
Mads PEDERSEN. 10 and praise. He releases watts from every pore, so much so that he could light up all of Vicenza. The Dane illuminates Lidl-Trek and himself, who is in a beautiful spotlight. Spotlight, force four, for this boy of exuberant power, of sublime professionalism and absolute loyalty. The team had decided this morning: all for Vacek! However, many want the stage. Vacek and Bardet are caught, and here he comes into action. The cyclamen jersey takes center stage and delivers a new lesson. There's no need to take notes, just watch him again.
Wout VAN AERT. 8. What can you say to him? Nothing. He does what he has to do, but finds among the pedals someone who is in top form, with strong legs and a clear mind. He is a fighter, and we are certain that he will not give up this time in front of yet another honorable placement. He knows how to do it, he has already done it and will do it again.
Isaac DEL TORO. 9. He defends himself brilliantly and attacks as well. He gains seconds today, as he did yesterday and Wednesday: in three days he pockets a beautiful 15". He pulls slightly ahead of all direct rivals, once again demonstrating personality and legs, now we'll see if he has endurance.
Remy ROCHAS. 7. The Transalpine from Groupama Fdj takes home the fourth money: precious.
Dorian GODON. 6.5. A fifth place to get his bearings, but he's not far off.
Primoz ROGLIC. 7. He probably hoped to have fewer youngsters in his wheels, but his spirit remains the same as always: that of a young boy.
Antonio TIBERI. 7. Essential, not very flashy, although he is seen: he's there. He arrives at the third week as he wanted to arrive. In an avant-garde zone just a handful of seconds from the pink jersey: he just needs to recover a couple of positions... If they are roses, they will bloom.
Michael STORER. 5.5. Fallen three times so far, he's trying to make up for the hits by pedaling. Today he loses a handful of seconds, but someone like him can only climb back up in the last week.
Tom PIDCOCK. 4. He has a stage that seems designed for him, but Tom is not himself.
Christian SCARONI. 7. The 27-year-old from Brescia stands out on the roads of Veneto overflowing with passion. He takes home 6" of Red Bull Km bonus, beating Ayuso (4") and Del Toro (2") and shows everyone what he's made of.
Lorenzo GERMANI. 6.5. The Groupama - FDJ guy, in the breakaway from the start, goes away before the San Giovanni in Monte GPM, which will be won by Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) ahead of Lorenzo Germani and Pello Bilbao (Bahrain - Victorious). Lorenzo fights like a lion, but he's not equipped for miracles.
Mattia BAIS. 6. The 28-year-old from Team Polti VisitMalta passes first at the Passo Roverello GPM, with Chris Hamilton (Team Picnic PostNL) and Luca Mozzato (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) behind him. He also takes the Noventa Vicentina sprint. He'll be third at the San Bonifacio sprint won by Dries De Bondt, ahead of Filippo Magli. Let's hope the "arrow of Nogaredo" puts his arrow up again.
Luca MOZZATO. 6.5. The Vicenza native from Arkéa - B&B Hotels smells home and throws himself into the fray. Chasing him are Croatian Fran Miholjević (Bahrain - Victorious), Belgian Dries De Bondt (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team), Norwegian Sven Erik Bystrøm (Groupama - FDJ), Lorenzo Germani from Lazio (Groupama - FDJ), Lorenzo Milesi from Bergamo (Movistar Team), Australian Chris Hamilton (Team Picnic PostNL), Mattia Bais from Trentino (Team Polti VisitMalta) and Filippo Magli from Empoli (VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè). The nine attackers of the day trot along swiftly, and make their day.
Josef CERNY. 6. The Soudal Quick-Step rider, bandaged and bruised, tries to escape immediately from the group, after a few kilometers. Bandaged, he is stopped.
Giosuè EPIS. 10. Commits a serious, very serious irregularity during the race, things worthy of direct expulsion and corporal punishment: he takes a Coca Cola outside the supply zone. For the error committed, a beautiful 500 Swiss Francs fine. And what if he had taken it in the Red Bull km?...