Tadej POGACAR. 10 and praise. He had everything to lose, could have stayed in Monaco enjoying his world jersey in peace, waiting for Tre Valli and Lombardy. But for someone who is a "collector", the European champion jersey has a meaning and significance. He's missing it and wants to have it too, to keep in his showcase, because he'll never wear it in the race. He had everything to lose, but he won, in his own way. Away at 75 kilometers from the finish line, legs flying, with the usual Evenepoel resisting, but only up to a certain point, because the Slovenian is something else entirely, he'd better come to terms with it. In history, the Belgian can say he won a great race - the World Championship in Wollongong - where he was world champion, while the Slovenian was 19th in the chasing group at 2'21". Then only defeats. There was never a contest, from the Tour to the great classics. Taddeo the collector strings together another victory, adds a gem to a necklace composed only of precious stones, but he is the most luminous gem, the most dazzling.

Remco EVENEPOEL. 9. What can you say to him? Nothing, except that if that guy wasn't there, he would have already won triple what he has won. In fact, with all due respect, he won the Paris Olympics without Taddeo, he won a Liège with Taddeo fallen. If he didn't exist, Remco wouldn't invent him, but he would feast on sumptuous victories because he too is far superior to everyone else. A bit like Merckx and Gimondi: two giants, where one, however, was a Cannibal.

Paul SEIXAS. 8.5. The Lyon native is only 19 years old and has talent to spare. He must only listen to his heart, his sensations, beware of listening to his countrymen, who already see him as the new Hinault, a title they've distributed and given away to almost everyone in these forty years, from Pinot to Bardet, through Virenque and Voeckler. The boy will make it, even though he has narrow shoulders, because he has strong legs and a sharp nose that cuts through the air.

Christian SCARONI. 8.5. What frustration, the medal was right there, within reach, but it slipped away from his neck at the last moment. An absolutely top-level race, where the 27-year-old from Brescia gave everything, down to the last drop of sweat. Could more have been done? It's hard to think of anything better. Hard to find fault with an experimental national team that was much more than an experiment, mostly successful. Bravo Marco Villa, who in the secrecy of the rooms charged up the guys: "Let's try to break the eggs in the basket, we have nothing to lose". And externally he removed pressure with statements like: "With those three there, there's not much to do". The guys accepted the challenge, the confrontation. Villa (vote 7), a track man, went on the road and witnessed a great show, on a demanding and anything but trivial course that highlighted individual talents: and we are among these.

Toms SKUJINS. 6.5. Fifth at the World Championship, fifth at the European Championship. When there's hard work to be done, the 34-year-old Lithuanian doesn't back down and goes head-to-head, with generous willingness. Today too he was a good protagonist, in a context of top-level riders.

Juan AYUSO. 5. Eighth at the World Championship, sixth today. Clearly, for a rider who doesn't feel inferior to anyone, least of all to Pogacar, today's defeat takes on a different flavor from all others. It's he who considers himself different. It's he who places himself on different bases and seeks other results, but at the moment his words and intentions do not go hand in hand with reality: which is quite different.

Mattias SKJELMOSE. 6. The 25-year-old Dane rides an avant-garde race, even if he can't guard those four over there.

Gianmarco GAROFOLI. 7. Great race by the blue rider, on par with Marco Frigo: two men immediately behind the great performers. For the 22-year-old from Marche, an excellent 9th place overall, while for Marco an 11th place that shows how well the Azzurri raced.

Jonas VINGEGAARD. 4. Accepts the challenge, but loses it immediately, losing the best wheels. For the record: 17 finished the race.