Olav KOOIJ. 10 and praise. He was the most anticipated sprinter, and we had to wait for twelve stages, also because he was returning from a bad clavicle fracture suffered at Gand-Wevelgem. Olav struggles. He struggles and sprints, sprints and struggles. Then, after almost two weeks of racing, zaaac! The Dutchman flies away quickly, masterfully piloted by a phenomenal Edoardo Affini and a gigantic Wout Van Aert. In truth, since he's here, the Dutchman also gets a lift from Van Uden, who practically pulls him the lead-out. For Olav, it's child's play to cross the finish line first, and winning is a must. For the Dutchman, it's his first win in this Giro, the second after last year's, the fourth seasonal victory, the 40th of his career. Zaaac!

Casper VAN UDEN. 8. The tulip starts long, hoping to anticipate and break Visma's maneuvers, but he actually facilitates Kooij's work and practically opens the door to his triumph. He tries, but doesn't get close.

Ben TURNER. 7. The British Ineos rider measures himself against the best and stays with them until the finish line.

Mads PEDERSEN. 6.5. Great work by Lidl-Trek, who position the Dane to contest the sprint in a good position. Today, however, Visma is very much a team and quite compact, let's say also very motivated: Mads already does a lot.

Kaden GROVES. 5. Alpecin is not the one we know. Today the team is disunited, Kaden too isolated. He tries to manage, but loses positions, especially lacking the ability and strength to take Van Uden's wheel as he passes beside him, he just stays there, watching how to sprint. Today, a spectator.

Milan FRETIN. 6. The 26-year-old Belgian from Cofidis tries again, jumping from one wheel to another, trying to catch slipstreams and trajectories. It's not easy with two/three teams too well-equipped, but the guy directed by Roberto Damiani is certainly equipped with courage, and he tries.

Max KANTER. 6. The German sprinter engages in a duel with himself and brings home the second top-ten placement.

Matevz GOVEKAR. 6. The 25-year-old Slovenian from Team Bahrain grabs his second top-ten placement after Naples. For someone who manages as best he can, it's not bad.

Matteo MOSCHETTI. 6. No tricolor arrows today. The 28-year-old Q36.5 rider flies low in the back and brings our colors into the top ten.

Sam BENNETT. 5. The 34-year-old Irish Decathlon rider is not there, too little for someone like him. Anonymous sprints from a rider who still has a name.

Luca MOZZATO. 5. Perhaps he had spoiled us too much, but the man who does it all by himself is now falling short.

Isaac DEL TORO. 8. Two seconds and a first. The first is Kooij, the two seconds are what the UAE boy snags at the Red Bull km finish line. Pinpricks that don't hurt, but are annoying.

Andrea PIETROBON. 7.5. A pioneering race for the Team Polti VisitMalta rider, first in company with the other two (Epis and Tarozzi) and then alone in the finale, to remind that Polti is here not only for floor cleaners and Vaporelle Polti, but also for the single-origin coffee from Polti's house.

Manuele TAROZZI. 7. The 26-year-old from Faenza of VF Group Bardiani CSF Faiané is not far from home, so he attacks to showcase himself on roads he knows like the back of his hand. With him Giosuè Epis (Arkéa – B&B Hotels) and Andrea Pietrobon (Team Polti VisitMalta). They are the ones who animate a stage that is clearly already written, but they try anyway. Just for this, they deserve our applause, our thanks. Bravo.