Looking for a 16-kilometer city circuit all in a straight line. That's essentially what the peloton is asking for, going around four times – meaning learning every last centimeter of asphalt – in the heart of Milan.

Let's be clear from the start: a beautiful course that, after years of indifference, not to say outright hostility, reconciles Milan with the Giro and cycling. You haven't seen such crowds along a route in years; at one point you're so incredulous you think they're presenting the latest smartphone model, or that some influencer capable of bringing half of Naples to Roccaraso has shown up in the area. No doubt, no confusion: it's the Giro that lovingly embraces Milan again, hoping to finally be reciprocated, now and forever.

Naturally, the riders take it upon themselves to stir up some poison, staging an absurd labor dispute: they demand and obtain a freeze on the classification result at minus 16 (final lap). I repeat and emphasize: minus 16!

Let's say it: it's a world record. In total absence of wind, rain, any danger whatsoever. But this is the trend now: strong against the weak and weak against the strong. And since the Giro is no longer a force to be reckoned with, first Campenaerts and then Vinge and then Ciccone himself wring out this brutal mutilation. Objectively it's ridiculous, because the layout is perfect, the surface is perfect, the curves are well-marked, and anyway they've been seen and reviewed in the four laps.

Nothing: the crybabies win and once again the Giro hangs its head. However, at least let them say it outright: in today's cycling, skill has been abolished, only watts matter, not even zero-risk stages are tolerated.

The race commentator Rizzato rightly reminds us live that "brakes always exist". But these are words in the wind. Come on, erased in a flash the centuries-old history of cycling, we move into futuristic mode. While we're at it: sprints only for sprinters, climbs only for climbers, time trials only for time trialists, everyone else is kindly asked to stay directly in their hotel, because what's the point of having them race on courses where they have nothing to say. If the idea is that it becomes pointless to race where the classification can't change, at least half of this Giro should be canceled. Ever heard of respect for the public?

Congratulations, a memorable day. The final lap of the circuit – minus 16, like the chill in the room at the news – offers a stellar show, with three-quarters of the peloton strolling around like tourists in Japanese fashion, all that's missing are little umbrellas, someone might have even stopped to look at shop windows.

Our heroes will certainly explain to us that we're witnessing a leap in civilization, that the jury respected the dignity and safety of the riders. But I don't call this cycling, much less the Giro d'Italia. I call it a sideshow farce. Personal opinion.

Sorry Milan. A Milan so passionate and enthusiastic didn't deserve this insult. Sunday was becoming a fantastic pink page, it suddenly becomes a black page. Let's turn it over as soon as possible, it's better for everyone. But it remains unforgettable. Who could forget such a dirty trick.