Mauro SCHMID. 10 and honors. A Swiss rider who bounces like a kangaroo, who at the finish line does a little jump, a wheelie, with his Giant. A devastating victory, in the longest stage (205 km) of this Tour, at the crazy average speed of 49,900 km/h: insane. All victories count, but this one counts for a lot. Just consider that only 8 teams have won so far, and the team directed by Brent Copeland enters the exclusive club of those who can boast of winning at least one stage in this record-breaking Tour. The 26-year-old Swiss rider takes home his first gem at the Tour, after also winning on the roads of Montalcino at the Giro. Fifth seasonal victory for him, the 14th of his career, for this talented and tactically intelligent rider. An individual victory but also a team one, since today at Jayco AlUla they inserted no fewer than four riders in the day's breakaway: O'Connor, Luke Plapp, Mauro Schmid, and Michael Matthews. If Mauro gets top marks, the team deserves nothing less than a strong 9.

Harold TEJADA. 9. The 29-year-old Colombian from XDS Astana seizes the moment and goes away with Schmid. A race of the highest level, at the end of a breathtaking contest. Unfortunately, cycling rewards only one, but today Harold is among the day's winners.

Tom PIDCOCK. 9. Virtually, 26 km from the finish, he's 2nd in the general classification. In the end, his 3rd place is worth 4th overall: a jump of six positions. Now the Brit is 4'15" behind the yellow jersey. A recovery of no less than 7'30". A masterpiece of his, a masterpiece of his Pinarello Q36.5, which doesn't look at the stars or even the sky. It follows its own heart and executes one of the most beautiful moves of this Tour. At least they try, until the end, as if there were no tomorrow. But tomorrow is another day.

Maxim VAN GILS. 8. The 26-year-old Belgian from Red Bull enters the 57-rider breakaway and stays with it all day. In the end, he finishes in the leading positions. Applause.

Brandon MCNULTY. 7. He tries to upset the others' plans, but today the others have something more.

Tadej POGACAR. 8. If the Pinarello Q36.5 and Jayco AlUla were superb, UAE was no less so. They let the breakaway go with Pidcock, insert Wellems and McNulty into the Brit's move, and ensure that the Brit goes on to threaten the positions of Vingegaard and Evenepoel, so as to leave Visma and Red Bull with the weight of the race on the eve of two high mountain stages. If that's not tactics, I don't know what is.

Ben HEALY. 4. He enters the 57-rider breakaway, gets agitated, attacks, counters, then when things get tough, he falls apart. Disjointed.

Mads PEDERSEN. 5. He does make an effort: he finishes second in the intermediate sprint, coming behind Philpsen, but the poor mark is for Lidl-Trek, which today is operating in a somewhat confused state. They're being controlled by the race and indeed, they lose quite a bit in the special team classification. Still first, but only 9' ahead of UAE.