Mads PEDERSEN. 10 and praise. Stunning, phenomenal, imperial. Choose the most appropriate adjective, but this victory reaffirms the level reached by this athlete, who for days has been fighting like few others to pursue victory and ultimately obtained it with an exaggerated race conduct, maintaining an extremely high pace in the finale, not letting anyone catch their breath, chasing everything and everyone. Overwhelming strength, iron will, steel heart: Mads achieves his 14th seasonal victory, the fourth at Vuelta, the 60th of his career. For Lidl-Trek, it's victory number 44, confirming they are the third world power and with a Pedersen like this, it cannot be otherwise. Generous man, of absolute class: do not forget, Mads is also part of that small group of phenomena.

Orlus AULAR. 8. The 28-year-old Venezuelan enters the day's breakaway and stays there. He smells victory but understands well before the final sprint that today with a Mads like this, there was no contest.

Marco FRIGO. 8.5. He has been pedaling great for days and today would deserve even more. He tries to make the big move, but the Dane was too super even for a superlative Frigo.

Santiago BUITRAGO. 7.5. He has the great merit of throwing himself in from the morning and arriving in the leading breakaway.

Eddie DUNBAR. 7.5. He obtains the maximum in a day that requires the maximum and he delivers.

Egan BERNAL. 7.5. Beautiful and brilliant, effective as in the good old days. He sacrifices himself for his teammate Sheffield, but cannot keep him upright.

Jay VINE. 8.5. Two mountain prizes of the day and the blue dotted jersey he takes both. First the Puerto da Garganta, where he conquers 10 points (2nd Jakub Otruba, 3rd Louis Vervaeke, 4th Mads Pedersen, 5th Giulio Ciccone). His also the Alto de Barbeitos (2nd Louis Vervaeke, 3rd Nico Vinokourov). Then continues to fight for success: finishes 8th.

Magnus SHEFFIELD. 5. The 23-year-old American is fast, and on paper has the opportunity to win the stage. He can play it with Pedersen and Aular, but at the last corner, he goes too wide and slides while closing the trajectory. A rookie fall, but I'm certain: Ineos won't put him on the grill.

Giulio CICCONE. 8 He has been suffering for a few days from a problem with his eyebrow, today he says he is empty, not at his best and has pedaled more with his head than his legs, but he sacrifices himself for Pedersen's cause and what he puts at the Danish rider's disposal is something significant.

Jakub OTRUBA. 8. The Caja Rural-Seguros RGA rider sounds the charge from the first meter. Away at full speed with Jay Vine and Michał Kwiatkowski who immediately start hunting. His is the first attack of the day, even if he then remains in the thick of the race, until the end.