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Julian Alaphilippe, 10th vein: He was among the most anticipated drivers and did not betray expectations. He attacked at the best moment after a highly contested race by France, which knew how to move at all times. The desire to dedicate a historic victory, lacking since 1997, to his entire nation and to his father who passed away at the end of June, did the rest. At the age of 28, he entered the Olympus of the most important contemporary cyclists, embellishing his showcase with the most coveted victory after a Milan-Sanremo, a Strade Bianche, two Freccia Vallone and a Clásica San Sebastián.
Wout van Aert, 9.5: Belgium does everything well, but loses itself on the prettier side. The 26-year-old talent, fresh off a full Tour de France and silver in the time trial, still has the energy to expend both physically and mentally and proves it by closing the extension of Nibali, Landa and Uran on the penultimate climb, but fails to tame Alaphilippe on the hardest ramps of the last passage of Cima Gallisterna. The mistake is fatal and, thanks to the fear of the other pursuers of taking him in a carriage to the gold medal, he no longer manages to repair the tear. Another silver that is worth almost as much as a gold for this guy with almost infinite resources that has been going all the way since early August.
Marc Hirschi, 9 years old: After the beautiful Tour de France, someone whispered the name of the 22-year-old Swiss among the candidates eligible for success. He managed to stay hooked on the Wout van Aert train in the final without too much trouble, then played his cards very well in the sprint against runners much more experienced than himself. It is the second bronze in a row for Switzerland after Küng’s last year, demonstrating a movement that is rediscovering its dimension after the Cancellara era.
Tiesj Benoot and Tim Wellens, 8 years old: I’m definitely one of the fittest van Aert fans. Newcomer from the Tour de France, Benoot puts his form and class on the road pulling the group for most of the day alongside his teammate. Unfortunately, the gold medal did not come, but Belgium has risen thanks to the work of two luxury riders like them.
Tadej Pogacar, 8 years old: The Slovenian does not have many cards to play, but his form and morale remain high after his surprising success in the Tour de France. And so, without thinking too much about it, he starts only on the penultimate lap in hopes of breaking the bank. For a good number of kilometers it scares the pursuers, but they are not surprised. He still has the merit of being the only one who has performed outside the box in this World Cup.
Damiano Caruso 7.5: In the end he is the best of the Italians. He spends as much as he can, according to his habit, but it does not come off easily. Tenth as in the Tour de France for one of those riders who can only get better with time. Surely he expected some companion to come in front of him, but for him it is certainly fine.
Tom Dumoulin, age 7: The Dutchman’s performance continues to improve and today’s race is proof of that. At the finish line he is only 14, but he appears on the penultimate lap when he tries to return to the Pogacar sprint. Obviously he doesn’t have the inspiration of pure sprinters and climbers, but today he puts his head and heart into it and a performance like this bodes well for his season finale.
Jakob Fuglsang, 7 years old: You never see the winner of Il Lombardia. He runs well and is close to the medals, but this performance will certainly not be remembered among his best despite the fact that this fifth place is by far his best result in a world championship, which began in Varese 2008. From a Giro perspective from Italy, it is. a great result, as it is clearly the first of those not outside the Tour de France.
Michael Matthews and Maximilian Schachmann, 7: If the big names had controlled a little more, the Australian and the German could definitely have aimed for the gold medal. Instead, the race gets too tough on the last lap and they have to give up the evidence of not having the pace of the best. The top ten is still a good result in view of the next matches.
Greg van Avermaet, 7 years old: The Olympic champion today puts aside his personal ambitions to put himself at the service of Wout van Aert. He succeeds very well in the task and it is mainly thanks to him that Pogacar’s attempt fails on the penultimate lap. Too bad your partner doesn’t pay you with the most precious metal medal.
Michal Kwiatkowski, 6.5: The encore champion’s dream was within the reach of the 30-year-old Pole, but in the end he was left with a dry mouth. He always runs close to the leaders and is not surprised in the decisive phase of the race when Alaphilippe interrupts everyone. He continues to chase him alongside van Aert, Hirschi, Fuglsang and Roglic but the risk of handing over the gold to the Belgian is too high and he can do nothing but wait for the sprint for the lowest two steps of the podium. In the end he was defeated by both the Belgian and the Swiss Hirschi, canceling a great opportunity.
Primoz Roglic, 6.5: To be sure, the disappointment of the Tour de France remains strong in the soul of the Slovenian, who performs well and gives Slovenia a flattering sixth place. However, day races are not your bread and butter and it shows. Without a team to support him, he cannot invent anything untimely and therefore cannot do more than follow the train of the best to the finish.
Alejandro Valverde, 6.5: Years go by, but it continues to prevail. Getting into the top ten of a 258-kilometer race at the age of 40 isn’t for everyone, but he did. He’s no longer inspired by the better days but he’s not lacking in background and class. He sends Landa forward when Nibali moves and then tries to help him get back to the first ten kilometers, but to no avail. Impeccable conduct for one of the giants of contemporary cycling.
Guillaume Martin, 6.5: Among Alaphilippe’s teammates, he is definitely the fittest. Having also started in the form of a rather convulsive Tour de France, he is in the decisive phases and is the first to wear himself out in the first person when there is a dangerous action to close. Certainly part of the teammate’s success also belongs to him.
Mikel Landa, 6.5: The Basque tries to follow Vincenzo Nibali when he attacks on the penultimate climb but bad luck, for a change, is not lacking. Indeed, Wout van Aert decides to follow the two of them and Uran, nullifying the effort that could also have led to decisive action. In any case, he tried.
Fausto Masnada and Alberto Bettiol 6.5: Excellent performance today for the former driver of Androni and EF, who are respectively the third and fourth Italian at the finish line after Caruso and Nibali. On the penultimate lap they try to whip the leading group to brush against it, giving rise to a very good tactic for Italy, giving meaning to their day.
Vincenzo Nibali, 6.5: The one from Messina gives everything he can, but he pays for a preparation that is not yet perfect, especially compared to those who left the Tour de France. In the penultimate lap he tries it with Landa and Uran, but Van Aert’s reaction makes this interesting attempt fail. Then try to stay with the best even at Cima Gallisterna, but there is no way for him to keep up with the leaders. Unfortunately, the dream of the home world of Italy is shattered here.
Rigoberto Uran, 6: Colombia (4) started this year with great ambitions, at least to move the race. Instead, everyone deviates in the first difficulties, except the expert Uran, who in the last lap still has the energy to follow Nibali and Uran in Mazzolano’s tear. In the end, he’s only 24th at the end, but at least he tried.
Diego Ulissi, 5: He was supposed to be the second in command of Italy, but once again he is rejected for the mileage of more than 200 kilometers that remains indigestible. Those who came out of the Tour de France certainly had a better stage, especially in a season like this in which there was little left, but ten minutes from the winner may be too much.
Sepp Kuss, 4 years: The American climber came out of a brilliant Tour de France and was the spearhead of his team. Never in the middle of the race, he finishes far behind the leaders without ever being seen.
Great Britain, 4: Her Majesty’s national team was not among the favorites, but he had some arrows in his bow. Instead, the order of arrival says three retirees and the very young Thomas Pidcock better than his at the finish line nine and a half minutes behind Alaphilippe. Thus continues the hitherto black year of British cyclists.
