On the scorching asphalt, Jasper clicks like a switch. That is to say "Philipsen turns on", as Gazzetta headlines it, entrusting Sergio Arcobelli with underlining the fundamental contribution of Van der Poel to the Belgian's first sprint victory (his becomes "a journey made of emotional falls, disappointments, criticism and, finally, of a liberation").

It's a Tour that goes vertical, paraphrasing the Corriere, and Marco Bonarrigo photographs the dominance of the two-wheeled multinationals: "They always win: five stages out of 17 for UAE Emirates (Pogacar + Del Toro), five for Soudal Quick-step (Merlier + Evenepoel) and, yesterday, the second for the Dutch Alpecin who, after triumphing with the divine Van Der Poel at Ussel, used the out-of-class Dutchman as a locomotive".

The "sentiment" of Repubblica's correspondent translates into a sinister article opening: "There's whispering in the peloton that the Tour is experiencing a new 1998 and there's nothing to be happy about", recounts Cosimo Cito, reporting on the UCI's hard line regarding testing. Orcières and the double Alpe d'Huez, at least, will lower the overall average of 44.475 km/h somewhat, especially let's heed the warning from Pier Augusto Stagi on Il Giornale: "And now hold on tight, because things are getting serious. Not that they've been joking until now, because for fifteen days they've all been going like fans". Let's hold on tight then.

Meanwhile, heard from Alexandre Roos of L'Equipe, for having reminded the reader of the existence of a TV series called Mad Max: he did so by happily playing on the contrast between the atmosphere of quiet among swimmers around Lac Bourget and "the scenario of pure fury" that was unfolding on the asphalt ribbon along the shore. Rather contrasting images, but as anyone who knows the Tour understands...

GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT
PHILIPSEN TURNS ON
Like a roller coaster. It's the image chosen by Jasper Philipsen to describe his Tour de France, a journey made of emotional falls, disappointments, criticism and, finally, of a liberation. At the end of the 174.7 kilometers from Chambéry to Voiron, in the transition stage between the time trial and the terrible Alpine triptych with over 10,000 meters of cumulative elevation gain, the Belgian sprinter finally got to raise his arms to the sky. "I had to wait until the seventeenth stage...", smiles Philipsen, with that mixture of relief and disbelief that says more than any word. (Sergio Arcobelli)

CORRIERE DELLA SERA
PHILIPSEN'S LIBERATION, NOW THE TOUR GOES VERTICAL
They always win, the two-wheeled multinationals: five stages out of 17 for UAE Emirates (Pogacar + Del Toro), five for Soudal Quick-step (Merlier + Evenepoel) and, yesterday, the second for the Dutch Alpecin who, after triumphing with the divine Van Der Poel at Ussel, used the out-of-class Dutchman as a locomotive to launch the winning sprint of his friend Jasper Philipsen. Jasper The Disaster (he falls and often causes others to fall and not infrequently struggles to maintain position) had already conquered ten stages in the four previous editions and yesterday completed the collection. (Marco Bonarrigo)

REPUBBLICA
TOUR, HARD LINE ON TESTING REMAINS
"THE FIGHT AGAINST DOPING IS THE PRIORITY"
There's whispering in the peloton that the Tour is experiencing a new 1998 and there's nothing to be happy about. Yesterday in Savoy, they were passing on the roads of the famous protest against the raids by the Gendarmerie that had led to the Festina affair, to the flight of six teams, to pages to forget from an edition that, for Italians, is unforgettable. The photo of Pantani sitting in the middle of the road, the sensational strike: the comparisons stop here for now, but they're being talked about during the race too. Meanwhile, they're going all out. 47 km/h average yesterday from Chambéry to Voiron with victory for Belgian Jasper Philipsen, who has reopened the challenge to Pedersen for the green jersey of the points classification. In the middle of the stage, the UCI spoke for the first time. (Cosimo Cito)

IL GIORNALE
VAN DER POEL'S ASSIST AND PHILIPSEN BREAKS THROUGH
And now hold on tight, because things are getting serious. Not that they've been joking until now, because for fifteen days they've all been going like fans (overall average 44.475 km/h), in spite of the nighttime checks that are soliciting reactions from the riders, who are threatening not to want to financially support the testing anymore. (Pier Augusto Stagi)

L'EQUIPE
A CRAZY DAY
Two contrasting atmospheres intertwined yesterday at lunchtime, when the race left Chambéry: on one side July swimmers in light and colorful outfits and the turquoise waters of Lac du Bourget – a scene of quiet worthy of Caillebotte or Seurat – and on the other a cycling version of "Mad Max" that was unfolding on the asphalt ribbon along the shore. It was a scenario of pure fury – a horde of hardened road warriors, glistening with sweat and foaming at the mouth – and there was something otherworldly about seeing these two worlds collide and coexist for a fleeting instant. (Alexandre Roos)