Matthew BRENNAN. 10 with honors. They wanted the victory and they got it. Visma controls the race with great authority, then in the final they play the Van Aert card (stopped by Pogacar), and then he enters the scene, this 21-year-old British lad who takes center stage. At his first Grand Tour, he makes things clear right away: he's not here to learn, but to teach lessons. He wins on a finish line that's anything but straightforward, with a masterful race execution. Eighth victory of the season, the 19th of his career. He heads to the hotel wearing the white jersey of best young rider.

Pau MIQUEL. 9. The 26-year-old Spanish rider from Bahrain Victorius throws himself into the fray and on a rather demanding finish line he secures a fine placing.

Tadej POGACAR. 8. What can you say to him? He could mind his own business, he could let others do their thing, but instead he always sets the races on fire. He's a born competitor and, if he's there, Taddeo doesn't know the meaning of backing down. With this sprint, he also keeps a firm grip on the red jersey, with a 9" advantage over Van Aert. For the record: he also has the green jersey of the points classification.

Mads PEDERSEN. 5. In the end he gets a result with a fourth place, but both on Van Aert's attack and in the final sprint the Danish rider loses the moment.

Hugo HOFSTETTER. 6. The 32-year-old French rider eagerly grabs a fifth place that counts for him and his NSN Cycling Team.

Primoz ROGLIC. 7. He needs to find the form of his best days, but in the meantime he tries to keep pace with the best. Today he climbs back up 15 positions in one go: he's now 9th overall at 26" from his red-jersey compatriot.

Ethan HAYTER. 8. He could have done it yesterday, he comes close today. With determination and absolute willpower, he chases the red dream, taking the intermediate sprint at Gréoux-les-Bains which gives him 6" of time bonus, but he doesn't count on one thing: without Taddeo, who then arrives 3rd and keeps the jersey.

Koen BOUWMAN. 8. The 32-year-old Dutch rider from Jayco AlUla enters the day's breakaway with Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step), Sinhuè Fernández (Burgos Burpellett BH) and Diego Uriarte (Equipo Kern Pharma). He collects points on the mountain climbs and heads to the hotel with the blue polka dot jersey.

Jacopo MOSCA. 8. A brief stop for a kiss, a kiss to his wife Elisa Longo Borghini, who with her brand new Italian national champion's jersey and Colnago bicycle was waiting at the roadside for the caravan to pass.

Cian UIJTDEBROEKS. 17. The start of the Vuelta hasn't been particularly fortunate for the Movistar rider: yesterday's time trial was so-so, today a nasty crash that makes everything more complicated. Just bruises, the race goes on.

Geovani Sergio CHUMIL. 17. The 25-year-old Guatemalan from Burgos Burpellet BH is the first retirement of this Vuelta. He crashes and is forced to abandon the race.