Juan AYUSO. 10 and praise. He adds salt to a dish already flavorful for years. At 22 years old (twenty-two), he powerfully enters the circle of those riders born ready, who are champing at the bit, who elbow their way through, who ask for space and take it by force if not given. He's a rebel, one who isn't used to putting on a good face for a bad game. If he plays cards, he wants to deal them, maybe even lay them down, one after another. He wins at the finish line of his mentor Matxin and does so with a personality that makes him larger than a just-turned-twenty-year-old. A true sniper, who doesn't miss a shot and "fires" his second highlight in this Vuelta, bringing his career total to sixteen victories so far, eighth this year, the 78th for his team. The rebel doesn't get agitated, he wins. The best way to make himself understood: by everyone.

Javier ROMO. 9. He rides a great race, even today, but can do little with that young man who is destined to become one of the cornerstones in the world cycling firmament. He has the misfortune of having to race a sprint stage with Ayuso: having him on his wheel was already a sentence.

Brieuc ROLLAND. 8. The 22-year-old French rider from Groupama FDJ takes home a substantial third place, which shows that this guy has talent and endurance, qualities that need to be refined, fine-tuned, oiled, but it's not a given to have them. He says he's proud of what he's done: he has every reason to be.

Victor CAMPENAERTS. 7.5. A true gladiator, who on every terrain shows who's on a different level: and he's on another level.

Mads PEDERSEN. 10 He's been raising hell for days to collect points for the green jersey and try to win a stage. He comes in fifth in a stage that was short but breathtaking. He arrives breathing perfectly, for me he's pure air.

Santiago BUITRAGO. 5.5. The stage smiles on him, in fact he throws himself headlong into the heart of the race. Unfortunately, however, he loses some wheels.

Mikel LANDA. 6.5. He's not at his best, not top, yet in the finale he tries to invent something and tries to leave a mark: a good sign.