Kaden GROVES. 10 and praise. Speed problems? Well, I'll win solo. A surprise move in a stage that flew by at 50 km/h, with a race conduct of rare beauty and clarity. Dynamite leg for the Australian, who today on a classic northern-style stage validates his inspiration. After 7 stages at the Vuelta and 2 at the Giro, he completes the collection with a success he'll hardly forget. He's the 114th rider in history to complete the "trilogy", with at least one stage in all three Grand Tours.

Frank VAN DEN BROEK. 4. The 24-year-old Dutch rider from Picnic (how good were they) crowns a day of attacking with an absolutely top-tier second place, but like Eenckhorn, he's guilty of engaging in a minuet with his breakaway companion: you go?... And Kaden goes...

Pascal EENCKHORN. 4. This applies somewhat to all these guys, who today didn't take breaks, battled as if there was no tomorrow. All good, then when Groves starts, he takes a moment of reflection.

Simone VELASCO. 6.5. He's the first of the Italians, again today. He's almost 3 hours behind, but races with personality, trying to exploit the most suitable opportunities for him. In such a hard and fast race, it's not simple. With Ballerini, he keeps the French expedition of XDS Astana afloat.

Tadej POGAČAR. 10 with honors. He wins a Tour that was made in the image and likeness of Jonas Vingegaard. It was perfect for the Dane, but the Slovenian wins it. Many were the peaks where Tadej had suffered, enduring the supremacy of the "fisher king", who this time gets slapped in the face. In Caen during the time trial, the first lesson, which sounds like a technical knockout, and with hindsight, we can say that today. He hangs him again at the Breton Wall, then delivers a merciless Pyrenean one-two punch at Hautacam (first revenge) and in the mountain time trial of Peyragudes, where he wins bare-handed with a road bike, without spatial gizmos: just him, the extraterrestrial. Then the Maritime Alps, with the giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux. Where he suffered two years before, this time he makes him suffer. Finally, the Alps, where he decides to defend, knowing these are stages perfectly suited to the Dane, who does and undoes along the valley towards Courchevel Col de la Loze, where Tadej suffered his most bitter defeat in his stratospheric career. Pinpricks that don't hurt the Slovenian, who decides to lift his foot from the accelerator because his thirsty desire to win has irritated much of the group, and then he lets it go, but there's always someone who has something to say: but is this a show? Tadej smiles, having learned to count to four before sending someone away. One two three four tours, call him Tadej Pokercar.

Jonas VINGEGAARD. 7. He has the route on his side, which smiles quite a bit at him. The last week is ideal for blowing up the Martian, who however doesn't flinch, unfortunately for him. He doesn't move an inch, indeed Tadej puts the dots on the "i's". The Dane has the fact that if he didn't exist, we'd have to invent him. Try to imagine a Tour without him: far from boring. The problem is all in his words, learned like a sickly Christmas poem and repeated with obsessive constancy without conviction. "The Tour is not over: the best is yet to come". "I'm doing great and at the cost of losing second place, I'll try everything possible". Words, just words. Reality was different: a rider who was content, who in the Alpine stage of Courchevel manages to isolate his opponent and stays with him. He gets close to six escapees including the American Jorgenson and, inexplicably, instead of making him pull at full speed along the valley, sends him on a breakaway and gets caught by a group of riders almost 3' behind. You'll say he didn't have the legs. Sure, then he could have spared saying after Col de la Loze: "The Tour is not over", like a punch-drunk boxer.

Florian LIPOWITZ. 8. For the German, the podium with those two giants is worth as much as a victory. Third and white jersey of the Tour: Red Bull Hansgrohe saves the Tour with this 24-year-old guy who still shows some room for improvement. Among two giants, the little Lipowitz emerges.

Oscar ONLEY. 9. The kid (22 years old) from Picnic comes to the French roads for a trip among the greats and realizes he's no longer the smallest, nor invisible. The Scottish rider is the true and authentic surprise of this Tour and confirms it from start to finish, riding an avant-garde race without the help of fake breakaways or strange situations that would favor him. He places himself among the best performers in the world and plays by ear, showing excellent legs and good head. He's the most positive note, that of Onley you.

Felix GALL. 7. The 27-year-old Austrian from Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale confirms his solidity. A complete fighter, capable of attacking and absorbing like few others. Never bending at the knees, gripping the handlebars and devouring the road.

Tobias JOHANNESSEN. 7. The 25-year-old from Uno X Mobility gifts himself and his young team a top-ten placement (6th) as prestigious as few others. Consistent.

Kevin VAUQUELIN. 7.5. The 24-year-old Frenchman can improve if he works at it. The Arkea B&B rider is clearly one of the most pleasant and surprising discoveries of this race. Like Onley, what he achieves is the result of work, not just a good day. He races with great determination from start to finish. And he defends himself very well in the extremely difficult finale.

Primoz ROGLIC. 6.5. Honor to the great Slovenian. Approaching 36, he proves he's still in the game and does what's expected: but it wasn't a given. Serious, meticulous, and generous (perhaps too much), he puts himself at the service of the team and offers advice. He has experience to spare and shares some. No one gives him gifts, but Primoz is always generous.

Ben HEALY. 6. He's a somewhat crazy sprite, though in this Tour he shows more lucidity and attention. Wins a stage, but in the last week that would have been perfect for a climber like him, he makes himself very much desired and waited for. In short, I'm only half convinced.

