
ALPECIN DECEUNICK. 8. They came to win stages and won three with Jasper Philipsen: mission accomplished.
ISRAEL PREMIER TECH. 8.5. Far from feeling the pressure of the race, Riccitello and Marco Frigo's team had to endure everything, from external to internal challenges. It wasn't easy to make it to Madrid and they succeeded, bringing home a 5th place overall with the American climbing on the podium with the white jersey for best young rider: impressive.
MOVISTAR TEAM. 5.5. Some good placements (12th), several actions, but virtually absent in the general classification. They finish 15th in the team classification. For a Spanish team of this caliber, that's quite little.
LOTTO. 6. Some good sprints, a tenth place in the team time trial, a second place taken from Viviani by an uncompromising and zealous jury. They couldn't do more, I'm clearly talking about the team.
Q36.5 PROCYCLING TEAM. 9. Sixteen placements, an unexpected podium with Tom Pidcock who, after a forgettable Giro, redeems himself on Spanish roads. A high-level race, without setbacks, consistent and continuous, as a rider's and team's journey should be in a Grand Tour. Great.
COFIDIS. 4. One placement in the first stage: 7th with Coquard. Then it's likely you'd need to tune into Rai 3 to see them: who has seen them?
CAJA RURAL SEGUROS RGA. 6.5. Three placements, but two riders in the top 20: 13th Balderstone, 14th Guardegño. For such a small team, it's already a great result.
EF EDUCATION EASY POST. 6. A tight, hair-splitting pass, precisely because they moved, they tried, without really collecting much. Nine top-ten placements, no rider in the noble zones of the general classification. They fought a bit, they were seen. Period.
VISMA LEASE E BIKE. 10. They come to win the Vuelta after winning the Giro, and the objective is achieved. They win with Vingegaard, who is not at his best, especially in the second week, but if you can't beat the "fishing king" when he's sick, it's right that he wins. Indeed, he wins three stages, the Dane, taking home his third Grand Tour in his career. He's missing the pink one, ours: think about it, Jonas.
LIDL-TREK. 7.5. It's a team that wins less only than UAE Team Emirates, but wins on points too. The points classification is theirs. Pink jersey at the Giro with Pedersen, green jersey at both Tour and Vuelta, with Milan and Pedersen again. They win a stage here too, always with the flying and impressive Dane, and dream with Ciccone, but then Cicco gets sick and slides back, although he always tries, like yesterday on Bola del Mundo. Fourteen top-ten placements are a parameter to understand what they've done. Indeed, for what they've done, they've collected even less than they could have.
GROUPAMA-FDJ. 6.5. They win a stage with Gaudu, a great stage, then another ten top-ten placements. They don't do crazy things, but they're clearly above average.
INEOS GRENADIERES. 7.5. Only missing a top ten with Bernal, otherwise three stage wins with the Colombian, Turner and our Ganna, and a race conduct worthy of a great team.
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG. 9. Twenty-three placements in 19 stages, because the 11th was neutralized and the last practically not disputed. Seven stage wins, a second place with Almeida, the climbers' jersey with Vine, the logical victory in the team classification. In short, a crazy race, even if they lose the Vuelta, but they had Almeida and with Joao they obtain, in my opinion, the maximum. More was almost impossible. The Portuguese is not a rider of pace variations and this facilitated the Dane even when sick. The Portuguese saw a mountain stage shortened when the "fishing king" was clearly less brilliant, and the halved time trial certainly didn't help him. But if Jonas had always been good uphill, there would have been no contest.
DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE. 6.5. Eighth with a Gall who suffered like never before in the last four stages. Ten top-ten placements, a race conduct of a great team that at the moment is not and to become one, much more is needed. Perhaps the riders.
RED BULL BORA HANSGROHE. 8.5. A fourth and sixth place overall, a stage win with Pellizzari, who is among the most pleasant surprises of this Vuelta. A race of absolute level and value: always there, in the heart of the race, trying to make the race, not just suffer it. Hindley returned to great levels, our Giulio who is currently at this level and can only grow.
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS. 8. They lose Caruso before the start, lose Tiberi for the classification shortly after, who complains of empty legs. However, they don't give up. They star with Traeen (red jersey for four days), who finishes in the top ten (9th) and top twenty with Buitrago (15th). Pickering shows promise: a good rider.
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL. 5. They impressed us at the Giro and Tour, here they pay the price and have a short bench. Three top-ten placements.
ARKEA B&B HOTELS. 5. They put their heart into it again, but this time the legs were what they were. Four placements.
XDS ASTANA. 5. Below tone, below their levels, little reactive, little combative, especially in the finale of a very demanding race. Three placements, two with our Fortunato.
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP. 6. They lose Landa for the classification, who immediately shows he's not in top form, has good legs, good head but back pain. They manage with a combative race and a Lecerif who finishes 11th: not bad.
INTERMARCHE-WANTY. 4.5. Two placements total. With Marit.
TEAM JAYCO ALULA. 5. Three placements, a classification that Dunbar can't make, even less O'Connor.
BURGOS BURPELLET BH. 5. No placements, but they have a merit: as a team they obtain 18th position, leaving five teams behind them.