Jonas VINGEGAARD. 10 and praise. He found his pedal stroke and therefore the inspiration to anticipate what he had in his heart and mind. He felt good, as he would say after the race, so the Fisher King called Matteo Jorgenson to set the pace and do the work, before launching the bait and catching his rivals in the net. Fifth seasonal victory, the second in this Vuelta, the fourth in his career in the Spanish race. For the Dane, 40th victory since becoming a professional, the 32nd for his Visma Lease a Bike this year. He wins with arms wide open, Marco Pantani style. Wins with number 11, behind him number 111, third number 1: the podium is ultimately made of number 1s, even if only the Dane is making the number.

Tom PIDCOCK. 9. The best Tom of the season in a Grand Tour. He races with clarity and brings home an honorable place that is worth it and projects him towards the Vuelta podium.

Joao ALMEIDA. 6.5. He does everything within his possibilities, trying to limit the damage against a rampant Vingegaard. Perhaps he gets surprised by the Dane's action, but in the end he manages. It's clear that the Portuguese is not Pogacar: he knows it, his team knows it, we know it, and Vingegaard knows it too.

Torstein TRAEEN. 8. He goes to rest in red, when they thought they could easily make him black. Clearly he suffers, but he doesn't give in, especially he doesn't give up the jersey, which he holds tight. He has made a deadly effort to keep it and now it's right that he enjoys it.

Felix GALL. 7. The 27-year-old Austrian from Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale loses the train of the best, but as he is used to doing as a true diesel, he precedes many little wagons.

Raul GARCIA PIERNA. 6.5. The 24-year-old from Arkea B&B Hotels once again demonstrates that this team that risks being dismantled has everything to stay in the group. Always protagonists, with a more than good group of riders. Marc SOLER. 5. He does little, especially in Almeida's perspective. In the end he's 6th, but for me he's insufficient.

Giulio CICCONE. 5.5. He tried, until the end, until the bottom and now, probably, he might even change his Vuelta. Vingegaard attacks and the only one who manages to take his wheel is Cicco. He tries until his legs tell him to slow down. He's still in the standings, still in the top ten (6th): what to do? Stages or standings that means points?

Lorenzo FORTUNATO. 7. Not much is said about him, but he's always there, in the top ten too, sly and reactive like few others. No proclamations, no words: for now, many facts.

Matthew RICCITELLO. 5.5. The 23-year-old American rider has the opportunity to fly high, but his is a low-altitude flight.

Egan BERNAL. 5. First verification of a certain level and for the Colombian the result is quite severe. He doesn't sink, but he's sinking.

Giulio PELLIZZARI. 6.5. He's there, taking Australian Jay Hindley for a walk. Perhaps it would be worth freeing him from team obligations that almost make no sense. Everyone should race their own race: whoever feels better stays up.

Michel HESSMANN. 7. The Movistar rider goes off with Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers), Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost), Kevin Vermaerke (Picnic PostNL) and Liam Slock (Lotto). This is the action that conditions the entire first part of the stage. They deserve credit for trying.

Sander DE PESTEL. 6.5. The Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale rider tries a solo action, after many actions, after many attacks by many protagonists. The new attackers focus on him, who will generate the five-man breakaway. He gives the go-ahead, the others go with legs up.