Built to win. Three words that reveal the DNA of the Colnago V4RS. But perhaps it would be better to say they confirm. This is in fact the bike with which Tadej pogacar he ran the last one Tour de France and won the Giro di Lombardia. It was a matter of finalizing the details.
In Lido di Camaiore, on the occasion of the withdrawal of the UAE Adq, and at the same time in Spain, in the team's retreat UAE Emirates, that is, in the internships of women and men respectively, the final version of the V4RS was presented to the press.
V3RS Evolution
Before going into the technical specifications we would like to underline two important aspects which lead to the birth of this bike. One: the great involvement of athletes in the developmentA visceral collaboration between Colnago and the "two UAE”: a bike developed by riders means starting from a step forward.
Two: The bike for men and women is perfectly the same, Only the colors change. And this is a very important signal, also in terms of equal rights, especially for a team that comes from an Arab country. words from the team manager Gianetti were therefore founded and they also translate into reality through such choices.
But let's dive into the technical details of this bike. There are so many ideas. The V4RS is an evolution of the V3RS and it was not easy to improve a bike of that level. "We really had to enter the realm of the famous marginal gains," he said. Manolo Bertocchi, Colnago Marketing Consultant, during the presentation in Camaiore.
More aerodynamic
Let's start with the fork. It's perhaps the most important modification. This, first and foremost, had to meet aerodynamic needs. Its shape paradoxically appears "chubbier"—pardon the expression—but it's just an optical illusion. It weighs 375 grams, 15 grams less than the previous oneThere is more camber at the top under the head tube, but then the stems drop more vertically.
This fork is the result of extensive work in the wind tunnel. Overall, the bike's aerodynamic efficiency in the absence of wind improves by 5%.
The new design also ensures that there is a more linear brake cable entry and that can accommodate covers up to 32 millimetres. This solution effectively broadens the fields of use of the bike itself, which is suitable for everything from cobblestones to the most extreme uphill stages.
Being able to fit certain covers (and in view of the new regulations UCI which will be in force from 2024) we are going to reject the concept of the double bike: the aero one and the climb one. Now there's the all-round bike, without compromise. Of course, a lot of work goes into it to create a high-performance product. Let's remember, and Colnago is very keen, that we're talking about a pure racing bike. An elite machine, a "Ferrari," whose goal is to win.
Today, aerodynamics is the driving force behind development. Speed and research dictate this direction. And it's no coincidence that the new fork goes hand in hand with the head tube. This is no longer linear but "hourglass-shaped." This made it possible to fit larger bearings. Bearings that are now Ceramic Speed, light and super smooth with solid lubrication.
Stiffness and comfort
The Lombardy-based company provided five prototypes to its athletes. In fact Pogacar raced the Tour with a prototype. But as soon as he and his companions tried them, they didn't want to go back. A great deal of work has been done on the "lamination" of carbon. The athletes were given several different versions. And without knowing which one they had, many described the bike as the stiffest, even though Colnago's studies found it to be the second-least stiff. This is because the concept of rigidity and robustness cannot be established in the laboratory but must be done in the field, when the cyclist's position varies, as do the forces applied.
For example, during a sprint the lines of force are off-axis with respect to the bike and also pull the arms a lot. When climbing, while seated, most of the weight is placed on the rear. This is the concept of Real-Dynamic StiffnessAnd to do this, Colnago has developed special machinery, which in some ways are also prototypes. The V4RS was 5% stiffer when seated and 4% stiffer when standing.
Then there is the actual frame. With the new lamination, the V4RS has practically unchanged its weight (+3 grams: 798 grams in size 50), but to the benefit of the ride. The chainstays have maintained their 408mm length. The seat stays have been reinforced for improved responsiveness. The bottom bracket is now the T47, which is easier to find and definitely performs better.
Another advantage is the linearity of the measurements. Today Stack and reach grow more linearly, which favors those who are in between sizes. Still speaking of measurements, tubes vary in shape and cross-section depending on the size. So everything is proportionate.
New handlebars
The V4RS also has another gem: the CC.01 handlebar. It is an integrated "made in Colnago", a true monocoque handlebar and not a bundled "mount + bend" set. This is a single body. This makes it stiffer and lighter. It is available on the market in 16 sizes. The width ranges from 37 to 43 centimetres and the length of the attachment from 80 to 140 millimetres. The weight in the 41cm size with 110mm stem is 310 grams.
Another nice feature is the support for the computer. This is semi-integrated for Garmin, Suunto… while it can be fully integrated for Wahoo Bolt (which the two teams use UAE). This is a 3D-printed support developed in a wind tunnel. When we said that every "pin" was studied, this solution alone saves 0,75 watts at 50 km/h.
On the road…
But rigidity and robustness certainly cannot compromise a bike, comfort is fully part of the concept of performance. This must be comfortable to perform well after many hours, it must be easy to drive.
After the presentation we got on our bikes. It was enough to identify the saddle height to immediately have an excellent feeling. Before reaching the hills of the hinterland, we tested the stability and incredible smoothness of this Colnago on the flats. And, returning to comfort, it glided well over potholes and cracks in the road even at speeds approaching 40 mph (for this purpose, we fitted 28mm Pirelli tubeless tires).
We then climbed a 5,6 kilometer, sometimes steep, climb. And despite the steepness, what impressed us most was the smoothness. The V4RS always flew along, its forward motion being pleasantly disconcerting.
And downhill? The feeling was one of great stability. The bike is "light" and precise, especially on wide bends. On tighter turns, it seemed like it took us a little longer to fully understand it. But it's also true that perhaps it was just our gut feeling and that for logistical reasons, we couldn't adjust the handlebars to our usual height. Furthermore, the asphalt was damp, and we clearly didn't push beyond our limits.
