VISMA LEASE A BIKE. 8. As long as he was there – Jonas Vingegaard – the race had the certainty that the "fishing king" could do something. Now that the Dane has gone home with a broken shoulder, the course needs to change and reposition itself with Piganzoli and Kuss who aren't far off, but could still make the top ten. As long as he was there, there was little to say: they were doing very well.
NETCOMPANY INEOS. 5. The most convincing – and this isn't partisan – is our Filippo Ganna (rating 7.5), who perhaps deserved to wear the yellow jersey, but that's racing – sorry – ancient history. Five top-ten finishes, in the general classification a Bernal who is 16th: truly little.
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG. 10. Five stage wins, yellow jersey, white jersey and polka dot jersey with Taddeo and Del Toro. Second place in the team classification 3' behind Team Lidl-Trek. Sixteen top-ten finishes and then a team superiority that has been evident so far. But the Tour isn't over: and this, for the opponents, sounds like a threat.
LIDL TREK. 8.5. They are the team that has achieved the most top-ten finishes of all in fifteen stages: well 19, with a victory by Mads Pedersen. Racing of absolute quality, certified by first place in the special team classification. Ayuso (6+) and Skjelmose (6.5) in the top ten, but overall the team is at the top.
RED BULL BORA HANSGROHE. 9. Cunning at the start, more convincing in this second week, where he enters the scene, Remco Evenepoel, who sorts things out with the whole world, but also within his own team. Yesterday he showed the most beautiful version ever in high mountains, on the eve of a stage that smiles on him: he's ready for the repeat. And then, to quote Guido Meda, everyone on their feet on the couch!
DECATHLON CMA CGM. 8.5. Eleven top-ten finishes, a stage victory with Kooij and then there's him, "le petit garçon" Paul Seixas, who is fourth in the general classification, at just 19 years old. Overall a great team, for a very promising rider who makes others eat his dust. Many others.
ALPECIN PREMIER TECH. 6.5. Philipsen probably heaved a sigh of relief at the news of Tim Merlier's withdrawal. Now, perhaps, he can make his speed count, which so far has been questionable. Different is Van der Poel's performance: first week insufficient, second week stellar. The third? Don't miss it.
GROUPAMA FDJ. 5. So far they've done something, but overall nothing striking. The level is extremely high, that's the real problem, and it takes little to end up in the mass of normality, even though there's little normal about this race, because the competitive spirit is there to see. As for them, six top-ten finishes and little else. For a French team this is the event of the year and, therefore, they should try to give everything. The problem is that it's the event of the year for everyone.
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS. 6.5. Lenny Martinez is currently 8th in the general classification. Racing of great suffering, as indeed for the entire group proceeding at crazy speeds (overall average so far 44.367 km/h). Six top-ten finishes, for more than sufficient performance.
TEAM JAYCO ALULA. 7.5. It's not easy for anyone to win. So far only nine teams out of 23 have managed it. Brent Copeland's team is among these nine. Arrived in France to do battle and try to insert themselves into the UAE and Visma dictatorship, the Australian team has so far found one success with Schmid and six other top-ten finishes.
UNO-X MOBILITY. 8. With Tobias Johannessen they're trying to make the general classification. One thing is certain: so far they've made themselves seen. They've given clear demonstration of a top-level team with all their riders. In short, they've moved and are moving as a team. Eight top-ten finishes, one victory with Waerenskjold (by the way the fastest stage in history), two days in yellow jersey with Traeen: so far worthy of applause.
PINARELLO Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM. 7.5. At the moment they are the 8th force of the Tour, and with Tom Pidcock, who doesn't hold back even a little, they're making the general classification with great determination. Ninth place in the general for the Briton, but in this last week Tom has everything to try to shake things up as he's already tried to do on several occasions.
EF EDUCATION EASY POST. 6. The team is there, they make themselves seen, they dare continuously, even though in this Tour it's not easy to come home with something in hand. Five top-ten finishes, a Carapaz who doesn't stop trying and in the general classification is 12th. The last week suits him: it could really be an all in for him.
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ. 5. Five top-ten finishes, almost all with Artz. Only one 6th place with Van Eetvelt, who isn't performing as he should.
MOVISTAR TEAM. 5. Einer Rubio is working hard, even though at the moment he hasn't collected what he's produced. Yesterday he climbed eight positions in one go, but he's still far away (26th). Only two top-ten finishes in fifteen stages.
NSN CYCLING TEAM. 5.5. Never say never is a nice way to say it, but in sport then it's not the claims that count, but the facts. Reality tells us that seven top-ten finishes have been collected, most of them in sprints with Biniam Girmay. They're here for the stages and that's what they'll focus on in the last week too.
XDS ASTANA TEAM. 5. Five top-ten finishes and little else. Very little. Harold Tejada instead of going forward goes backward. Seven positions lost just in yesterday's stage: now the Colombian is 37th.
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP. 8.5. Two withdrawals and what's worse, losing Tim Merlier, the one who wins. Three stage victories: better than him only Pogacar. Van Wilder is 13th, now you can concentrate on the general classification, the polka dot jersey with Valentin Paret-Peintre and maybe also in a stage, with the lightness of those who know that what will come will be all gravy.
COFIDIS. 5. Ion Izagirre is very far away (46th) from the top positions and, consequently, as a team they are also in the back (21st). So far they've collected only four top-ten finishes, all with sprinter Fretin. The last week is the right one for 'every man for himself'.
TOTALENERGIES. 6.5. Not even one withdrawal, team at full strength, but their race is concentrated mainly on keeping their general classification rider as high as possible, Jordan Jegat, who currently occupies 10th position. Same placement in the team classification. For the rest six top-ten finishes and some good action to try to leave a mark.
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL. 4. They show no signs of improvement, their decline is constant and continuous. Only one top-ten finish (5th place) with Bittner in the 8th stage, then much anonymity. Last place in the team classification. They can only improve.
TUDOR PROCYCLING TEAM. 6. They try, but so far have collected only one top-ten finish with Pluimers (a 6th place in the 8th stage). Very interesting, instead, is the slow but steady rise of Swiss rider Yannis Voisard, who just yesterday recovered six positions in one go. Now he's less than two minutes from tenth place.
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA. 5.5. They've obtained only one top-ten finish so far. With Gaviria, a 9th place, arrived in the 11th stage. In the team classification they are in 19th position. Nothing special, but for a small team it's already something not to be down there, last of the last.