David GAUDU. 10 and praise. Superbe, exceptionnel, fantastique. Superlatives for sale, after a masterful sprint by the 28-year-old Groupama - FDJ rider who overturns all predictions and takes the stage with a finale as furious as it is effective. Pure spectacle in Ceres, with a sprint between heavyweights flying on a finish line looking uphill, but it's David, incredulous, who makes the highest leap. Second victory this not-so-exciting season, the 13th of his career. Until before the Vuelta he was walking, now at least he's on the bike: and it shows.

Mads PEDERSEN. 5. It's clear he's second, a significant placement for the Dane, but it's equally clear that he was the big favorite, the man chosen by Lidl-Trek to try to score, instead, today again arrives "only" a second place. As they say in these cases: let's turn the page and think of something else. That's the beauty of stage races, a story written every day for three weeks, and there are still quite a few days left.

Jonas VINGEGAARD. 8. He falls, they steal his bike, they'll try to hit him in the head, but he's as lively as ever. He knows he's feeling good and is in another category and so far shows he wants to have fun and entertain, just like that guy (the Dane even does intermediate sprints: 4th, ahead of Ciccone and behind Pedersen). He throws himself into the fray today too, and almost makes it a double. Remains leader on par with Gaudu for best placements (in the first stage the Dane was 41st, the Frenchman 49th).

Giulio CICCONE. 8. What can you tell him? Nothing. They ask him to launch Mads perfectly and he does. While he's at it, he also stays in the thick of the sprint and takes home a fourth place, although in the general classification he takes a step back: now he's 3rd.

Jordan LABROSSE. 8. The 22-year-old Frenchman from Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale throws himself into the fray with the recklessness and joy of his age. He comes out great: marvel.

Orluis AULAR. 5.5. The Venezuelan is there, always and anyway. He could potentially do something better, but today it works out like this.

Santiago BUITRAGO. 5.5. The 25-year-old Colombian from Bahrain tries to pull out something good, but can't quite make it.

Egan BERNAL. 6. His imperative is not to lose ground, so he puts himself there, in high zones and stays there: today too.

Thomas PIDCOCK. 4. The arrival, on paper, was quite tempting. He gets lost in the Piedmontese mists that aren't there: just like him.

Jasper PHILIPSEN. 5.5. Difficult, complicated arrival, but from someone like him you expect to arrive with the first 71 riders: at least with them. Ok, he saved his leg.

Alessandro VERRE. 7. The Lucanian from Arkea B&B goes on the attack right away. With him Sean Quinn (EF), Luca Van Boven (Intermarchè-Wanty) and Patrick Gamper (Jayco-Alula). In Issiglio he takes the GPM ahead of Quinn and rises to 8 points in the climbers' classification, reclaiming leadership. For Quinn there are 20 points from the Cuorgnè intermediate sprint. Four friends dreaming of a bar, not to drink, but to celebrate: it'll be for next time.

Axel ZINGLE. 17. The Frenchman from Visma Lease a Bike who yesterday fell and suffered a double shoulder dislocation is forced to stop on the advice of the medical staff. Spanish rider Jorge Arcas must also raise the white flag: in yesterday's crash, the thirty-three-year-old Movistar rider fractured the upper part of the greater trochanter of his left leg. We'll wait for them back in the group soon.