If Pogačar takes again the yellow jersey on the 2023 Tour de France, he’ll possible do it on Colnago’s revised, pro-spec roadie.
Up to date testing methodology, a complete method to weight discount, and race-vetted carbon layup constructions — Colnago poured all of them into its latest thoroughbred, the V4Rs.
UAE Group Emirates contributed to testing, which befell each on the street and within the lab. The principle testing goal was to land on the correct stiffness, and the corporate’s method resulted in geometry and sizing tweaks.
Colnago stated in a press launch the testing accounted for “each stress components (static and dynamic circumstances)” and helped create a “completely balanced body” by way of stiffness and rideability in variable race circumstances. New seat stays are considerably extra proof against bending and impacts. They’re additionally extra aerodynamic — for velocity positive factors.
UAE Group Emirates riders additionally helped check a number of approaches to carbon layup within the body all through final season. The carbon check mission occurred below the identify “Colnago Prototipo.” In it, the corporate scrutinized numerous carbon layering strategies to land on the carbon the workforce would finally trip within the 2022 Tour.
Colnago stated that elsewhere within the design course of, it struggled to chop weight from the earlier V3rs.
“It hasn’t been straightforward to enhance this side compared with its predecessor, the V3Rs; that’s why Colnago labored on the burden of the general module (body, fork, headset and handlebar) as a substitute of on the values of every single element,” the model stated.
The adjustments saved 47 g, swapping out the outdated Sr9 stem and Colnago Hbr41 handlebar and headset. Now on board, there’s a Colnago CC.01 handlebar and a CeramicSpeed headset with “Strong Lubrication Expertise” or SLT. Together with the burden financial savings, Colnago stated the headset ought to shield the bearings higher from water and grit ingress, due to its ceramic and stainless-steel building.
Geometric adjustments for the V4Rs embrace making the “relationship between seat tube size and attain nearly linear.” That, Colnago stated, ought to imply simpler and extra exact measurement choice, plus extra complete adjustability to the saddle place. The model additionally “harmonized” the stack/attain ratio throughout all sizes and minimize the size of the chainstays.
In accordance with Colnago’s press launch, the V4Rs proved worthy to Pogačar.
He known as the bike “[r]eally responsive. For me, that’s good on the climbs to assault as a result of if you push the pedal, the bike goes actually, very well. This helps to assault sooner.”
And, he stated, within the Tour de France, “You want the consolation within the bike as a result of we’ve got such lengthy levels. It’s not solely about velocity and lightness; it’s additionally about consolation. It’s actually vital that after six hours on the bike, you don’t really feel fully destroyed, so … our bike is simply excellent for that.”
MSRP, spec’ed with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, ENVE 3.4 wheels, and Continental GP5000’s: €15,260 — or simply over $16,000 as of this writing. It’s on Colnago’s web site.
