ALPECIN DECEUNINK. 7. A team focused on sprints that has won two so far, but the Vuelta is the mountaineering showcase and for sprinters the situation is slim. They've almost achieved the maximum so far, now they must give their all to reach the next sprint: Thursday, in Valladolid.

ISRAEL PREMIER TECH. 8. Their Vuelta has been grueling, more for what happened roadside than on the roads. Targeted by pro-Pal protesters, who have the sacred right to demonstrate, but riders also have the duty to work in safe conditions. Seven top-ten placements, Riccitello 7th in the general classification. Second in the young riders' classification with the American and a 9th place in the team general. In short, they could be content, but the situation is heavy, and also weighing: sport should remain outside of any controversy, and it's already good that this team has stayed in.

MOVISTAR TEAM. 6.5. Eleven top-ten placements, no victories. Lots of movement, but they narrowly missed a full result. The Vuelta is still long, they're in no hurry.

LOTTO. 6. For the team they are, they're doing quite well. They snatched an top-tier placement from Viviani, the hope is that they can make up for it: with everyone.

Q36.5 PROCYCLING TEAM. 7. Always in the thick of the race, from the beginning. Thirteen top-ten placements, third in the general with Pidcock, who however must be careful because those behind him are fierce, but he's not the type to give up easily.

COFIDIS. 4. One placement in the first stage with Coquard (7th). They are consistent: they go slow.

CAJA RURAL SEGUROS RGA. 5. They're struggling and it shows. Three placements with Silva (two) and Balderstone. It's a small team, and here it's hard to see them.

EF EDUCATION EASY POST. 5.5. Some good actions, some placements (8), but for now the true highlight is missing.

VISMA LEASE A BIKE. 7.5. They are the masters of the race, since Vingegaard is in the red jersey and the team is second in the team classification. Two stage wins, eleven top-eleven placements, the awareness of arriving to the end in the jersey, but so far they have been masters of management, not of spectacle.

LIDL-TREK. 8. The green jersey is now theirs: it was so at the Giro, it was so at the Tour and also at the Vuelta it seems everything leads to the same result. Mads Pedersen a rider of high content, last stage winner before today's rest. Ciccone injured and suffering (13th), splendid team: here too.

GROUPAMA-FDJ. 6. A stage win with Gaudu, then five more placements for a team that has been seen, but should and could do more.

INEOS GRENADIERS. 6.5. With Turner they brought home a nice victory, with Bernal (14th) they have tried and are trying to make the classification. For now, lots of fighting spirit, but little clarity under the net.

UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG. 8.5. Overwhelmingly strong. Seven victories, sixteen top-ten placements in these fifteen stages. The UAE brand is there and shows, with Almeida right behind Vingegaard, just 48" back: there's ground to try to do something more. The team is also better equipped than the Dutch one, but perhaps the Dane is too much for Almeida.

DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE. 6.5. No frills, no license for spectacle, essential like few others. They look at substance: seven placements and a Gall who is fifth in the general and, knowing him, will stay there.

RED BULL BORA HANSGROHE. 8. A two-pronged team, far from blunt. They're not winning, but for now they convince. Fourth with Hindley, sixth with our Giulio Pellizzari, white jersey for best young rider. The best way to approach a great finale.

BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS. 7. Traeen was in "red", now he's still there, in 10th position. They lost Caruso before starting, lost Tiberi mid-race, they have the merit of not losing their way.

TEAM PICNIC POSTNL. 5. For the Dutch team, a Vuelta in reserve, meaning the red doesn't mark their objective, but the level of their energy.

ARKEA B&B HOTELS. 5. Three placements, little for a team that should be devoted to battle, but in this Vuelta they already seem surrendered.

XDS ASTANA. 6. Tejada is there in 12th position, a step away from the top ten. Three placements, a race that can also be accelerated. With a bit of imagination.

SOUDAL QUICK-STEP. 6.5. Lecerf is 9th and for such a young rider that's not little. There's still work to be done and this team has some good reasons to hope to build more.

INTERMARCHE-WANTY. 4. One placement in fifteen stages: a 3rd with Marit in the 8th stage. End of story.

TEAM JAYCO ALULA. 5.5. Two placements, Dunbar who has missed several trains, but the other day knew how to catch one mid-race that made him recover three positions in the classification. If he catches a couple more...

BURGOS BURPELLET BH. 4. Cycling is effort, they struggle like few others. No top-ten placements: what more is needed?