Paul MAGNIER. 10 with honors. Staying upright is already a victory, winning is not a given. A rough, ugly and wild sprint, yet a Frenchman with a clean face and a gentle smile wins, with infinite power. Third seasonal victory for the 22-year-old sprinter of Soudal Quick-Step, the Belgian team led by our Davide Bramati, who makes things clear right away: we're not here for sightseeing. There will be sweat, but since we must sweat, let's do it for good reason. A magical moment for French cycling: Paul Seixas on one side, Paul Magnier on the other. Call them Paolo, they arrive: first.

Tobias ANDRESEN Lund. 8. The 23-year-old Danish rider from Decathlon tries to counter Magnier's dominance, but despite doing everything right, something is missing: a matter of centimeters.

Ethan VERNON. 7. The 25-year-old British rider from NSN stays up there with the jet men. He tries and will try again.

Jonathan MILAN. 5.5. First they lose him and he gets scattered, then they look for him, even though Jonny has to work incredibly hard to get back into the race and when he does he's exhausted. Back with the best, everything happens behind him (sincere compliments for the usual "vintage" barriers with nineties-two thousands feet, around there nothing gets thrown away: you enter Europe, but you stay on the other side of the wall). In front of him, he could do anything. Instead he seems held back by an invisible weight, which makes his bicycle feel like a boulder. In front of him they sprint, Jonny struggles to find speed. Very simply he loses because he spent a lot of energy before. It's not his day. There will be others.

Madis MIHKEL. 7. For the 22-year-old Estonian sprinter from EF it's the best seasonal placement: and with that I've said it all.

Giovanni LONARDI. 7. For Polti Visit Malta it's still a good day. A stage on the attack with Sevilla and then a Lonardi who hits a good top-ten placement (6th). There's nothing to celebrate, but you can go to the hotel with a light heart.

Pascal ACKERMANN. 6. He's not a young kid, given his 32 springs, but the German always tries anyway. Today he has the chance to make his experience count, which shows, but his legs are lacking a bit.

Tord GUDMESTAD. 6. The 25-year-old Norwegian avoids the massive crash, finishes up with the best: it's already a victory.

Max WALSCHEID. 7. He's the reference point, does what he has to do, pulling to the death, in the end he also stays in the top ten.

Jonas VINGEGAARD. 10. The "fishing king" and his entire Visma Lease a Bike team races with a red fingernail, to denounce child abuse. A symbolic fingernail, a way to say: not even with a fingernail. Never! Well done.

Manuele TAROZZI. 8. It's the 27-year-old from Faenza of Bardiani CSF 7 Saber of Roberto Reverberi and Mirko Rossato who breaks away with Diego Sevilla (Polti Visit Malta): they are the first attackers of the 109th Giro. The two put themselves in front of the cameras and in Baracchi mode to try to catch the pack of sprinters. Who knows, think the two attackers used to attacking. Never, think the sprinters. Tarozzi is also the first to pass through the Red Bull Km followed by Diego Pablo Sevilla: the sprinters (Antonio Morgado) get the crumbs: 2". At 22.7 km from the finish the Tarozzi-Sevilla action ends: a shame.

Diego SEVILLA. 8. The Polti Visit Malta rider takes the first mountain point of this Giro: Caoe Agalina is his. And, since there's another passage, he also takes the second: twice first on Caoe Agalina: cock-a-doodle-doo, the blue jersey is here.