UAE TEAM EMIRATES – XRG. 6.5. Orphaned from their number one, they're trying to be number one. One week left to try, meanwhile, after the Slovenian's withdrawal, three top-ten finishes with Vermaerke, Almeida and Oliveira. In total, to date, there are seven top-ten finishes. In any case, with three stage wins signed by Taddeo, there's reason to be calm. For the record: they remained in the race with four riders: Almeida, Novak, Oliveira, Vermaerke.
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP. 6. Seven top-ten finishes for a team that is here in search of at least one stage win. So far it hasn't come.
NETCOMPANY INEOS. 7.5. A 5th place in the general classification with young Onley, who is also wearing the white jersey in the young riders' special classification. Seven top-ten finishes, a race that for them is not yet over.
RED BULL BORA HANSGROHE. 8.5. Thirteen top-ten finishes, only Visma Lease a Bike has more. With Roglic they are still in contention for something good, which must in any case be conquered with courage and boldness. Primoz has experience on his side and a time trial. On the other hand, he has age, which depending on the circumstances, is either a blessing or a curse.
TEAM VISMA LEASE A BIKE. 10. Five stage wins, sixteen top-ten finishes, the green jersey on Van Aert's shoulders, who is living his sublime hot summer. For the general classification there's a Sepp Kuss who is far back (10th at over 8 minutes), but with a team like this, you can expect anything: even the unexpected.
DECATHLON CMA-CGM TEAM. 8. Felix Gall arrives at the final week in second place, just 2'06" behind the red jersey. The team is tough and has already shown this several times: for Mas it won't be a simple final procession.
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM. 7. Three top-ten finishes, one stage win with Brenner. For them the Vuelta is already won.
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS. 8.5. They have one of the most interesting young riders in circulation, who is showing what he's made of. Omrzel took home one of the most beautiful stages and is currently 6th in the general classification. The battle for the white jersey with Onley is wide open, but these two young riders can also tip the scales that will award the red jersey.
LIDL TREK. 6.5. Seven top-ten finishes for a reference team that is currently moving around Matteo Skjelmose: the Dane is 7th in the general classification and it's not certain he can move up.
NSN CYCLING TEAM. 6. Six top-ten finishes for a Vuelta that has been good so far but not excellent. Several bright moments, but few decisive stretches. Quite unlucky: they remained in the race with four riders.
UNO X MOBILITY. 7. Seven top-ten finishes and one stage win with Leknessund: they are here to make themselves known and win. Objective achieved.
MOVISTAR. 9. They have their great opportunity, even though their leader has the greatest one of all: Enric Mas. Red jersey on his shoulders, the weight of the race that can weigh on the mind. The legs pedal lightly, there's not much left, but there's still work to do.
LOTTO INTERMARCHÈ. 6.5 Three top-ten finishes with their prodigy: Widar. For the general classification he's already out, but for the stages there's always hope.
EF EDUCATION-EASY POST. 6.5 They came here for the stages, not for the general classification. So far no stage wins but a 4th place with Carapaz, who won't be brilliant, but he's there, and in any case he makes himself seen. And we'll see him.
XDS ASTANA TEAM. 8.5. The general classification with Rodriguez (8th) and Tejada (11th). Many top-ten finishes (11), with Alessandro Romele, one of the most interesting young riders of this Vuelta who has shown himself to the world with great consistency. For the Bergamo native five top-ten finishes, a 2nd place behind his majesty Wout Van Aert. In short, plenty of reasons to smile: for him and for us.
PINARELLO Q36.5. 5.5. Four top-ten finishes in a Vuelta of great suffering. Now the final week to try to leave a mark.
ALPECIN PREMIER TECH. 5. They have battle in their DNA, here they're chasing. Two top-ten finishes obtained and little else. They remained in the race with three riders: Debruyne, one of the most interesting riders in the group, Glivar and Gogl.
GROUPAMA FDJ UNITED. 7.5. One stage win with Tronchon that sorted out their trip, then six more top-ten finishes. A race of sacrifice and a general classification with Berthet (9th) that gives further substance to the French team.
EQUIPO KERN PHARMA. 5.5. It's their home race, but they seem out of place.
COFIDIS. 6.5. Two top-ten finishes in two weeks, but Coquard sorted things out with a stage win that puts everything in order.
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL. 4. Not present, since they haven't even obtained a single top-ten finish.
TEAM JAYCO ALULA. 5.5. Alessandro Covi gives the Australian team a 6th place, for the rest we hope for the final week: the 23-year-old British rider Finlay Pickering can do something beautiful.
BURGOS BURPELLET BH. 5 The team is not a giant, but here it's truly invisible.