Pogacar debuted a new Colnago Y1Rs lighter than ever, its weight is at the limit of the regulations

Despite the debate that arose in the first week of the Tour de France about whether it was more appropriate to use a climbing or aerodynamic bike, the truth is that the two leaders of the classification have not stopped opting for the most aerodynamic models available from their respective brands. Bikes like the Colnago Y1Rs, which the Cambiago brand prepared for Tadej Pogacar to win the time trial to Peyragudes, barely differ in weight from the climbing V5Rs.

Aerodynamic bikes take the lead in performance at the Tour de France 2025

Although we all expected Tadej Pogacar to return to his usual Colnago V5Rs after a first week of the Tour de France in which the Slovenian opted for the aerodynamic bike Y1Rs that Colnago launched at the beginning of the season, the current leader of the Tour de France has continued to use the aerodynamic model throughout all the stages, including the three Pyrenean stages and the beginning of the last week with the finish at Mont Ventoux.

The increasing speed at which races are contested, and this Tour de France 2025 in particular, with cyclists exceeding almost every day the best average speed forecasts established by the organization and with the first hours, until the breakaway is formed, in which the average speed shoots up to over 50 km/h, make aerodynamics crucial, even in mountain stages.

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The mere 500 grams of extra weight difference between a standard setup of the UAE Team Emirates-XRG with their Y1Rs and V5Rs are more than compensated by the 20-25 W improvement that comes from riding at 50 km/h using the aerodynamic option. These advantages are maintained even on slopes exceeding 10%, as indicated by the mathematical models used by the team to simulate performance in the stages.

Aside from the raw performance data, there are other intangibles that have led Tadej Pogacar to prefer using the Colnago Y1Rs throughout the Tour de France. We're talking about aspects like having the same behavior and exact position on the bike throughout the race or the extra comfort provided by the Defy design of his seat tube that maximizes impact absorption. Also, the greater torsional stiffness offered by the Y1Rs compared to the V5Rs makes it more suitable for the violent attacks that the Slovenian delights us with.

A bike that, in its standard team setup, weighs around 7.2 kg. However, for the decisive time trial to Peyragudes, being such an atypical stage, Colnago and UAE Team Emirates-XRG wanted to maximize the properties of the Y1Rs by preparing a special edition of this bike that almost eliminated the differences with the climbing model by achieving a weight of 6.9 kg ready to ride.

This weight reduction required starting with a frame with visible carbon, unpainted, just a light lacquer and stickers with the Colnago logos, without bottle cages, and with the handlebar untaped. A bike that the Slovenian has also adopted at the beginning of the last week of the Tour de France, starting with the finish at Mont Ventoux, obviously with a fully taped handlebar and bottle cages to complete the stage without any issues, and with 160 discs instead of the 140 mm ones used to lighten up more in the time trial.

A bike that not only reduces weight in its unpainted frame but also includes other treats like a support for the Wahoo Bolt cycling computer used by the Emirati team, manufactured through 3D printing and perfectly integrated into the handlebar lines; Elite Leggero Carbon bottle cages, a bottom bracket supplied by Bikone in addition to titanium screws and a direct mount hanger for the Shimano Dura-Ace derailleur all made by Carbon-Ti.

By the way, speaking of Carbon-Ti, it's worth mentioning that they continue to provide their exclusive chainrings, with a gearing for the Mont Ventoux stage of 55/38, outside the ranges set by Shimano for their derailleur but tests carried out by the team have ensured that it works properly, further expanding the range of available developments, especially for such an atypical stage as today's, with many kilometers of pedaling at full speed and an extremely demanding climb like Mont Ventoux.

Chainrings mounted on 165 mm cranks that, as a curiosity, include the "trusted" power meter of Tadej Pogacar, a meter he uses as a reference and moves from bike to bike. A setup that is rounded off, quite literally, with the ENVE 4.5 PRO wheels equipped with Continental GP5000 TT tires in 700x28c size.