Almost a million euros on the wrist and the security reasons why we won't see it on Pogacar

Yesterday we showed you the spectacular RM 64-01 Tourbillon Colnago, the exclusive watch developed by Richard Mille alongside the historic Italian bicycle brand. A piece limited to only 50 units worldwide and designed to bring some of Colnago's most iconic features to high watchmaking. However, there were two important unknowns that had not yet been revealed: how much it really costs and whether Tadej Pogacar will use it in competition.

Colnago confirms that Pogacar will not compete with his new luxury watch for safety reasons

The answer to both questions has come from BikeRadar, a media outlet that was able to speak directly with Colnago after the official presentation of the watch. According to the Italian brand, the RM 64-01 will have a price of 800,000 Swiss francs before taxes, a figure that at the current exchange rate approaches one million euros once the corresponding fees are applied.

We are, therefore, facing one of the most exclusive pieces ever linked to the world of professional cycling. Although Richard Mille does not usually communicate prices prominently in its launches, the figure places the RM 64-01 at the highest tier of high sports watchmaking and well above the models typically worn by riders sponsored by the brand.

And precisely that price is the main reason why we will not see Pogacar competing with it. As Colnago explained to BikeRadar, the Slovenian will not use this model in races for personal safety reasons. Although Pogacar appears in many of the promotional images of the launch and maintains a close relationship with Richard Mille through the UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the brand believes that wearing a piece valued at nearly one million euros on the wrist poses an unnecessary risk.

RECOMENDADO

The UAE confirms the formidable squad that will back Pogacar in his quest to win his fifth Tour de France

Pogacar prioritizes his family and leaves his final concentration before the Tour up in the air

The UAE points to Seixas as one of the biggest threats to Pogacar in the Tour: "He is at the level of Vingegaard"

The big news from Van der Poel before the Tour: he will be a father in 2027

The Decathlon challenges the logic of the Tour with two debutants as leaders: this is the complete team of Decathlon CMA CGM

Van der Poel wants to wear yellow again and has already marked the stage in which he will try to do so

The decision is noteworthy because Pogacar has previously competed with Richard Mille watches. In fact, during the last Paris-Roubaix, he was seen wearing an RM 67-02, both during the race and in the traditional showers at the Roubaix velodrome after crossing the finish line.

However, the RM 64-01 operates in another economic dimension. And there are precedents that perfectly explain the concern for safety. The most well-known case is that of Mark Cavendish, a Richard Mille ambassador for years, who suffered a violent assault in his Essex home in November 2021. Armed thieves broke into his house and took two Richard Mille watches valued at around £750,000 at the time. As BikeRadar recalls, both pieces remain missing.

So, although the RM 64-01 Tourbillon Colnago has been presented with Pogacar as one of its main images, all signs point to the four-time Tour de France winner not wearing it in competition. When the value of a watch approaches that of a luxury home, even for a star of professional cycling, there are limits that are wiser not to cross.