When Jonas Vingegaard attacked on the Blockhaus climb during Stage 7 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia, he didn’t need to unleash the kind of otherworldly power Tadej Pogačar has become infamous for. Instead, he delivered exactly what was needed: a calculated, record-breaking performance that left his rivals—including Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates—struggling to respond.

Online cycling data analysts, led by the ever-watchful @Na1chaca, crunched the numbers and found Vingegaard sustained 6.35 watts per kilogram for 37 minutes and 17 seconds on the Abruzzo monster. For a rider weighing approximately 58 kilograms, that translates to roughly 370 watts of climbing power—impressive, but far from the superhuman thresholds Pogačar has repeatedly shattered.

“For us on the couch, that’s crazy. But as everyone on social media was shouting, they’re not numbers to worry Tadej Pogačar ahead of their match-up at the Tour de France.”

The Blockhaus Numbers: Vingegaard’s Tactical Genius

The comparison to Pogačar is inevitable, but it’s also misleading if taken out of context. Vingegaard’s 6.35 w/kg on Blockhaus was not a sign of fatigue or diminished capacity—it was a deliberate choice. The Dane has spent years refining his ability to extract maximum efficiency from every watt, a philosophy that aligns perfectly with his team’s Jumbo-Visma data-driven approach.

Where Pogačar’s power outputs often border on the physiologically extraordinary (his 7.5 w/kg on Peyragudes in 2025 remains one of cycling’s most discussed feats), Vingegaard’s strength lies in his ability to sustain high percentages of his FTP (Functional Threshold Power) for longer periods without burning out. On Blockhaus, he didn’t need to go nuclear—he just needed to be better.

@Na1chaca 🇩🇰 JONAS VINGEGAARD
Blockhaus (12,8km; 8,59%; 1099m)
37’17min
20,60km/h
1769 VAM
6,35ᵉw/kg
629 aSLP
CLIMBING RECORD
Not that great, to be honest.

— @Na1chaca · May 15, 2026

Why “Average” Watts Still Dominate the Giro

The Blockhaus stage was never going to be a Pogačar showcase. The climb’s punchy, technical nature—with its infamous “Blockhaus” section—favors riders who can handle short, explosive bursts rather than sustained, all-out efforts. Vingegaard’s ability to modulate his power, attack at the perfect moment and then hold a gap against a fragmented peloton was the mark of a true champion.

Consider this: Vingegaard’s 370-watt average for 37 minutes is higher than what many elite riders can sustain for even 20 minutes. His 6.35 w/kg is well above the modern WorldTour average for such climbs, and it’s a number that has served him well in previous Giro victories. The key insight? Efficiency beats brute force when the opposition is fractured.

UAE Team Emirates, Pogačar’s squad, arrived at the Giro with high expectations—but their riders struggled to match Vingegaard’s tactical precision. While Pogačar himself wasn’t at the Blockhaus (he finished 11th on the stage), his teammates Maurizio Pellizzari and Thibaut Pinot were both out of contention, with Pellizzari suffering a mechanical issue and Pinot finishing 19th. The message was clear: even when Pogačar isn’t in the race, his team’s depth isn’t enough to counter Vingegaard’s all-around dominance.

The Tour de France Looms: A Different Kind of Battle

Vingegaard’s Giro strategy—winning stages without exhausting himself—sets up a fascinating dynamic for the 2026 Tour de France, which starts July 1. While Pogačar’s power outputs are the stuff of legend, Vingegaard’s ability to manage his effort while still winning key stages could be his secret weapon.

Here’s the paradox: Pogačar’s team may have the most explosive rider in history, but Vingegaard’s team has the most consistent machine. Jumbo-Visma’s support staff, led by sport director Bertjan Lindeman, has spent years optimizing everything from nutrition to pacing to recovery. The result? A rider who can go harder than anyone when it matters, but also conserve enough to outlast his rivals over three weeks.

Pogačar’s 2024 and 2025 Tours were defined by his ability to drop 7+ w/kg numbers on climbs like the Plateau de Beille, and Peyragudes. But those stages required his kind of power. The Tour’s high mountains—Alpe d’Huez, Galibier, Mont Ventoux—will test both riders, but Vingegaard’s strength lies in his ability to adapt his power to the terrain, not just dominate it.

As one former Jumbo-Visma rider told Archysport ahead of the Giro: “Jonas doesn’t need to be the fastest on every climb. He just needs to be the smartest. And that’s why he wins.”

What the Data Misses: The Human Factor

Numbers tell part of the story, but they don’t capture the full picture. Vingegaard’s victory on Blockhaus wasn’t just about watts—it was about momentum. By the time he attacked, the peloton was already fractured. His rivals were reacting to his moves, not dictating them. That’s the hallmark of a true leader.

Pogačar, by contrast, often thrives when he can set the pace, using his power to isolate opponents before striking. Vingegaard’s approach is more surgical: he waits for the right moment, then strikes with precision. It’s a difference in philosophy that could define the Tour.

There’s also the matter of recovery. While Pogačar’s power outputs are legendary, they come at a cost. Vingegaard, meanwhile, has shown time and again that he can manage his effort over multiple Grand Tours. In 2023, he won the Giro and Tour back-to-back, something no other rider has achieved in the modern era.

Key Takeaways: What This Means for the Tour

What’s Next: The Road to the Tour

Vingegaard’s Jumbo-Visma team will now shift focus to the Tour de France, which kicks off July 1 in Bilbao, Spain. With two weeks until the start, the team will prioritize:

• Recovery management. Vingegaard’s Giro effort was controlled, but the Tour will demand fresh legs.
• Tactical refinement. Analyzing how Pogačar and UAE respond to Vingegaard’s style of racing.
• High-altitude preparation. Simulating the Tour’s mountain stages to optimize power output at altitude.

The next major checkpoint will be the Critérium du Dauphiné (June 10–16), where Vingegaard will test his Tour form against a field that includes Pogačar and other Tour contenders.