
Jasper PHILIPSEN. 10 and praise. A non-trivial milestone, because demanding, with a road that constantly rises and reduces the speed of those who feel the weight of kilometers and days. The Vuelta is now heading towards its end, we are close to the finish line, but Jasper is now a first-class master and those who pilot him are no less. He is the man to beat, but no one can even get alongside him. He makes a seemingly easy sprint, things that differentiate the champions from great riders and Jasper is part of this select group of those who are something more, different, unique. Sixth victory of the season, the sixth at the Vuelta, the fifty-seventh in his career, numbers that add to the ten stages at the Tour, a Sanremo and many other things. A heavyweight victory, for a rider who now makes himself heard and especially seen.
Mads PEDERSEN. 8. He tries with an action that would anticipate the sprint, but the Alpicin pace is already sustained and Philipsen is ready for takeoff. Good, however, to try. To not give up. To do what is within his possibilities. He is second: a star among stars.
Orluis AULAR. 7.5. The 28-year-old Venezuelan confirms that in sprints he is there, always with the best, always placed, always present.
Jenthe BIERMANS. 7. Another placement for this disarming Arkea B&B, about to be dismantled, at the end of a story that will remain: with regret.
Ben TURNER. 5. He has the fortune of having Filippo Ganna on his side, who stretches the group for 800 meters. Pippo prepares the ground for him, but he loses it.
Filippo GANNA. 8. Perhaps he would have done better to do the sprint himself, with that leg he would have made it to the top ten.
Jonas VINGEGAARD. 7. Without getting too agitated, he controls, saves energy and when he finds himself at the intermediate finish line, he goes to take 4" of bonus and brings his advantage over Almeida to 44".
Joao ALMEIDA. 5.5. He gets surprised by the action of the rider in red and concedes 4". Little stuff, insignificant things that matter. As the Prince of Laughter Antonio De Curtis, aka Totò, used to say: it's the sum that makes the total...
Mario APARICIO. 6. After Otruba's solo breakaway, he tries with his teammate Sergio Geovani Chumil. They gain a small advantage over the group, but at least they show the Burgos jersey, which so far has not collected any top ten placements.
Jakub OTRUBA. 6.5. The Caja Rural Seguros rider does a good chunk of the stage all by himself. They catch him 51 km from the finish line. Combativity prize, red number, but also a yellow card, which the jury raises for an irregular bike position. To the jury, a Fantozzi prize: how human you are...