Jordan JEGAT. 7. Surprisingly, the 26-year-old Frenchman from TotalEnergies brings home a 7th place stage finish and an unexpected 10th place in the general classification, snatching it from Ben O'Connor at the last moment. Just five years ago, this guy was a factory worker who decided with his parents to take a sabbatical year to try cycling: just like today. Well done, Jordan!

Ben O'CONNOR. 6. Doesn't reach top condition in France and some issues slow him down in the first ten days. However, the Australian is tough, capable, and resilient. He patiently hunts for a stage victory and finally finds it. Reaches the top ten, but today sleeps as if the games were over, while others still want to play.

Tim WELLENS. 8. The Belgian champion shows himself today, as throughout the Tour. He does everything and more: he's Tadej's extra man.

Matteo TRENTIN. 8. Acts as a team player, because that's what he is. Advises, supports, and helps. Again in the attack today, tries for personal glory, but his legs are what they are. Precious rider, golden guy.

Thymen ARENSMAN. 8. Keeps the Ineos ship afloat, winning two beautiful stages. Was supposed to be the helper for those who would make the classification like Carlos RODRIGUEZ (vote 4), and in the end helps by making his own way.

Guillaume MARTIN. 4. The philosopher has a sharp mind, but the shoes on the pedals turn with less intensity than before.

Enric MAS. 4. He was Movistar's lead rider and the Spanish team sinks into the suffering of this guy who only occasionally shows his talent.

Emanuel BUCHMANN. 4. Ailments, approximate condition, mind disconnected from heart and legs: a thousand reasons for a clear and total defeat.

Michael STORER. 5.5. Arrives at the Tour exhausted, after an endless spring-summer. Perhaps they demanded too much from this guy.

Julian ALAPHILIPPE. 6. For commitment, continuity, and desire to swim upstream like a tireless salmon, he deserves a stage victory. He fights and struggles, knows no surrender. Eternal love for me. Long live LouLou.

Bruno ARMIRAIL. 6.5. Team (Decathlon) and everywhere man: he's among those who stand out for always giving something. Never ordinary.

Geraint THOMAS. 6. Mr. G is a gentleman. Hardly seen, except in the back, but what more could we want from him? It was his last performance: applause.

Quinn SIMMONS. 8. Captain America is phenomenal. Both as a character and as a rider. Tireless worker, born attacker, unparalleled gladiator; he throws himself into the fray and transforms wrestling into cycling.

Michael WOODS. 4. Mr. Woods is a gentleman, always inspired by the sun, with two guns loaded with blanks and an empty basket (of results) full of words. (Apologies to De Gregori for the free, very free interpretation).

Santiago BUITRAGO. 4. Arrives almost three hours late, clearly something didn't go right, but he went too slow anyway. Too slow.

Wout VAN AERT. 5.5. We know the class, we know the temperament, we know his endurance and desire to fight, but this is a distant relative of Wout Van Aert.

Jonas ABRAHAMSEN. 7. He's a Viking who isn't afraid, who isn't intimidated, at most he intimidates. What a character...

Lenny MARTINEZ. 6. The nephew and son of art who has an "uncle" who considers him like a son (Ivano Fanini) does what he can. Shows himself, stands out, wears the polka dot jersey for a few days before being sucked into the belly of the group. Not a giant, but he shows himself.

Marc HIRSCHI. 4. Who has seen him?

Vincenzo ALBANESE. 6.5. Races among monsters with personality, showing himself.

Luke PLAPP. 6. When needed, he's there. Applause. Plap plap plap.

Biniam GYRMAY. 5.5. Does well in the first sprint, then struggles too much, too much.

Arnaud DE LIE. 4. Was supposed to do the sprints: on paper.

Jonathan MILAN. 10. He has a mission: to win at least one stage in his first Tour of France. Winning the first would have been ideal, but he misses it. Then he wins two stages and breaks the Italian victory drought after 113 stages. Brings the green jersey back to Italy, which was previously only held by Franco Bitossi and Alessandro Petacchi. We bet on Jonny and it went well.

Tim MERLIER. 9. If you bring him to the sprint, it's painful for everyone. If he punctures or is slowed by a crash, there's some hope. He does his job: always.

Dylan GROENEWEGEN. 4. He's lost, gets lost, can't see the finish line anymore.

Phil BAUHAUS. 7. Does what he can with what he has: and does a lot.

Arnaud DEMARE. 4. Lost his route, broke his compass.

Davide BALLERINI. 6. Doesn't hold back, when the opportunity arises he shows up and tries to change the course of history.

Joao ALMEIDA. 7. As long as he was there, he did exemplary work, then his teammates, with Politt and Wellens leading, prove that UAE is not so weak...

Remco EVENEPOEL. 5. Always suffered, constantly. At every attack always struggling. Confirms he's number one in time trials, except for the mountain time trial, where he was no longer the real Remco. He's convinced he's close to the two giants, but in my opinion Onley and Lipowitz are ahead of him.

Mattias SKJELMOSE. 4. He stopped, but when he was there, he was too static. A big disappointment for Lidl-Trek.

Jasper PHILIPSEN. 8. Perhaps he would have been the fastest of all, who knows, but then he ends up on the ground. What he shows, however, is worth remembering.

Mathieu VAN DER POEL. 8. It might be a coincidence, but when he stops (pneumonia), the Tour seems to lose some of its spark. The Flying Dutchman fills the voids, and his absence is not only visible but felt.