Intermarchè is the most significant man, if only for having won the Canale stage in the 2021 Giro. Ready, go and off he goes, with Alessandro Verre (Arkea - B&B Hotels), Alessandro Tonelli (Team Polti VisitMalta), Sylvain Moniquet (Cofidis) and Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizan). Taco is the first to attack, but also the first to drop off: too quick.

Mikel LANDA. 17. He has long dreamed of the Trofeo Senza Fine, but what has no end is only bad luck. Falls in the finale.

Wout WEYLANDT. 108. The 108th Giro begins, in memory of a Giro son who tragically died on May 9, 2011, during the descent of Passo del Bocco. He was 26 years old, just 26 years old. 14 years have passed, but the cycling world has memory. Number 108 has been retired, no longer racing, Wout is here, always. In stories, in history, in his absence: the most acute presence.