Aero, single chainring, and tires at the limit: Pogacar pushes his Colnago Y1Rs to the max on the cobblestones

Tadej Pogacar arrives at the Tour of Flanders without any aftereffects from the fall in Milan-San Remo and with a clear technical change compared to previous seasons on the cobblestones. The Slovenian has decided to compete on the cobbles with the Colnago Y1Rs, the aerodynamic model from the Italian brand, leaving behind the strategy that led him to choose lighter platforms like the V4Rs or the recent V5Rs.

Pogacar changes strategy for the cobbles and challenges the limits of his Colnago Y1Rs

The choice is not minor. The Y1Rs introduces a more aggressive geometry clearly oriented towards aerodynamic efficiency, and it has become Pogacar's reference bike since its launch. However, its use on uneven terrain raises doubts, which has forced the team to work for months on a specific adaptation for the cobbles.

 

 

 

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This new configuration has been pushed to the limit in several key areas. The most obvious is in the tires. Everything indicates that Pogacar is using the Continental GP5000 S TR in sizes close to 35 mm, a figure that exceeds the theoretical tire clearance of the frame. The images show an extremely tight fit between the tire and the frame, indicating just how much they are pushing the available margin.

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The increase in tire volume responds to a clear logic in this type of race. It allows for lower pressures, improves traction on the cobblestones, and reduces muscle strain during prolonged efforts. In exchange, it forces a redesign of the rest of the setup to avoid mechanical conflicts, especially in the area of the front derailleur.

Here comes another key element of the setup. In Milan-San Remo, he was already seen competing with a single chainring transmission, a non-standard solution in Shimano that his team resolved with a specific chainring from Carbon-Ti and a chain guide from K-Edge. By eliminating the front derailleur, critical space is freed up to mount wider tires. Although in recent tests he has returned to using a double transmission, this option remains very much present for Paris-Roubaix.

Comfort has also been reinforced. In addition to the larger tire volume, the handlebars feature double wrapping in the contact area, a common solution to improve absorption in races like Roubaix. And after the problems suffered last year with his wrist, it would not be surprising if Pogacar opts not to compete with his usual, and very expensive, Richard Mille watch to avoid unnecessary risks.

Flanders will be the first real stage to validate all this work. There, he will face Van der Poel again on an explosive and technical course that will serve as the ultimate testing ground before tackling Paris-Roubaix, the Monument that is still missing from his palmarès.