It's the oldest profession in the world. Not that one. Let's say it's the second. But it's certainly making a big comeback, because so many people want to do it, especially former athletes, especially former athletes who never have a personal opinion: yes, I'm talking about the pundit.

Here at the Giro they pile up on the RAI stage (the broadcast position was specially enlarged), on social media, in newspapers, at the village starts, at the bar. It seems only right, at this point, to put our ideas in order and propose a concise instruction manual for those who practice this profession daily.

Decalogue.

1) The good pundit should not be a good pundit. He should be neither good nor bad. The good pundit must make every effort to be fair.

2) The good pundit does not express opinions based on personal likes or dislikes. The good pundit must be capable of saying that a friend of his did something ugly and wrong, or that his enemy did something beautiful and right.

3) The good pundit does not want to always be right. The good pundit is satisfied with presenting his reasons.

4) The good pundit does not express opinions to receive a gift at Christmas, or a free stay for himself and his family in Cortina, or even just to be told he's done well. The good pundit leaves personal vanity at the door, accepting that no one will send anything at Christmas, or that someone will stop greeting him forever.

5) The good pundit does not seek a fight out of partisan conviction, does not choose a position just to be uncomfortable or against everything on principle. He does not criticize for show. The good pundit should be satisfied with the laborious search for a truth, one in good faith, even if it is not the only one.

6) The good pundit knows how to admit his own mistake. And when appropriate, he knows how to apologize. Sincerely, loyally.

7) The good pundit does not express opinions thinking about social media reactions. Better if the good pundit doesn't look at them at all.

8) The good pundit does not want to please everyone. The good pundit is already doing well if he pleases his own conscience in the evening, looking at himself in the mirror.

9) The good pundit never asks himself, before expressing his opinion, what it would be convenient to say to get applause. The good pundit only asks himself what his honest opinion is, even if it brings eggs and tomatoes thrown at him.

10) The good pundit does not even think for a moment that a manual like this is only for others. The good pundit thinks it is only for himself.