Sepp KUSS. 10 with honors. Elementary, Watson. The strongest win and the others applaud. If the captain practices a different sport, Visma Lease a Bike is no less impressive. And the 31-year-old American lieutenant proves he could be captain at any other team. Vingegaard's right-hand man: let's say co-captain. He races today with great clarity and when he realizes he can shake things up, he does. He catches Ciccone like a fury and takes a victory that was missing from his palmares: one at the Giro. Today he completes the collection, at least one stage win in every Grand Tour (two at the Vuelta). His 12th career victory, the first this year, the fifth for his Visma at this Giro. Elementary, Watson. The strongest win and the others applaud.

Derek GEE. 9. He's riding another great Giro, because the yellow-and-black hornets are on another planet, but today for the Canadian from Lidl-Trek, beyond riding a great Giro, it's a great day. An honorable placement after a brilliant race. He recovers some time and gains a position in the general classification. Now he's 5th overall, but – as Ennio Doris would have said – there's always tomorrow.

Giulio CICCONE. 8. He works his tail off from start to finish. He goes to rack up points for the Mediolanum blue jersey and at the end of the day he can be satisfied: he's now leading by 57 points over the Danish phenomenon. There's still work to do tomorrow. Today he even flirts with the dream of a stage victory, which evaporates 2,200 meters from the finish. It slips away because of Kuss. His nerves snap because of Rubio. He jumps to the top of the climbers' classification because that was his goal for the day. Missing tomorrow's stage isn't possible: there's still climbing to do, in the saddle.

Felix GALL. 7. He doesn't race as if there's no tomorrow – also because tomorrow does exist – but he races as if the "fishing king" doesn't exist. He controls the race, manages it, chases, closes it down. He does his job as if he were the man to beat, well knowing he's the first of the beaten.

Jonas VINGEGAARD. 7. Rest assured, tomorrow will be his affair. Appointment at Piancavallo, where there will be a double passage, a double climb. He wants the stage victory: which is worth double.

Jai HINDLEY. 6.5. He defends himself brilliantly, as great is the effort. But on a big mountain stage with 5,000 meters of climbing, fatigue isn't the enemy, but the friend: of everyone.

Damiano CARUSO. 7.5. It's clear he'd like something substantial, but it's only the pedaling that ends up being heavy. Position in the standings? Still ninth.

Davide PIGANZOLI. 7. He stays with his captain almost to the end. But in the end he recovers more than a minute on "smiling" Eulalio for the white jersey of best young rider. Tomorrow the reckoning, between two young men who smile at life. And us with them.

Einer RUBIO. 6.5. He works like a blacksmith, strikes hard, but in the end, perhaps, he hits his head a bit. He makes Ciccone angry: among the most nervous and "electric" riders, he's perhaps the one: Enel award.

Michael STORER. 6.5. What does it mean to ride a race of consistency: without peaks, but always at a high level? Just look at him.

Thymen ARENSMAN. 5. A negative day for the Dutchman, who among the general classification contenders is clearly the one paying the most. One wonders: why did his Netcompany team escort him around without trying to take the Giro? Perhaps because they knew their man wasn't having a super day. He hopes for the night. See you tomorrow. For today, goodnight.

Mathys RONDEL. 6. The young rider loses ground, but gains a position in the general classification. Let's look at the glass as half full. Beware of drinking!

Giulio PELLIZZARI. 6.5. He enters the day's breakaway and rides at an absolutely high level. Making a comeback. Will he repeat?

Afonso EULALIO. 6. He fights like a gladiator. Another in his place would have given up much earlier. He gives up at the end and very little. He doesn't lose the white jersey and doesn't even lose his smile.

Ludovico CRESCIOLI. 8. The Polti VisitMalta rider enters the day's breakaway and sails through the entire stage with the best of the best. The boy from Basso's team, symbol of our best youth.

Ben O'CONNOR. 4. Nothing doing, nowhere to be found.

Matteo SOBRERO. 8. He escorts Giulio Ciccone as well as could possibly be done. He works brilliantly for one hundred twenty kilometers. Then he eases off the pedal. Applause.

Jhonatan NARVAEZ. 17. Yesterday, after the race, he violently hits his face against a car that suddenly brakes in front of him. Distracted Ecuadorian? Probably yes, since he was looking at his computer. Everything's fine, madame. But today, suddenly, blood from his nose and dizziness. Immediate withdrawal, as immediate as the CT scan: everything normal. Phew.