Tadej POGACAR. 10 with honors. He takes what he could already have taken yesterday afternoon. He takes it thanks to the wonderful work of his teammates, an Isaac Del Toro who is absolutely superb in returning the favor. He takes it because he deserves it, because he's in phenomenal condition and if Visma wanted to put pressure on him, he returned the favor before they could get any strange ideas. That's how Taddeo is made—if he can put on a show, he does, and if he can win, he wins. He doesn't do calculations, occasionally a favor here and there, nothing more, but then please, do yourself a favor and enjoy it. Fourteen victories in 19 days of racing. Twenty-second stage victory at the Tour and he reaches André Darigade. Fifty-fifth yellow jersey of his career. "For me wearing it is always a privilege." For cycling, it's a privilege to have someone like him.

Jonas VINGEGAARD. 8. He loses, it's true, but he's always there, he always shows his face, he does nothing to hide, to suggest that what matters will come later. He accepts playing on equal terms with someone who at the moment seems to have something more. But the Dane is a true champion, an absolute phenomenon, and he shows it even when he could pretend otherwise. He would never pretend for anything in the world, because the king fisher is always something more.

Richard CARAPAZ. 8. He trips up his rivals elegantly, we'd already seen it and he confirms it today. He has everything to stay in the realm of phenomena. The kangaroo prize is his: in one fell swoop he climbs seven positions.

Paul SEIXAS. 8.5. He confirms today that he's at that level, at that level of riders with the hallmarks of champions. He's only 19 years old, but he has the mind of a champion and he always stays with the real champions.

Tobias JOHANNESSEN. 7.5. The 26-year-old Danish rider from Uno-X is always there, among the best young riders: his start to the Tour is simply excellent. Too bad about that damned time trial.

Lennert VAN ETVELT. 7.5. Quietly, quietly, the 25-year-old Belgian is also there, in the upper reaches of the standings. And he classifies himself: one to keep an eye on. In the general classification he gains five positions.

Florian LIPOWITZ. 7. Today, finally, he arrives with Remco Evenepoel. Nothing exceptional, but it's news.

Isaac DEL TORO. 9. After making a big effort to launch Tadej, he closes with a quality 9th place. White jersey for best young rider.

Juan AYUSO. 6.5. For now he does what he should do if he wants to stay in the top ten. At the moment he's fifth: very good.

Tom PIDCOCK. 5.5. Of the big names, he's the one who appears least brilliant. It's clear the Tour has just started, but this is what we're analyzing.

Davide PIGANZOLI. 6.5. He works for the team, then doesn't lose much, just a handful of seconds. He gains two positions in the general classification, now he's 15th.

Antonio TIBERI. 6. He's not particularly brilliant today either, but these "fiery" finishes overheat him excessively. In any case something moves: he climbs ten positions. This evening he's 30th.

Alex BAUDIN. 8. The 25-year-old EF Education rider races with an attacking spirit, from start to finish. He scurries in the group of 18, and then goes off with five others: Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon CMA CGM), Vlad Van Mechelen (Bahrain Victorious), George Bennett (NSN Cycling), Raul Garcia Pierna (Team Movistar) and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies). He's the last to surrender, staying out front alone: for him the polka dot jersey for best climber and the red number for most combative rider of the day.

Arnaud DE LIE. 10. His was truly a Tour of suffering, from when he arrived in Barcelona, from when he was in his hotel room. A virus reduced him to a wreck, causing him to skip even the team presentation as a precaution. He raced the team time trial, he gave everything he had, perhaps even more. He held on, but against bad luck it's difficult to prevail. Tough people, cyclists, tenacious people. Today he could have even avoided finishing, but his race was truly a via crucis, his last climb his Golgotha. Like a derelict he wanted to finish his ordeal, outside the time limit, yet without seeking compassionate applause. The only applause he heard was that which is given to those who wanted to honor the Tour until the end. And the Tour repaid him with the glory that belongs to those who don't do this sport for work, but for passion. The same passion that put him in the saddle.