Richard CARAPAZ. 10 and praise. He has good legs and shows it. He wants to fight and in a true stage he does the dress rehearsal. Lots of effort, but for him there's the reward of a stage victory, his fourth at the Giro d'Italia. The Giro is open, very open, which the Ecuadorian rider blows wide open by turning up the gas at the finish with one of his accelerations. He smells pink, ready to let it sizzle.

Isaac DEL TORO. 9. He races for himself and for Ayuso. Sprints at the finish to take away bonus seconds from direct rivals. Isaac is more brilliant than ever, in condition and inspired. He sprints looking backwards, watching others sprint. It's not just a demonstration of strength and bravado, but also of talent. So much talent.

Giulio CICCONE. 5.5. He has the opportunity to win, but gets surprised by Carapaz who takes off. He remains there, trapped in the mesh of the best group and in the final sprint collects third place: the photo doesn't tell us how much difference there is between him and Del Toro.

Thomas PIDCOCK. 5. Loses the moment, across the board. When Carapaz escapes and then, in the final sprint, when he takes the last corner terribly, also disturbing those behind him who must avoid him. Not good, again today.

Egan BERNAL. 6. After a difficult day like yesterday, today the Colombian finds a bit of serenity and perhaps confidence.

Antonio TIBERI. 6.5. Pedals well all day. Actually, he's been pedaling well since the beginning. He's a calm and confident diesel. He's there: what more could we want?

Juan AYUSO. 6. Must bring his skin back to the hotel and does so with relative tranquility.

Einer RUBIO. 6. Fights, tries, throws himself into the fray and comes out with a top ten placement that tells us he's feeling good.

Derek GEE. 6. The 26-year-old Canadian finally shows himself, after an anonymous and suffering Giro so far.

Primoz ROGLIC. 6. It's unclear if he's hidden or wasn't particularly brilliant. The Slovenian knows perfectly well that the best is yet to come, and therefore lets others dance.

Giulio PELLIZZARI. 6. Yesterday he respected team orders: calm time trial, with a bit of gas, to not waste energy. Today he places himself behind Primoz and arrives at the finish. Gains two positions in the general classification.

Davide PIGANZOLI. 6. Not particularly brilliant, but his stages are still far away.

Mads PEDERSEN. 8. Does an incredible job from the start. First for himself, then for the team. The Danish rider works hard, pulls like crazy for kilometers and kilometers, to bring the best group back into shooting range of the five escapees. After finishing his work, he slides back, the group opens, two wings of riders, in the middle the Dane who passes like a star: it's him, Mads Mosè Pedersen.

Lorenzo FORTUNATO. 8. At km 84, the blue jersey of XDS Astana takes off. San Pellegrino in Alpe is his and he crests with 55'' over Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla) and Wout Poels (Fortunato's teammate). At km 108 Lorenzo is caught by the four pursuers. They will be caught only at the end, pushed by a stellar Pedersen. He increases his bounty for the Mediolanum blue jersey. Now he has 156 points, against Ayuso's 54.

CASTELNUOVO NE' MONTI. 10. Or when you believe in a project, in an important investment, a Giro d'Italia finish stage to promote a hidden territory of our beautiful country, which deserves to be unveiled and revealed. When you shell out money to secure the right to host the pink race in your territory, and local administrations and locals double down to make this passage something that can remain and leave in our hearts that sweet sentiment of returning with our families. A mid-Giro stage far from trivial, designed by director Mauro Vegni with great sensitivity and wisdom. San Pellegrino in Alpe midway through the race, the Pietra di Bismantova in the finale. Bravi, well done, encore.