Daan HOOLE. 10 and praise. Superlatives are not wasted on this incredibly talented, tough, and great guy. He's the tallest in the Giro, at 198 centimeters, but he was truly great, putting on a sumptuous performance. First absolute top-level victory for this 26-year-old Dutch guy, bronze medalist in the U23 European time trial in 2021. In the middle section, the Dutchman outdoes himself. He does something exceptional and closes his effort with a time of 32'30", at the considerable average of 52.800 km/h. He rides on dry ground, although tonight many will toast him with a good Italian sparkling wine.

Joshua TARLING. 5.5. He's the big loser, as he was the big favorite. The Ineos guy rides a 68x11. Best time at Pontetetto: he rides like a motorcycle and is momentarily slowed down by Mikkel Honoré, who doesn't notice him behind. The British rider speeds away, composed and effective, even catching Paul Double. But at the second checkpoint - the one in Asciano - he finds himself behind Hoole. He finishes declining and concludes the stage 7" behind the Dutchman. His final average is 52.611 km/h. In short, he flies, but Daan looks down on everyone.

Ethan HAYTER. 7. The 26-year-old British rider from Soudal Quick-Step does a high-level time trial, confirming this is his standard.

Mattia CATTANEO. 7. Does better than Affini by a second. We know his time trial skills, but also his pace. Not bad uphill either, and downhill he's no chicken. In short, Mattia is a real great "rider".

Edoardo AFFINI. 5.5. The 28-year-old from Mantua arrives at the time trial with slightly damp powder, despite riding on dry ground. It's clear that his remains a performance of absolute respect, but from the current European champion of the specialty, I expected something more.

Marco FRIGO. 7. Throws himself into a time trial that exalts him and earns him a more than good 8th place.

Jay VINE. 6.5. Difficult start, with a mechanical failure forcing him to change bikes mid-race. Despite this episode, the 29-year-old Australian puts in a capital performance and finishes well.

Luke PLAPP. 7. A time trial from a man with the right leg, with good condition. The Jayco AlUla guy has already given the "purple" team of Brent Copeland a stage win, but given the leg he has, it's clear his Giro isn't over yet.

Xabier Mikel AZPARREN. 7. At the Q36.5 castle, in recent days, there were only two time trial bikes: his and Pidcock's. Today we understood that the 26-year-old Basque knows how to do time trials.

Lorenzo MILESI. 6.5. Arrives just short of the top ten: 11th. The U23 world champion does a beautiful time trial, and for us Italians, today's haul is sumptuous: four riders in the top 11. Actually, it would be five in the top thirteen, since Baroncini is also there.

Primoz ROGLIC. 7. Starts with a few drops falling, after crashing during the morning reconnaissance. He starts at Hoole's times, then declines and finds his cruising speed. He clearly has an advantage: unlike his direct rivals for the pink jersey, he rides the first part on dry ground. In any case, after so much bad luck, something is being returned to him by Lady Luck.

Thymen ARENSMAN. 7. He's clearly the Ineos man for the general classification and today he also does a team-man time trial.

Juan AYUSO. 7. On dry ground he's faster than Roglic, but the downpour slows him down like few others and he loses something. On points, however, he wins: 3 on the right knee from the Siena crash (which condition him in the finale) and a performance that tells us this guy is 2nd but second to no one.

Simon YATES. 7. The twin is also here, and moves up in the general classification: two positions, now he's 4th.

Antonio TIBERI. 6. Struggles to stay balanced, like many. In the curve he leans the bike and meanwhile shifts his body to the opposite side to balance, to have more grip and hold.

Isaac DEL TORO. 6. The first part very slow, too slow, at Nairo Quintana's times. In the end, he loses 48" to Ayuso and 1'07" to Roglic. He keeps the pink jersey, and that's not little.

Giulio CICCONE. 5.5. Defends himself in a difficult stage, decimated by rain. Does what he can and pays Roglic 1'33". He's not a specialist and if he's forced to race in such conditions, you can't expect more.

Richard CARAPAZ. 5.5. Arrives under the storm, but his performance is consistently underwhelming.

Egan BERNAL. 17. Crashes in the first kilometers and his time trial turns into a true calvary. It's useless for me to tell you how terribly sorry I am, I believe this guy has already given enough to bad luck. Stop, please.

Mathias VACEK. 6. Starts well and records the second time, behind Tarling. Then he drops off, and at Asciano he's already 11th. Does his job without exaggerating: did they communicate something to him?

Roberto PRUZZO. 10. The most beautiful Giro interview is with the former Roma striker, by Umberto Martini of Rai. The bomber's great love for cycling is well known, and we at tuttobiciweb know it well. Roberto lets himself be guided by his heart, which is full of cycling, a love that has no explanations, like true loves: some things just happen. Roberto speaks like a lover, with competence and passion. His favorite remains Roglic, his ideal champion is Gianni Bugno, in whom he sees and reflects himself. "They've always reproached me that I could have won more, but each of us is what we are". Roberto was a top-tier striker, today he is the most beautiful testimonial of a beautiful sport.