"We can try something” - Jonas Vingegaard hopes to attack on the Blockhaus as Giro d'Italia general classification battle looms large

After several days surviving chaos, rain, and the constant traps of the 2026 Giro d’Italia opener, Jonas Vingegaard finally reaches terrain where he feels most at home. The Dane tackles stage 7, finishing atop the feared Blockhaus, as his first real test of the race and the first chance to measure himself against the other favourites in the general classification.

The Visma - Lease a Bike leader appeared relaxed at the start, fully aware of the severity of a day that could begin to set the tone of the corsa rosa. “I hope so,” he said with a smile when told the time had come to show his full potential.

“Today is a very long, hard day. Time will tell. With a bit of luck, I’ll have good legs at the finish and we can try something.”

After an opening week marred by nerves and extreme weather, the Blockhaus is the first true stage for pure climbers. And although Vingegaard starts as the main favourite to win the Giro, the Dane avoided sounding overly aggressive ahead of a day still riddled with unknowns.

Rather than send statements of intent, the two-time Tour de France winner stressed that the key will be pacing on a climb that punishes any mistake. The Blockhaus, long and steady, usually selects by endurance, exactly the terrain where Vingegaard tends to make differences.

The maglia rosa, however, still looks distant. The general classification leader’s advantage of more than six minutes makes an immediate change unlikely, something the Dane even views as positive for his team.

“Every day you can wear the jersey is an honour,” he explained. “I’d love to have it, but six minutes is a lot and I don’t think I can take it today.”

Far from obsessing over taking the lead now, Vingegaard hinted that Visma is in no rush to control the Giro from this early point. Keeping the jersey away from the team saves responsibility and helps manage energy before the decisive third-week stages.

Inside the Dutch squad, the sense is that the real goal is not to dominate the standings from the first mountain day, but to build gaps progressively while the Dane rides into top form.

Asked about the team’s specific plan for the stage, Vingegaard smiled and kept his cards close. “I guess we’ll see what our plan will be,” he said with a touch of irony. “I’m not going to talk about our plan here.”

What does seem clear is that Visma will try to protect him until the base of the final climb, then let the race naturally select among the main favourites.

Beyond tactics, Vingegaard continues to project calm in his Giro d’Italia debut. The Dane has said for days that racing the corsa rosa was one of his big dreams, and his demeanour shows more excitement than pressure despite being the leading candidate for overall victory.