Jonas VINGEGAARD. 10 with honors. He launches a progressive attack from the saddle when 6.6 km remain to the finish line, only Gall responds to him, and he resists for just a moment, a few meters, then the Dane rises out of the saddle and closes the curtain: another world. The Dane is spellbinding, showing his best face: elegant, effective, overwhelming. He truly practices a different sport. The "fishing king" has a different engine, he belongs to another galaxy. We knew it, but he reminds us well, with a monstrously deserved stage victory. He wanted it and took it without hesitation, without overdoing it. He puts a minute on his immediate pursuers in three kilometers, then engages cruise control and arrives. He wins on the birthday of Denmark's King Frederik X (born '68), who ascended to the throne in 2024, after his mother Margrethe II (born '40) decided to abdicate. Jonas does not abdicate: he is increasingly in pink. He is increasingly a king.

Felix GALL. 7. It would deserve an eight, if he hadn't made the mistake of trying to respond to Jonas's attack. He does and regrets it bitterly and immediately. Then he chooses to ease off the accelerator and manages his race as best he can, which still earns him a place of honor.

Jai HINDLEY. 7. Perhaps we owe him an apology. Perhaps we should acknowledge that the Australian is in more than good condition and has all the credentials to fight until the end for his podium chances. Today third, but second place is just 57 seconds away.

Thymen ARENSMAN. 7. He races at the front and at a high level. He arrives fourth, but now he's in 3rd. He's improving his condition and we know it, as condition generally improves, so does morale.

Derek GEE. 6.5. He seems destined to take a beating, instead he floats with tenacity to the end, despite the rough seas. He gains three positions in one fell swoop. A kangaroo prize for the Canadian from Lild-Trek.

Davide PIGANZOLI. 8. Once again he is the last man of the "fishing king" whom he thanks first. Fantastic and precious work. His resistance to defend his position after his effort is also top-level. In the end he arrives 6th and rises one place in the general classification (8th) and gets closer to the white jersey for best young rider, which still rests on Eulalio's shoulders.

Egan BERNAL. 7. It's beautiful to see him up there in support of captain Arensman. It's beautiful to see him proceed confidently and swiftly on those roads that point upward. It's beautiful to watch, too.

Michael STORER. 6.5. He's not the type to make proclamations, but simply grips the handlebars to sell his skin dearly.

Mathys RONDEL. 6.5. The young Tudor rider doesn't get lost in the storm of Carì. He defends his position and remains where he was: 11th.

Wout POELS. 7. The Dutchman closes in tenth place and rises seven positions in the general classification. For the Unibet rider it's more than a good day. Now he's 19th. Shall we bet he finishes in the top ten?

Afonso EULALIO. 5. A very tough day, from the start. Of the classification riders, he's the one who loses the most: three positions. But he arrives anyway with a smile on his face: a champion.

Chris HARPER. 7. He's the last of the day's attackers to surrender. In the end he closes 11th: what grit.

Ben O'CONNOR. 4. Nothing doing, when the road goes up he goes down: immediately.

Giulio CICCONE. 6. He goes on the attack from the start with Harper and company and brings home four mountain points, one after another. He rises in the climbers' classification, but there's one who is more of a climber than anyone else and takes the full haul: Vingegaard now leads with 211 points, the Abruzzese this evening is second with 129.

Giulio PELLIZZARI. 18. His surrender is a punch to the stomach, right where he's had the most problems. Days of resistance, today comes the surrender (over 18' back), unconditional, let's say also unexpected. He doesn't make excuses: "I wasn't feeling well from the start, I held on too long. Now we have only one objective: to get Jai (Hindley) on the podium in Rome".

Johan JACOBS. 6. For the Groupama-FDJ United rider, it takes just a few meters to take off and go away with two others. They're in a hurry to arrive. Off they go Johan Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ United), Tim Naberman (Picnic) and Jardi Van der Lee (EF). Very fast of them to get away, very fast the others to catch them. From unstoppable to contained.