Tadej Pogačar stands as one of the most prominent figures in professional cycling at present, if not the most prominent. He appears capable of triumphing on any type of terrain at any given moment, amassing an impressive track record that proves challenging to succinctly summarize in an introduction like this. Consider this: He boasts two victories in the general classification of the Tour de France, one of which made him the youngest winner since 1904, along with a second-place finish in 2022. He’s also secured two climbers’ jerseys along the way and clinched triumphs in three monuments (two at Lombardy, one at Liege-Bastogne-Liege), in addition to victories on the more challenging terrain of Strada Bianche.
He stands as the sole rider in history to surpass the 6,000-point threshold for UCI ranking points, and he occasionally delves into cyclocross (where he naturally also excels). He’s a part of what’s frequently referred to as the ‘new generation’ of riders, along with names like Wout van Aert, Matthieu Van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel, Tom Pidcock, and others.
Given this remarkable track record, it’s no surprise that his Wikipedia page includes a section titled “Comparisons with Eddy Merckx.” Likewise, the curiosity surrounding Tadej Pogačar’s bike is understandable. So, let’s delve into what this 66kg powerhouse is riding and how he customizes his machine.
Fortunately, during the unveiling of the new Colnago V4Rs, we managed to discreetly explore the behind-the-scenes workings of the UAE Team Emirates’ makeshift service area at the team’s winter training camp. This gave us an in-depth look at Pogačar’s race bike for the 2023 season. A slew of new components has been introduced compared to his 2022 bike, so prepare your notepads and pay attention.
Pogačar, along with the rest of the UAE Team Emirates, rides the Colnago V4Rs, the exclusive high-level racing bike from the Italian brand. This year, several components have been swapped out. The groupset now features Shimano Dura-Ace, the wheels are Enve, and the tires come from Continental.
During the launch, Pogačar expressed his enthusiasm for the new bike: “Undoubtedly, the Colnago V4Rs is stiffer and more responsive. When you stand up, you feel a more immediate response, better reaction. This certainly aids in the peloton during fast races, attacks, and sprints. This was the most significant change for me from the V3Rs.”
However, it unintentionally garnered attention when retired Classics rider Tom Boonen controversially claimed that Colnago didn’t match up to the bike brands ridden by Pogačar’s competitors. Colnago naturally refuted these claims, labeling them as unsubstantiated. Rather ironically, on the very same day, Pogačar dominated his rivals in the Stage 4 summit finish of Paris-Nice.
With a height of 1.77m, Pogačar likely rides a frameset of around 54cm. Colnago’s sizing is slightly unique, though. It’s believed he’s using a ‘485’ frame, slightly smaller than what might be ideal for someone of his height. However, this choice enables him to employ a longer stem, particularly with the saddle pushed forward. While the stem size isn’t definitively known, it appears to be in the range of 130-140mm.
At the core of any race bike lies the frameset. In this instance, it’s the Colnago V4Rs, an evolution of Colnago’s elite road bike lineup (with the C68 targeting amateurs). It’s the product of an evolution from the old V3Rs, passing through an intermediate ‘Prototipo’ prototype phase. At first glance, not much seems to have changed. It follows the typical pattern of being lighter, stiffer, and more aerodynamic, as we’ve come to expect from new bike releases. This stands as the sole race bike for UAE Team Emirates, apart from time trials, as Colnago doesn’t manufacture an aero road bike like other brands do.
The paint job resembles that of the Prototipo, which isn’t surprising since they’re effectively the same bike. It’s even more understated than the already minimalist paintwork on the V3Rs team bikes. In racing, reducing paint weight is crucial, so leaving more of the carbon exposed provides an advantage. However, it doesn’t exactly set hearts racing in terms of aesthetics.
While the frame is novel, UAE has also secured new equipment sponsors for 2023. When we borrowed this bike, the mechanics were busily adjusting the new gear in the makeshift service area.
The most apparent changes are to the wheels and drivetrain. Shimano now handles the propulsion and braking power, replacing Campagnolo. This naturally involves a Dura-Ace Di2 setup with a dual-sided power meter. In this instance, Pogačar employs 54/40t chainrings along with 172.5mm crank arms. However, instead of his Look Keo Blade II pedals, he now uses Dura-Ace pedals.
The wheels have also seen a transformation. The flashy Campagnolo Bora Ultras have been swapped for Enve 45s. These aren’t Enve’s top-end models, so it’s expected that for races, Pogačar and the team will opt for the SES 4.5 or a different depth from Enve’s SES range based on the terrain. The wheels are equipped with Continental GP500 TR tubeless-ready tires, although for now, the mechanics have set them up with inner tubes, adding tape to prevent valve rattling, as these wheels seem to be reserved for training purposes.
The integrated cockpit resembles what we’ve previously observed on Pogačar’s Prototipo. It features a single monocoque construction with a slim frontal area and a truncated aerofoil rear. Similar to bikes ridden by Remco Evenepoel and Michael Matthews, the brake hoods are positioned inward to achieve a narrower, more aerodynamic stance.
For this season, Pogačar has also adopted a new saddle, transitioning from the Prologo M5 Scratch to the brand’s Dimension model. The saddle is positioned forward in the seat clamp, exceeding the recommended limit, allowing him to lean further over the front of the bike.
The setup is rounded out by Elite bottle cages, Colnago bar tape, and a Wahoo computer (not shown), resulting in an understated build for a rider so accustomed to gracing the top step of the podium.
