Colnago has unveiled the Y1RS – a radical new aero race bike, which is claimed to be faster than anything else on the market.
The Y1RS features tube shapes that make use of the UCI’s latest 8:1 depth-to-width rule and seatpost-placement regulation.
Colnago says the result makes the Y1RS faster than the competition, potentially giving UAE Emirates team leader, Tadej Pogačar, the fastest bike in the peloton.
But Colnago also says it has made the Y1RS just as stiff as the V4RS, while claiming a weight of 7.45kg in a team build with pedals and cages.
However, there are plenty of voices calling this a rather ugly duckling. Here are the crucial details, along with my first impressions.
Performance claims: cutting through the wind
Colnago’s white paper on the Y1RS includes wind-tunnel data highlighting significant aerodynamic gains.
Notably, the Y1RS is claimed to save 20 watts at 50kph and 0º YAW compared to the V4RS. Against an unnamed competitor, this advantage narrows to 1 watt.
Colnago would not, when asked, name the bike it describes as the “best competitor”.
The data also suggests the deep tube profiles may act as sails in crosswinds. While drag increases from 0-5º YAW, it then declines through the 7.5º and 10º measurements.
Colnago told me its designers looked to take full advantage of the UCI’s revised tube shape rules. This changed in late 2022 from a depth-to-width ratio of 3:1 to 8:1, enabling brands to make tubes much deeper while retaining narrow widths.
As part of this, Colnago made the head tube deeper while reducing its width by a claimed 19 per cent, compared to the V4Rs.
The UCI’s frame-design revisions also included changes to where the seatpost could join the frame. The advantage, Colnago claims, is twofold.
Firstly, the design is said to improve verticle compliance. The theory here is a rider will find it more comfortable to ride in their aero position and therefore be able to remain tucked down for longer.
Secondly, it says angling the tube forward in this manner effectively increases the depth of that tube. This, Colnago claims, leads to “more probability for the air flow to be linear, in an area already affected by the rider's spinning legs”.
Weight
Although weight is less critical for aero road bikes, Colnago has managed to keep the team build at a competitive 7.45kg claimed weight (in a size medium, with Dura-Ace PD-R9100 pedals and bottle cages).
While the Y1RS frameset is heavier than the V4RS by 242g, according to Colnago, it's comparable to other leading aero models such as Canyon’s Aeroad CFR.
The result of this weight is the Y1RS’s versatility may extend to some mountain stages, where riders sometimes optimise their setup for more than just one final climb.
Stiffness for power transfer
Given the Y1RS’ intention to be a bike for faster days and sprint finishes, Colnago says stiffness was a priority, especially at the front end.
It claims the Y1RS offers a 3.5 per cent improvement in power transfer for out-of-the-saddle efforts compared to the V4RS.
This figure resulted from a combination of rear-triangle stiffness, bottom-bracket stiffness, fork stiffness, and vertical and lateral handlebar stiffness. Colnago said the test used a sprint of 1,500 watts, accounting for a rider weight of 75kg.
Meanwhile, Colnago claims to have maintained the same rear-end stiffness for seated climbing as the V4RS.
This test simulated a 60kg rider producing 390 watts and combined bottom bracket stiffness, fork stiffness, vertical handlebar stiffness and seatpost stiffness.
Frame shapes: something borrowed
The Y1RS represents a bold departure from Colnago’s traditionally understated designs, with its aggressive aerodynamics and cutting-edge engineering.
But, looking across the frameset, we can see examples of ideas borrowed from elsewhere.
The front end – a focal point for brands in their quest to minimise drag – is a case in point. Colnago employs a dual-pronged aerodynamic strategy, featuring a hinged head tube design reminiscent of the Cervélo S5.
Complementing this is the CC.Y1, a newly designed integrated cockpit with a distinctive split-stem configuration. Its angular, gull-winged profile is purposeful, although Colnago has not provided specific drag-reduction figures for this setup.
Descending the frame, the down tube hugs the 28mm front tyre closely, although Colnago officially claims the frame has clearance for up to 32mm tyres.
This raises the possibility of the Y1RS making an appearance in Paris-Roubaix, given we’ve seen The Hell of The North won aboard aero bikes in recent years.
The seat-tube arrangement is striking, resembling BMC’s Timemachine TT bike. However, to achieve UCI compliance, the seatpost is offset rearward from the top-tube junction, creating a distinctive, if somewhat disjointed, aesthetic.
The integrated bottle cages, reminiscent of BMC’s Teammachine, highlight Colnago’s focus on reducing the aerodynamic penalty of traditional bottles. Unlike Trek’s proprietary Madone-specific bottles, Colnago has opted to optimise airflow over standard round bottles.
This, Colnago told me, was a direct request from the UAE Emirates team.
Visual appeal: a matter of perspective
Colnago’s daring design philosophy has divided the crowd. The split-bar system, with its gull-wing aesthetics, evokes comparisons to Specialised’s Venge ViAS, a design that also polarised opinions during its time.
Similarly, the rear end, with its meandering seat tube, has drawn parallels to Bianchi’s angular Oltre RC. While these choices may alienate traditionalists, they arguably underscore Colnago’s commitment to innovation.
Ultimately, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. While some may find the Y1RS’s aggressive lines captivating, others may struggle with the unconventional frame shapes.
Is the Colnago Y1RS a new benchmark?
Despite asking very nicely, Colnago wouldn’t allow me to take the world champion’s new bike for a spin. However, having got up close and personal with it in Italy before the launch, I have some thoughts.
If Colnago’s claims hold true, the Y1RS may be the fastest Tour de France bike currently available. However, the lack of clarity about the rival bikes tested leaves me a little frustrated.
The Y1RS appears to blur the line between concept and production bike. Its aggressive geometry, featuring steeper angles and longer reach-to-stack ratios, certainly looks to accommodate lower and longer rider positions.
While some design elements, such as the gull-wing bars, don’t tickle my fancy, the Y1RS is undeniably a statement piece. To me, it signals Colnago’s intent to compete at the cutting edge of cycling while challenging conventional notions of aesthetics and performance.
What is clear is the UAE Team Emirates squad has gained a bike that's better optimised for flat and rolling stages, with potential for significant performance gains in solo breakaways.
Given we’ve seen Pogačar attack from seemingly unthinkable distances, this could result in even more stage wins for the Slovenian.
For now, the Y1RS will only be available to UAE Team Emirates riders. It may be months before we see this machine in wider circulation, let alone subjected to independent testing.
Until then, the debate over its design and performance credentials is sure to continue.
