After dominating each nook of the WorldTour calendar, from the cobbles of Flanders to the summit of Isola 2000, Colnago’s V4Rs exits the stage with a palmarès few bikes in historical past can rival. Its successor, the V5Rs, made its debut on the Amstel Gold Race and wasted no time moving into the highlight, racking up wins at La Flèche Wallonne, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the Critérium du Dauphiné, and a stage of the Giro d’Italia.
Meet Tadej Pogačar’s new weapon: a motorcycle that’s lighter, sharper, and constructed to push the bounds of contemporary street racing.
Meet the V5Rs
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
At first look, the newest technology of Colnago’s V sequence doesn’t look all that totally different. Nonetheless understated, nonetheless elegant, the updates are delicate. Some weight financial savings, after all. Some aero development. Minor tweaks to the geo. And fortunately, for my part, no apparent resemblance to the unconventional Y1Rs.
For a full breakdown of the updates, be sure you take a look at our launch story or take a deep dive into Colnago’s white paper, however let me provide the TL;DR model:
Refined because the updates could also be, the V5Rs does include one daring superlative: it’s the lightest body Colnago has ever produced. Because of a revised carbon layup and refined manufacturing, the frameset is available in at simply 1027 grams, placing it in league with the Specialised S-Works Tarmac SL8 or Cervélo R5.
But, the V5Rs didn’t simply go on a food plan. It was designed to be quicker, extra aerodynamic and extra responsive. In different phrases, a real all-rounder purpose-built for right this moment’s dynamic racing and one racer specifically.
Highlights:
- Weight Financial savings: At simply 685g unpainted (measurement 485), the V5Rs is Colnago’s lightest-ever body — 12.5% lighter than the V4Rs.
- Improved Aerodynamics: The V5Rs includes a new tube profile, slimmer fork blades, a drastically thinner seatpost, and a lowered frontal space. Wind tunnel assessments present a 9-watt saving at 50km/h.
- Shared Growth with Y1Rs: Aerodynamic learnings from the Y1Rs mission helped form the V5Rs – particularly designed for riders preferring solo assaults and high-speed breakaways.
- Racing Geometry Tweaks: Barely steeper head and seat tube angles, refined path and fork rake for faster dealing with and higher climbing. Additionally: size-specific forks.
- New Backside Bracket: The V5Rs switches from T47 to a BSA backside bracket
Whereas the silhouette stays acquainted, a better look reveals the modifications made. The newest gen comes with some stealthy aerodynamic enhancements. These modifications are most evident within the refined tube and joint shapes, a slimmer head tube, new fork blade profiles and an impossibly skinny seatpost. (A lot in order that the Di2 battery required a brand new residence. It now lives simply above the underside bracket within the downtube, accessed through a devoted port.)
Whereas the Y1Rs serves as Colnago’s out-and-out aero machine for the quickest, flattest races, we’re certain to see plenty of the V5Rs this July as Pogačar’s go-to weapon on the Tour.
I’ve had this next-gen all-rounder in my possession for the previous two months. Right here’s the way it fared.
The Trip
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
“You’ve been driving {that a} bit.”
I’ve heard it greater than as soon as from driving buddies who seen how usually I used to be out on the V5Rs. As somebody who will get to journey and check among the greatest bikes available on the market, it’s not usually they see me journey the identical check bike time and again. At first, I didn’t discover it myself, however the V5Rs turned the bike I stored reaching for, week after week. That alone says quite a bit.
Off the bat, I’ll let you know: there may be nothing flashy concerning the V5Rs. It doesn’t even have an apparent “wow” issue. There are lighter, quicker and snappier bikes on the market. However the extra I rode it, the extra I reached for it. It’s quick and enjoyable to journey, sure, nevertheless it’s bought a quiet competence to it that stored drawing me again.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The bike as reviewed:
- Make & mannequin: Colnago V5Rs
- Dimension: 455
- Colourway: UAE Emirates staff colors (SDM5)
- Drivetrain: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 (observe my bike got here with 165mm crank arms, which isn’t an choice within the on-line ordering course of)
- Wheels: Enve SES 4.5
- Cockpit: Colnago CC.01
- Saddle: Prologo Skratch M5 Tirox
- Tyres: Pirelli P Zero TLR Race SL
- Bottle cage: Colnago bottle cage x 1
- Tape: Colnago Grip Handlebar Tape
- Precise weight: 15lbs /6.8kg able to journey with 1 bottle cage
First Impressions
These wind-channeling strains, particularly the place the highest tube flows into the pinnacle tube, add a way of velocity even when standing nonetheless.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Whereas aesthetics are a matter of non-public style, I believe the V5Rs is an efficient wanting bike. The black-white-and-red colourway has been completed dozens of instances earlier than, certain, however the UAE Group Emirates version V5Rs nonetheless turns heads. In particular person, the white has a pearlescent sheen that catches the sunshine excellent. And the slimmed-down silhouette makes it look elegant but fashionable on the similar time. A detailed-up look will reveal not a single spherical tube but you wouldn’t understand it from afar. Plus, these wind-channeling strains, particularly the place the highest tube flows into the pinnacle tube, add a way of velocity even when standing nonetheless.
Match-wise, I examined a measurement 455 (I usually journey a 51cm in most manufacturers) with a 90mm stem and 39cm broad bars. The bike match me nicely with out the necessity for any changes past swapping out the saddle for one I want. If the bike have been mine for a long run, I in all probability would have eliminated one of many 5 3mm spacers however now we’re simply nitpicking! I did admire that my check bike got here with 165mm cranks, which I want nevertheless it’s not one thing that’s supplied through the shopping for course of – at the least not on-line. Right here, 170mm is the smallest choice. Likewise, the built-in cockpit with a 90mm stem and 39cm bars is as small because the choices go, even on the smallest, measurement 420 bike.
