Alec SEGAERT. 10 and honors. At 23 years old he wins like a seasoned and talented rider. A lightning strike 3,200 meters from the finish line that leaves everyone surprised and caught off guard. An intelligent acceleration that astounds the Visma Lease a Bike team, who let him go, confirming that there is good blood flowing between Bahrain and the Dutch team: it's nothing new, there's nothing wrong with it, courtesies that will come in handy. Alec's well-deserved victory brings joy to Franco Pellizotti's team, already over the moon for Afonso Eulalio's eighth pink jersey. Now also the first stage victory, which makes this Giro already sumptuous. A Belgian's victory, but also an Italian victory, given that Milan Erzen's squad races on Bianchi bikes and Alé jerseys. Two brands of our Italian excellence. Two outstanding names that contribute with their history and attention to detail to make this team perform, and from their performances everything seems to add up, except for the pink jersey. That stays. It remains there, on Eulalio's shoulders.

Toon AERTS. 6. He loses the moment, like everyone else, but he's the one who loses the least of all, arriving second.

Athan VERNON. 5.5. The 25-year-old British rider from NSN has a great opportunity, but lets it slip away, quite simply.

Jasper STUYVEN. 5.5. He's good at staying there, to have a chance, to try to do what Segaert instead does perfectly. Maybe next time, perhaps to help Magnier.

Orluis AULAR. 5. He has the great merit of staying in the leading group, then he remains there, without making a mark. And to think that his Movistar team is simply superlative (rating 8): they do everything, but bring home too little.

Madis MIHKEL. 5. EF works like never before, and he has the duty to optimize the work done: he misses his appointment with history.

Jhonatan NARVAEZ. 6. He's always there, today too. Some think he might still come up with something in the sprint, perhaps with a "finisher's" move. He places in the top ten: just to keep the habit.

Afonso EULALIO. 8. He keeps the pink jersey for the eighth consecutive day and while he's at it, he grabs the time bonuses that Red Bull puts up for grabs every day: 6" for him, 4 for O'Connor, 2 for Beloki.

Edoardo ZAMBANINI. 7. He celebrates Bahrain's great day with a personal placement that also does good for the team.

Thomas SILVA. 6. Look who's back: he's here too. Thomas tries, but is surprised like many others.

THE SPRINTERS. 5. They go strong up front, that's undeniable, but on the Bric Berton climb it was thought that the top sprinters could hold on: we thought wrong.

Manuele TAROZZI. 6. The Bardiani CSF 7 Saber rider goes with Jonas Geens (Alpecin Premier Tech), Jardi Christiaan Van der Lee (EF Education Easy Post), Juan Pedro Lopez (Movistar Team) and Mattia Bais (Polti Visit Malta). An action that gives meaning to a stage that goes in one direction: very fast (45.064 km/h).