Andreas LEKNESSUND. 10 with honors. He races the entire stage in the breakaway, attacking right from the start with Van Aert and Vader. He races with a black armband, Andreas like the entire Uno-X team, which today achieves its own personal "triple," winning at least one stage at the Giro, Tour, and Vuelta in the same season. A symbolic victory in honor of King Harald V of Norway: he was 89 years old and had reigned since 1991. A one-two finish worthy of applause: Johannesen second. A Norwegian hadn't won at the Vuelta since Thor Hushovd (2010).

Wout VAN AERT. 10. The Belgian from Visma Lease a Bike attacks hard right from the start, followed by Milan Vader (Pinarello Q36.5) and Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility). The Belgian has his sights set on reducing his gap in the special green jersey classification that he wears today courtesy of Taddeo (the Slovenian already has the red one). The three will be joined by Eddie Dunbar (Pinarello Q36.5), Alexey Lutsenko (NSN), and Tobias Halland Johannessen. All five race superbly. He does even better. He takes all the points: this evening the green jersey is his (104 to 102).

Jacob ORZEL. 9. The 20-year-old Slovenian rider from Team Bahrain gains four positions in one fell swoop. He's now just a step away from the top ten. An excellent 4th place finish in a short but brutal stage. Slovenia is ready to add yet another talent to its deck of cards.

Juan Felipe RODRIGUEZ. 8. The 22-year-old Colombian rider from EF Education-EasyPost throws himself into the fray and stays up front all day.

Ivan Ramiro SOSA. 7.5. The 28-year-old Colombian from Equipo Kern Pharma puts in a strong effort in a stage that was certainly no walk in the park.

Alexey LUTSENKO. 7. He's among the first to sound the charge, then he fades: he runs out of gas.

Eddie DUNBAR. 7. The 29-year-old Irish rider from Pinarello Q36.5 knows there's a fight to be had today and he fights.

Filippo ZANA. 6.5. He stays close to the five leaders throughout, and tries to accelerate in the final, but something gives way.

Tadej POGACAR. 7. And on the seventh day, he rested: so to speak. Go ahead, do your thing, the Slovenian seems to say. Then in the final, when he's left with Gall and Mas, he rises out of the saddle and shows everyone that his legs are good: for those who had any doubts yesterday about the Spaniard's comeback. Now Mas is 3'50" back.

Enric MAS. 5. After his strong effort yesterday, he arrives in the finale with his powder wet and loses 17" to Pogacar.

Richard CARAPAZ. 5. Not the happiest day for the "Locomotora": he loses three positions in the general classification. Jarno WIDAR. 6. Uninspired yesterday, uninspired today: the young Belgian struggles, but in the end limits the damage with great determination.

Ramses DEBRUYNE. 5. He was right: stage races perhaps aren't really his forte, at least not for now. He loses ten positions in the general classification: the former speed skater remains on thin ice.