Tim MERLIER. 10 and praise. They both have the sprint, the progression too, the watts are theirs, but Jonathan only pays the response sprint to Tim, who celebrates his second Tour stage win, the 11th this season, the 61st in his career. The European champion makes no mistakes. He positions himself behind Johnny, lets the Friulian sprint, then he marks him, pulls alongside and overtakes him with an incredibly effective burst of energy. A narrow victory that lights up his smile.

Jonathan MILAN. 8. He misses Simone Consonni, who admits losing him in the finale. Jonny tries to manage alone, keeping wheels and positions in a sprint full of swerves and tail-ends, shoulder bumps and falls. A rough, ugly, and bitter sprint. Johnny starts well, gains speed, but Merlier sucks him in, pulls alongside and then passes him. By a hair's breadth, but it makes all the difference. By winning the intermediate sprint in Isbergues, Jonathan rises to 51 points in the green jersey classification, adding 30 for second place and jumping to the top. A consolation prize: better than nothing.

Phil BAUHAUS. 7. The 30-year-old German sprinter gets into position, but those two in front are more performant.

Søren WAERENSKJOLD. 7. Very good, the 30-year-old Norwegian sprinter, who isn't a big-name rider, but still remains up there.

Pavel BITTNER. 6.5. The 22-year-old Czech rider finds himself in the zone and holds that zone.

Biniam GIRMAY. 5.5. The Eritrean is among the good ones, because he stays upright. He has the chance to have a good sprint, but today he can't make it.

Kaden GROVES. 5. He's Philipsen's natural replacement, but practically invisible.

Alberto DAINESE. 6.5. Misses the top ten by a whisker, then gets in after Danny Van Poppel's 36th place downgrade. For us Italians, it's the fourth top-ten placement, after Trentin's 5th and Velasco's 9th.

Tim WELLENS. 6.5. Tadej lets it go (so he stays more relaxed, without ceremonies and interviews for the jersey), Thomas doesn't strain himself, same for Vingegaard. The 34-year-old Belgian conquers the Mont Cassel KOM and takes the point for the climbers' classification, joining Tadej at the top. The new polka dot jersey owner is him: the third stage goal has been achieved. With today's stage, he completes his personal collection of climbers' jerseys: he's worn all three at least once.

Jasper PHILIPSEN. 17. Everything and nothing. A lot and something. The sky in a room and a room that suddenly goes dark and the sky can no longer be seen. Click, and the switch turns, the light goes out. The nail suddenly gives way, dropping the picture and the wheel no longer turns. Jasper tasted it all last Saturday, winning the Lille stage and wearing the yellow jersey, symbol of everything for a cycling that revolves around the Tour. Then a sprint for an intermediate point and the Belgian in the green jersey is brought down, heavily. Probable collarbone fracture. He loses the Tour, but the Grande Boucle loses something precious too.

Jonas RICKAERT. 6.5. The 31-year-old Belgian from Alpecin Deceunick tries again, this time with Maximilian Schachmann from Soudal Quickstep. That's all for today.

Matej MOHORIC. 6. The Bahrain Victorious rider goes away with Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck). A little sprint, nothing more. End.