
Simon YATES. 10 and praise. Seven years ago on that hill, his pink jersey had slipped away. Today he returns to take what he had just missed, entering through the main door. A masterpiece of tactics by Visma Lease and Bike, who quietly let others talk while protecting the Unnamed for three weeks. Today they put forward someone worth three, Wout Van Aert. The Belgian takes the British rider by the hand down the Colle delle Finestre and leads the Unnamed towards Sestriere. Perfect strategy for the Dutch team, who seem to pedal on asphalt: the others, on the Finestre's gravel, only raise dust.
Chris HARPER. 10 and praise. It's clear that someone else takes the scene today, but this 30-year-old Australian from Melbourne captures the victory of his life, and what a victory. He wins the queen stage, and for one day he is also king. He rides a crazy race and gives Brent Copeland's team the second success in this Giro. Fourth career victory, with this being the cherry and cake, whipped cream and frosting, champagne tonight!
Alessandro VERRE. 9. The 23-year-old Lucanian from Arkea. An anonymous Giro for this transalpine formation, which in three weeks has collected only one placement (8th) with Luca Mozzato. Today it's his turn to collect an honorable place, which clearly honors this tenacious and never-giving-up rider. We don't know if the team will continue its path in cycling, but we should make sure not to let someone like him slip away: he deserves to be called a rider.
Gianmarco GAROFOLI. 8. The 22-year-old from Soudal Quick-Step had already consistently shown himself to the world in this Giro. He would have been Landa's shoulder, whom the Bramati team had to give up immediately, at the first stage. He arrives in the third week in excellent condition and today in the queen stage, where eagles dare, he shows he's not a chick.
Rémy ROCHAS. 7. The 29-year-old Frenchman attacks from the morning and takes home a placement of absolute prestige. Some days are unforgettable: this is history.
Martin MARCELLUSI. 8. A top-ten placement for this 25-year-old who will arrive in his Rome tomorrow to enjoy the applause for an applause-worthy Giro. Determined and consistent, enough said: these might not be pedigree riders, but they are riders with a capital "R". Good for him, taking home a significant 6th place, he can go to Rome with a light heart.
Carlos VERONA. 6.5. He has great ambitions, but the forces are what they are.
Max POOLE. 7. He tries and takes home a top-ten placement in the big stage, nearly touching the top ten overall.
Isaac DEL TORO. 5. He thinks there's only one danger: Carapaz. He thinks it's sufficient to respond only to his provocations, maybe even leaving him the burden of chasing Simon Yates. But at a certain point, the situation is clear: he must throw his heart beyond the obstacle to save what can be saved, seeing that the situation is precipitating. At the top of Finestre, he pays 1'40" to the Unnamed, but it's on the descent that the Mexican loses the Giro. There's no teammate waiting for him, unlike Visma who sent Wout Van Aert ahead from the morning. A surrender that leaves a bitter taste, that sounds incomplete. Sure, he's young, we know, but some opportunities pass and must be seized on the fly. Instead, the pink jersey flies away and he blames Carapaz, who with all due respect is the big loser, but it's excessive to think that the Ecuadorian should collaborate to help you win the Giro, since he has just lost it. Isaac is a high-level athlete, with endurance and legs: perhaps too impulsive. Being a rooster in certain moments makes you look like a chicken when you're Del Toro.
Giulio PELLIZZARI. 7. Finishes like a child in a pastry shop. With the best youth, he's also here. He comes to the Giro to learn and takes home a 6th place in the overall that means something.
Derek GEE. 7. Want to understand what it means to know yourself to learn to manage yourself? Well, have your kids watch this rider's race management, endlessly.
Damiano CARUSO. 9. He had already decided to continue racing, also because those he is forced to chase are still infinitely fewer than those forced to chase him.
Richard CARAPAZ. 4. Hands over to his technicians the computer that doesn't work. During the descent of Colle del Lys, he and his teammates risk ending up legs in the air in a curve. Premonitory signs of a complicated day. The real loser, across the board, is clearly him. A man tempered in everything, with an experience package that the Mexican boy doesn't even dream of. Today, however, on Colle delle Finestre, it seems he left his baggage in Verres.
Wout VAN AERT. 10 and praise. Perfect team tactics, he an absolute giant. What was studied at the table, they put in writing on the Colle delle Finestre's terrain. "I wrote t'amo on the sand" is a song, Wout today is light and celestial music, dispersing between near and far peaks. The sky is closer, he touches it pedaling lightly and with a breath launches Simon.
Manuele TAROZZI. 7. He's the man who doesn't like staying in the group, the man who engages duels and challenges, who takes off. Paraphrasing Mura, he's not a coward, but escapes courageously, the VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizan rider who leads the special breakaway classification. While he's at it, he takes home the Corio GPM, preceding in order his teammate Martin Marcellusi and Kevin Geniets (Groupama - FDJ). And since appetite comes with eating, he also takes the one on Colle del Lys. Preceding Jacopo Mosca (Lidl - Trek) and Carlos Verona (Lidl - Trek).
Mads PEDERSEN. 8. Today the only risk is the time limit and there's all the terrain to end up there. He, who is a true heavyweight, gets ahead with work. Maximum commitment, maximum consideration, maximum availability (helps Carlos Verona multiple times) for a party tomorrow in Rome at Terme di Caracalla, with Circus Maximus in the background. Maximum, like him.