Giro d'Italia, a crash splits the race in Gorizia. Del Toro more and more leader, Ciccone retires

The point to start with is the new consolidation of the pink jersey, which was very clever in avoiding the crash that penalised the rivals. This too is a merit. And he must be given credit. The guy is good at it and above all he gives the impression of being the smartest of the competition.

What now? What will happen, on the eve of the mountains, in the internal balance of the Uae Emirates? Ayuso, who would be the captain, is now even more in trouble. On the eve of the race, he was supposed to be the leader, a great talent on the rise. Now everything can change.

"We will make our evaluations," Uae's sporting director, Fernandez Matxin, pointed out. A sibylline phrase that hints at what needs to be understood: namely that the hierarchies, in the process, could change. The Mexican, although young (21 years old) and less experienced than Ayuso, is having an exceptional Giro, continuing, stage after stage, to build up an advantage.

Polished and sprightly, he did not miss an opportunity to consolidate his leadership. True, the Giro is still long, and the toughest climbs (Mortirolo and Colle delle Finestre) are still to come...

However, at the moment, the brightest is the pink jersey. Primoz Roglic himself, the big favourite on the eve of the race, is fifth at around two and a half minutes. He may be an old fox, but so far he has only shone in time trials. More enterprising is Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, fourth at 2'07", the author of a fine stage win at Castel ne' Monti, and certainly one to keep an eye on in the tougher stages.

Among the big names, the Colombian Egan Bernal, who is a long way from the top with a gap of over three and a half minutes, will also have to be seen again.

In short, everything is going in the pink jersey's favour at the moment, but he wisely downplays his merits. 'In these stages you have to be lucky above all,' he remarks with the air of someone who has escaped a bad danger.

The truth is that cycling, particularly in this Giro d'Italia, is mutating. It seems that it is more the episodes that decide. Especially in these stages that should be trivial, and instead become traps even for the lords of the classification, perhaps less protected than in the past by their teams.

You have to be lucky, says the pink jersey. Well... You certainly have to be on your toes. And be good. Very good. In the old days, it used to be the adversaries who ambushed you. Now it's the rain or a road that's too narrow.