Once again, Colnago and Sotheby's have symbolically crossed paths. Four of the most important and rare bicycles that have shaped the history of the Lombard brand will be auctioned during Collector's Week, organized by Sotheby's in Abu Dhabi. The auction will take place online and will close this Friday, December 5th at 19:30pm GST (Gulf Standard Time, our 16:30 p.m.).
Tadej's bike at the Tour
The first of the four bikes to be auctioned is the Y1Rs Nacked Black used by Tadej Pogacar on stage 16 of this year's Tour de France. With that bike the Slovenian ace won his fourth Tour, his second World Championship, the European Championship and his fifth Lombardy title..
A unique piece of enormous historical value, the Colnago Y1Rs Stripped Black is truly a bicycle destined to attract the interest of the most demanding and passionate collectors.
Almeida's C68
The second bike up for auction is the Colnago C68 Rossa No.1 used by Joao Almeida during the official presentation of the 2025 Vuelta, held in Turin in the evocative setting of Piazzetta Reale.
Produced in a limited and numbered series of only 80 pieces, The C68 Rossa stands out for its brilliant red livery, achieved through a complex silver leaf application process, a finish that required over a year of meticulous work. Entirely made in Italy, it expresses the essence of Colnago's artisanal excellence. The Red C68 No.1 represents the final chapter of the extraordinary C68 trilogy, a rare opportunity to own the first example of a historic limited edition.
Homage to Merckx
The third bike in the lot is a restored Colnago track frame, built to the exact geometry associated with the 1972 Hour Record set by Eddy Merckx in Mexico City, with dimensions 61x57 cm, consistent with those of the bicycles prepared for the Belgian champion.
The frame features perfectly rounded Columbus SL tubing and reinforced seat stays, a testament to the engineering principles of the time: purity, stiffness and speed.
A model that made history
The latest model up for auction is the Colnago C35, a bicycle that embodies the constant pursuit of innovation and unmistakable Italian style. Designed in 1989 to celebrate the company's 35th anniversary, The C35 was born from the collaboration between two visionary minds: Ernesto Colnago and Enzo Ferrari.
Produced in Italy under the technical supervision of Ferrari, the C35 was one of the first road chassis made from carbon fibre composite, a material that at the time belonged more to aerospace and automotive engineering than to cyclingIts introduction marked a pivotal moment: a bold leap into the future at a time when carbon was not yet the standard.
This model stands out for its gold-plated Campagnolo Super Record groupset and iconic Colnago five-spoke carbon fiber wheels, details that elevate the bicycle from cutting-edge object to a true collector's masterpiece.
