6.67w/kg at 17: Benjamín Noval shows why Netcompany Ineos moved early

In recent years, cycling has watched a new generation arrive at startling speed, from Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel to Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas. Benjamín Noval is not at that level yet, but at just 17, his latest performance at the Vuelta a la Montaña Central de Asturias junior was hard to ignore.

The Asturian rider won on the Alto de Polio with a climb that looked striking on the road and even more impressive once the numbers emerged.

The ascent measured 5.52 kilometres at an average gradient of 9.82%, with 542 metres of elevation gain. Noval covered it in 17 minutes and 26 seconds, averaging 19 km/h on a sustained climb close to 10%. According to figures reported by Marca, his effort came out at 6.67 watts per kilo, with a VAM of 1,865 metres per hour.

For any rider, those numbers would stand out. For a junior, they are difficult to brush aside. 

Vingegaard’s final climb on stage 9 of this Giro, for example, was estimated at 7.1 watts per kilo for seven and a half minutes. Noval’s Alto de Polio effort was lower in absolute terms, but lasted far longer: 17:26 at a reported 6.67 watts per kilo.

That is not a direct comparison. Vingegaard was deep into a Grand Tour stage after a week of racing, against WorldTour opposition, while Noval was dominating a junior race. But that is also the point: at 17, producing a number that even belongs in that conversation is exactly why teams take notice.

It also makes Netcompany Ineos’ early move look increasingly shrewd. Noval signed with the British WorldTour team as a 16 year old in June 2025, with the plan for him to join the squad from 2027 after completing his junior development.

At the time, the team described him as one of the most promising young riders in the sport, pointing to his race instinct, climbing ability, tactical intelligence and maturity. Those are familiar phrases in a team announcement, but the numbers from Alto de Polio give them a little more weight.

Noval is not only a road prospect. He has also built a strong reputation in cyclocross, with victories and podiums in Spain and results on the international stage, including second in the junior World Cup round in Zonhoven and fourth at the U19 European Championships.

There is family pedigree too. His father, Benjamín Noval, spent years in the professional peloton and was best known as a trusted domestique for Alberto Contador at Discovery Channel, Astana and Saxo Bank. His son, though, is already starting to make his own name.