And at last, one other notable limitation when ordering your Colnago on-line is the shortage of seatpost choices. The bike comes with a 15mm setback seatpost. A zero-offset submit is on the market solely as an aftermarket buy. Contemplating the bike’s astronomical price ticket, I’d count on seatpost choices to be included as a part of the construct. However extra on the pricing later.
On the street
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The V5Rs could have one of many stiffest entrance ends of any bike I’ve ridden. That stiffness interprets into exact, predictable steering and a notably planted really feel. Whether or not you are out of the saddle climbing or sprinting, or cornering on tough tarmac, the bike would not flinch or drift. It merely holds its line and goes precisely the place you level it.
There’s suggestions too. Each good and dangerous. It’s not a harsh journey by any means, however the entrance finish doesn’t mute the street both. You’ll really feel the feel of the floor, the grip of the tyres, and, sometimes, your shoulders and decrease again will remind you to cease skipping your power exercises.
The V5Rs is stiff however not punishing. Gentle with out being twitchy. Some bikes are so reactive that should you a lot as sneeze, you’re veering off your line, however Colnago has struck a outstanding stability right here. The dealing with consists, responsive, and by no means nervous. It’s not the snappiest or most playful of bikes however I trusted it instantly. And for me, belief is all the things in the case of driving quick. It is advisable to know, instinctively, that the bike will reply the best way you count on it to, with out having to battle it or push it into place.
The V5Rs earned that belief rapidly. It put a smile on my face as I bombed down technical descents and railed by way of tight corners, assured that it could maintain its line. Assured that it could transfer based on the shifting of my physique.
Geometry performs an enormous half on this, too. The V5Rs places the rider in an aggressive, somewhat ahead, place however not uncomfortably so. The V5Rs is completely suited to lengthy back-to-back days in addition to quick, all-out efforts like a criterium (although Colnago-sponsored groups can have the choice of driving the Y1Rs for that).
The pinnacle and seat tube angles are nominally steeper than its predecessor and Colnago is utilizing size-specific fork rakes to enhance journey really feel for smaller riders. As such a rider, I’m appreciative of this. All stated, one feels engaged with the bike, not perched on it, permitting you to lean more durable, braking much less, and simply benefit from the journey.
My persistent feeling I had whereas driving this bike was that the V5Rs could be an awesome bike for an American stage race. It could be a blast in crits, an awesome companion in climbing phases and, relying on the terrain, it could even be fairly aggressive in an Eddy Merckx model time trial.
Once more, it’s not the lightest bike on the market. It additionally doesn’t have the whip-like snap another superbikes have nevertheless it’s a really succesful, very full bike, one that can serve you nicely in nearly any racing situation. It might not be a motorcycle that can WOW you when first you clip in, however it should win you over.
There isn’t any faulting the construct package both. The ENVE SES 4.5 wheels are glorious: competitively gentle, aerodynamic but secure, and with a fantastically clean journey high quality. Good sound, too. Shimano’s trusted top-tier componentry delivers among the greatest ergonomics available on the market, paired with acquainted, dependable and exact shifting and highly effective braking.
However, for the value tag, I’d have preferred to have seen the inclusion of a energy meter and, possibly, ENVE’s AR One-Piece Handlebar. Not that there’s something mistaken with Colnago’s CC.01 cockpit, quite the opposite, I fairly prefer it. However between the value tag and this being a UAE staff concern, it could have accomplished the construct.
To that finish, let’s dive into one of many greatest speaking factors of this bike: the value.
The value
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The V5Rs, as examined, comes with fairly the sticker shock or Tadej tax, as I wish to name it.
It retails, as is, for $16,500 / €15,900 / £ 13,689.59. Even in right this moment’s superbike market, that’s… quite a bit.
Specialised’s S-Works Tarmac SL8, additionally with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 construct, is available in at $12,999 / £12,000; the Canyon Aeroad CFR Di2 retails for $10,499 / £7,899.00; and the newly launched Cervélo S5, with a Shimano Di2 and an influence meter, is available in at $14,250 / £12,500.
Let’s break it down, we could:
Drivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 — $4,200
Wheels: ENVE SES 4.5 — $2,950
Cockpit: Colnago CC.01 — $965
Saddle: Prologo Scratch M5 — $219
Tyres: Pirelli P Zero TLR Race SL (x2) — $180
Tape + Bottle Cage: ~$68
That provides as much as $8,582 in elements. The frameset itself retails for $6250, and that further $1600? Colnago’s margin? The Tadej Tax? Who’s to say.
All joking apart, for the value of the entire bike, I’d count on an influence meter, the ENVE AR One-Piece Handlebar, and extra choices for crank size, bar width and seatposts. These aren’t wild requests at this stage, and for my part, prospects spending this sort of cash deserve that stage of match and personalisation.
Closing Ideas
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Let’s be trustworthy: should you’re even fascinated about shopping for a $16,500 race bike, there’s a very good probability you’re a masters racer — or at the least within the revenue bracket that features docs, attorneys, CEOs and people who can swing that type of cash on a pastime. And if that’s you? You received’t remorse it. The V5Rs is a really succesful, very full bike that can serve you nicely in nearly any racing situation.
Now, you probably have no plans to pin on a quantity, I would level you towards Colnago’s C Sequence as an alternative. One thing a contact extra relaxed with a superior journey high quality. However, with that stated: I don’t race anymore, and from the second I clipped in, I felt at residence. And I stored selecting to journey it. I very a lot loved driving the V5Rs, so why wouldn’t you?
The value is tough to disregard however should you’re in search of a contemporary all-rounder with delicate class and WorldTour pedigree—and also you’re keen to pay for it—the V5Rs received’t disappoint.
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