Soren WAERENSKJOLD. 10 with honors. Second in Bordeaux, today in Nevers he surpasses himself with a stunning sprint. Long, very long, powerful, extremely powerful. A stroke of great class from this 26-year-old Norwegian, who claims today his first career victory on the roads of the Tour. He anticipates everyone, reading the situation with rare clarity. A devastating acceleration that leaves everyone speechless. First seasonal victory for Soren, 19th in his career, the ninth for the Norwegian team of Thor Hushovd which can now boast a success at both the Giro and the Grande Boucle. A rider of great class, for someone who is smart enough to realize he's not the fastest of all and for this reason he outsmarts them all, taking home a stage that makes history: record average speed 50.910 km/h. And to think that yesterday at Le Lioran he had finished the stage in last place, before today's turnaround.

Olav KOOIJ. 8. He knows the road, having already won in Pau, so the Decathlon Dutchman throws himself back into the fray. Very good sprint, of great speed, but there's Soren who is extremely fast.

Jasper PHILIPSEN. 5.5. He should have the duty not to lose wheels, not to lose sight of anyone, given his history, given his palmares. Instead, he struggles to stay up front, even though he then unleashes the power of his best days. Too bad that before, much before, he raises his hands to get out of the way of a Picnic rider and the jury demotes him. But then both he and the other return to their place and retrace their steps.

Milan FRETIN. 7. He's not a superstar, but certainly a very fast guy. He has the stuff, temperament, vision and leg speed and action speed. An eighth, a tenth, today a fourth place: in short, he confirms that among the fast wheels he knows how to stay very well. Very good.

Huub ARTZ. 6.5. The 24-year-old Dutch rider from Lotto Intermarchè takes home yet another placement: it's his third of this Tour.

Biniam GIRMAY. 5. He's always there, today too, but this time very far back. Too far.

Fernando GAVIRIA. 7. The 31-year-old Colombian rider tries to stick his nose up front, but beyond his nose, he also has legs: he punctures and comes back like a fury.

Tim MERLIER. 5. He was the big favorite of the day, had the opportunity to bring his stage wins to three in this Tour, but remains tangled up in the group's ranks.

Julian ALAPHILIPPE. 6. The Frenchman from Tudor Pro Cycling Team is on his home roads, being born 60 kilometers from where today's stage started. After an endless series of attacks, the breakaway goes. And the former world champion is part of it in the company of Mathis Le Berre (TotalEnergies), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar Team) and Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility). These three are the last to surrender, caught with difficulty at the end of a crazy race. To these three, I give a 10.

Mathieu VAN DER POEL. 8. The star of Alpecin-Premier Tech is the first to light the fuse of the day. The flag goes down and he takes off "at full throttle". As if to say, you'll still have to deal with me today. As if to say, here breakaways are made and sought by riders like this.