Mads PEDERSEN. 10 and praise. He wins when many think he has lost. He wins at the moment when he seems to slip back, controlling the fall with wisdom and tactical acumen: when they say ride with your head, not just your legs. We knew Pedersen was a top-tier rider, today we saw it with our own eyes. A practical lesson in cycling tactics. Textbook management of effort and crisis: two kilometers from the finish he seems done, in the last kilometer the Dane comes back, returns to the wheel of an amazing Vacek (grown in Team Giorgi, note from Carlo Giorgi) and then imposes himself in the sprint, repelling the assault of a phenomenal Edoardo Zambanini. Third victory for the Dane, the first in the pink jersey, which he strengthened by extending his lead to 17" over Roglic. He's a top-tier rider, and we understood what that means today.

Edoardo ZAMBANINI. 9. The 24-year-old from Bahrain Team makes an incredible sprint. A challenging and smooth comeback, along the barriers. He passes where it's difficult to pass, moving like a spinning top, without melting or confusing. He's direct, very direct, passes quickly, climbs without dropping, comes within a hair's breadth of victory. Worthy of applause.

Tom PIDCOCK. 6. Remains covered, crouched until the end, hoping to launch one of his progressions. He calculates at the table, but at the Matera finish line it's very different. Especially when at the table there's someone like Mads Pedersen, who has remarkable physical qualities and a crazy tactical intelligence. It's good that he reviews the last two kilometers of today's stage.

Orluis AULAR. 8. The 28-year-old Venezuelan from Movistar places himself again. Today 4th, in a difficult finale that rarely rewards such riders.

Filippo FIORELLI. 7. The 30-year-old from VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizané throws himself into the mix, without getting mixed up.

Michael STORER. 6.5. Sly, the Australian from Tudor is there. There's little to be a phenomenon, but the important thing is to hold positions.

Isaac DEL TORO. 6.5. UAE tries to launch him, with intense and productive work, the boy throws himself with generosity and personality and brings home another top ten.

Damiano CARUSO. 6.5. He throws himself into the whirling finale with the lightness of youth and the experience of veterans. He is everything and can do anything.

Primoz ROGLIC. 5.5. At a certain point he accelerates, trying to put the pink jersey in crisis, who indeed goes into crisis. But the Slovenian thinks Mads is a softie, he's not. And today it's he who loses... a few seconds.

Davide BAIS. 7. They don't have to kill themselves, at the Giro it's like this: you start and they let you go. Today it's the turn of the Team Polti VisitMalta rider who breaks away with Giosuè Epis (Arkea- B&B Hotels) and Lorenzo Milesi (Team Movistar). Three at the front, who give it their all.