Not just Kooij, Pedersen, Van Uden, not just the specialized high-speed workers: no, the laborers of the group must also go up front, those on the payroll of the smaller teams.

Fans look and understand less and less, especially those who don't live on regulations and bread. Yet it is precisely the regulations that have created this perversion: the delirious perversion of points. First thing, summarily: each rider is worth the points they accumulate in races, each team is worth the sum of points of all its riders. In fact, a team championship-style ranking is created. The top 18 are series A, guaranteed a spot in the big races. The others must hope for an invitation, because they are effectively series B. The list of elected and neglected is drawn up every three years, based on total scores in the three-year period.

I apologize for the boredom, but it has now become an urgency to know the matter, because cycling has radically changed precisely because of this stuff. In modern times, all riders have the itch to collect points, so they dive into all useful opportunities, including sprints. They go there to increase their own quota and attractiveness when they will go to the market, they go there those sent by small teams fighting not to be relegated, or to be promoted at the end of the three-year period (this year's deadline '23-'25).

Here at the Giro, a series A-like situation is being experienced, with an Empoli and a Lecce fiercely fighting not to be relegated out of the 18. In the specific case, currently Lecce and Empoli are Astana, 18th with 21,528.34 points, and PicNic, 19th with 21,482.83. We are on the edge of placement, at the moment Astana would be saved, but in the team they are beating themselves up like crazy to defend the position. The duel will obviously continue until the end of the season, hoping to drag the Cofidis, 17th with 22,026.25 points, into the fierce battle.

It is well understood where this new philosophy is leading - has led - cycling: in short, from the philosophy of victory to the philosophy of placement, from the philosophy of the champion and others only committed to helping them to the philosophy of individual and selfish ambition, bringing to the center only the seasonal score, even more than the single trophy. Once it was said this rider has won 3 races, now it is said this rider is worth 100, 1,000, 10,000 points. Nowadays, many placements are worth more than few victories, however victories.

And here we are at the glaring effects, visible to everyone these days. Two-three-four riders from small teams who don't even dream of forming a train to launch the sprinter, rather they all go their own way looking for some points, better seventh-ninth-tenth than just fourth. You see and hear Van Uden winning in Lecce and responding to those who ask him what this victory means "180 points for my team" (PicNic).

Of course, the discussion does not concern the high-ranking Dream Teams, who have points in spades, and who can perhaps fight for the prestige of first place, of the cycling championship. Out of curiosity, I add that currently UAE is leading with 82,390.77 points, followed by Visma with 56,461.28, third Lidl-Trek with 43,549.46.

Final question: is this cycling really better? Is this really the right way to rank teams and form series A of 18? Everyone can answer with their own head. A criterion must exist, undeniable, but the impression is that this is the worst, because it distorts the very soul of cycling, where only first place has always mattered and the rest is defeat.

In any case, the undeniable effect is dazzling: for at least three-quarters of the riders, the first objective is no longer victory, but points. And then you understand why they increasingly race by settling for placement, rather than risking everything chasing the eternal dream of victory. We wanted modern cycling, let's keep modern cycling. Amen.

Ps: In Viadana "Process" sprint, two minutes on the stage and three on Guareschi. It's the best "Process" of this Giro. Absolute perfection is just a hair's breadth away: no minutes.