And the most outrageous handlebar award goes to...
Colnago has dropped its new top-flight road bike, the Y1Rs. And let’s get one thing straight: this is not your average machine. Built for riders who treat every watt of power like gold dust, the Y1Rs is as much about cutting through the air as it is about cutting the competition down to size. It’s the kind of bike that makes you wonder what Colnago's engineers were smoking as they sketched out the initial drawings, but will it put the Italian brand at the top of cycling's biggest podiums once again in 2025? That remains to be seen.
The headline stats are impressive, but let’s start with the basics. The Y1Rs is Colnago’s follow-up to the already successful V4Rs. What makes it different? For starters, it’s shaved off a chunky 19% from its frontal area. That’s thanks to some clever design tweaks, including a curved downtube and Colnago’s fancy new CC.Y1 handlebars, which come with something called WYND technology. If that sounds like something out of an aviation manual, well, it’s not far off. All this means less drag and more speed, which, if you’re Tadej Pogačar, is probably music to your ears.
Colnago Y1Rs: A need for speed
Speaking of speed, the wind tunnel numbers tell their own story. Compared to the V4Rs, the Y1Rs needs 20 fewer watts to hold a steady 50 km/h. That might not mean much if you’re commuting to the office, but for a pro cyclist, it’s the kind of difference that wins races.
Then there’s the stiffness. Colnago has cranked it up by 3.5% compared to the V4Rs. That might not sound thrilling, but when you’re stomping on the pedals in the middle of a sprint, you’ll appreciate it. Add to that the DEFY seatpost joint, which keeps things aerodynamic while soaking up road vibrations, and you’ve got a bike that balances aggression with just enough comfort to stop you feeling like you’ve been riding a jackhammer.
Colnago Y1Rs: A long time coming
Colnago’s head of R&D, Davide Fumagalli, says this bike has been three years in the making, with plenty of feedback from the folks at UAE Team Emirates. If it’s good enough for Pogačar to take into battle, it’s probably good enough for the rest of us. Whether you’re tackling an alpine descent or just trying to keep up with the group ride, the Y1Rs seems ready for whatever you throw at it.
Of course, all this innovation comes at a price. At €12,300, this isn’t a bike you pick up with spare change. And with demand already outstripping supply, you might be waiting a while to get your hands on one. But for those who live and breathe cycling – or just want to turn some heads on the group ride – this might just be the road bike to beat in 2025.
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