Richard CARAPAZ. 10 and honors. What grit, what character and what determination. Three days that would make anyone's head spin, not the Ecuadorian who is an athlete of the highest level with his Giro victory and that Olympic gold that shines in his trophy case. Three days for a polka dot jersey (his second) as an absolute protagonist. Two stage wins, an 8th place finish that is significant in such a selective Tour. He doesn't arrive hours behind, but 20 minutes, proving to be the best climber by racing at the front. Third stage win at the Tour, and very likely one more red number for most combative rider. A fighter.

Remco EVENEPOEL. 9. If only he had started earlier, he probably would have won the stage too. But these are details. The substance is that the Belgian comes out of this Tour with a new dimension. Sure, Pogacar races on his own, but behind him is Evenepoel, who has properly sorted out the two youngsters: Del Toro and Seixas. Sure, if Vingegaard had been there it's likely something could have changed, but with ifs and buts you don't write history, let alone record books.

Sepp KUSS. 5.5. He puts in a monstrous effort, but in the end he literally throws it away on the descent, making two mistakes in the curves and crashing twice. A shame, because his race was worthy of standing ovation, but on the descent he showed he's not exactly a dragon: at least on this occasion. Kudos, very well done to the Aso organizers (rating 8), who put up a providential safety net. Otherwise we'd be telling a completely different story here.

Tadej POGACAR. 9. He does what he wanted to do: he puts himself at the service of Del Toro's cause and escorts him to secure the third position and the white jersey for the Mexican. He does what he wants, as always.

Isaac DEL TORO. 7. He has the greatest of all time at his disposal and, struggling quite a bit, brings home what he and his team had set out to achieve.

Lenny MARTINEZ. 8. He's only 23 years old and it was his first Tour de France. He races the final week with great personality, trying to leave his mark. Not a passive race, but an active one like never before. France will have Paul Seixas, but this young guy who nobody talks about at all is not bad either.

Jay HINDLEY. 6.5. He puts in a big effort on the queen stage. In the end, however, he slips back a bit, but the performance remains.

Mattias SKJELMOSE. 6.5. A race of suffering, but he defends his 6th place in the general classification. And in any case, he finishes just behind the best.

Davide PIGANZOLI. 7. They call him at the last minute, when he was already thinking he could take a few days off. Instead he goes to the Tour, which is absolutely not a vacation. He puts himself at the service of the team and Vingegaard, gives everything of himself and in the end also brings home a 14th place: first Italian. He deserves only the most heartfelt compliments.

Juan AYUSO. 7. After taking a beating, today he gets into the game with grit and determination. Perhaps we appreciate the true Ayuso precisely today, even though at the end he pays the price of a condition that is clearly declining.

Paul SEIXAS. 6. I can't give him a failing grade, even though you could see with the naked eye that he didn't have what it takes to make a difference, to attack Del Toro. But he tries, and for that alone he deserves all my understanding. And let's never forget it: 19 years old, the youngest in the Tour, on his debut he finishes 4th. Where are those who advised him to stay home?

Tom PIDCOCK. 5. He pedaled more with his head than with his legs: but this year they clearly weren't super.

Mads PEDERSEN. 9. In three days he settles everything. He goes on the attack for three days and wins all the intermediate sprints. It's hard to say how, but the Dane does it in stages that make your heart race. Today he closes the matter heading to Paris: the green jersey is mathematically his. He closes the trilogy of jerseys this way: after those from the Giro and the Vuelta, here comes the Tour one.

Ilan VAN WILDER. 17. The 26-year-old Belgian rider was twelfth in the general classification, not bad: but he crashes and gets hurt. Retirement.

Filippo GANNA. 30. Today he had to save himself, this evening, if he has the strength, a toast with the team for his birthday: but also for having saved his skin.