Paul MAGNIER. 10 with honors. In the end he clears Cà del Poggio. In the end he wins again, because in the end he's the fastest, the most technical, the most fluid in his action, in that toboggan made treacherous by a downpour near the finish. The Frenchman, piloted brilliantly by Stuyven, doesn't get caught up in the urge to overdo it. He enters second, launches first, from the saddle, seeking grip on the wet road. He only stands up in the final stretch, just before raising his hands for a hat-trick that's worth quite a bit, perhaps the definitive pink jersey. A one-two-three, Magnier's there. Davide Bramati smiles knowingly, after having played "the whiner" for a week. "But how does he get over Cà del Poggio? ... you'd need an electric bike..." All it took was to support him properly, which is what Stuyven did. Then he took care of the rest: third victory at the Giro, fifth of the season, the 28th of his career. Not bad.

Edoardo ZAMBANINI. 9. He finds himself up front with the jet-powered men, and doesn't waste the opportunity to fight it out to the end. A place of honor for the 25-year-old rider from Riva del Garda. A classy sprint for a rider who knows his business.

Jonathan MILAN. 5.5. Excellent at staying up front on Cà del Poggio, less effective at positioning himself for the final sprint. He should grab Magnier's wheel and hold it at all costs, even if it means flying off the bike, but when he launches he's fourth: too far back from a guy who, if you give him a few meters, you'll never catch again.

Francesco BUSATTO. 8. The 23-year-old from Bassano del Grappa wants to make a good impression near home. And he does. Eighth in Verbania, fourth today. Rome is missing: if the pattern holds...

Corbin STRONG. 6. He stays in the zone for a placement that's always useful for NSN, and for him too.

Thomas SILVA. 6. Attentive, he doesn't lose his position at the front: he's there, and he stays there.

Madis MIHKELS. 6. The 22-year-old from EF throws himself back into the fray and after 5th in Burgas, 4th in Sofia and 7th in Novi Ligure, here's another 7th place in Pieve di Soligo. Not bad for the Estonian rider.

Filippo MAGLI. 8. The day's greyhound award goes to the Bardiani CSF 7 Saber rider, the most impatient, the most explosive: today he's the first to attempt the breakaway. The first overall. For the Tuscan, the peloton is neither prison nor freedom. Indeed, it goes badly for him and they catch him right away. But then he makes it to the final sprint and takes home an 8th place, which rewards him for everything. Well done!

Sakarias LØLAND. 6. The 24-year-old Danish rider from Bergen gets his second top-ten finish. For him, that's already a victory.

Lukas KUBIS. 6. A tenth place that builds the resume: first top-ten finish in this Giro.

Afonso EULALIO. 8. He crashes and then fights like a wounded lion. He sells his skin dearly, raises hell on Cà del Poggio despite wearing the white jersey of youth. He's the best of the young riders, but he's one of the most beautiful faces of this "Corsa Rosa". After the stage, following the applause, a check on his left wrist: there shouldn't be anything broken, but better to verify.

Mattia BAIS. 7.5. He launches with his teammate Andrea Mifsud (Polti VisitMalta). The leading pair is joined by James Shaw (EF Education Easypost) and Jonas Geens (Alpecin-Premier Tech): these four will mark the day's breakaway. They're the last to surrender just before Cà del Poggio. They're the ones who believe that something different can be done, even if things turn out differently than they'd hoped. Always brave regardless.