Exclusive first test of the new Colnago V5Rs

Colnago V5Rs: First ride with Pogacar's (secret) weapon

It's now official: the Colnago V5R exists. And we had the rare chance to tester this bike… the day after its release, thanks to John Saccomandi and Marc Rebello, co-directors of the Rayon Vélo store in Domont (95). Here is a preview of the very latest evolution of the bike that today embodies the modern legend of Tadej Pogačar. This bike is not simply a novelty: it is a symbol. That of an uncompromising ambition, fueled by years of Italian domination and precision. A short test — less than 100 kilometers — but devilishly revealing, on the routethe rolling hills of Val-d'Oise. Enough to guess what this V5Rs has in its belly... and why it is already an object of desire.

By Jeff Tatard – Photos: 3bikes / Domont Bicycle Department

An heir with clear ambitions

The V4Rs marked a turning point in Colnago's recent historyIt was the bike that marked the transition to a more cutting-edge modernity, more focused on pure performance, without sacrificing the brand's historic DNA. A bike that accompanied Pogacar in his triumphs and struggles—sometimes to the limit.

And for us, it's not just a name in a technical sheet: it's been our daily bike since NovemberWe know it by heart. It's on it that we rack up the miles, that we experience every acceleration, every descent, every climb. Needless to say, the sensations are still very fresh - which makes the comparison with the V5Rs all the more relevant, precise, and direct.

Because the V5Rs fully assumes its lineage... while taking a new stepColnago didn't just fine-tune its design. The Italian brand, with the support of its in-house engineers and feedback from UAE Team Emirates, set itself a challenge as simple as it was ambitious: to design a bike that was even faster, lighter, and more comfortable, without ever compromising stiffness or balance.

The specifications are clear: create a do-it-all machine for a rider who can do it all.The V5Rs must be able to climb passes, cut through kerbs, take on cobblestones, and respond instantly to the demands of a rider capable of attacking 90 km from the finish. A total bike.

First contact – An immediate sensation

From the first pedal strokes, one thing strikes you: the visual and physical compactness of the bikeThe front triangle appears more compact, more taut, like a wild animal in attack position. The fork, more slender, gives the impression of stretching the machine forward, while the seatpost—now more integrated—reinforces this impression of a homogeneous unit, cut out for going fast. The whole thing exudes efficiency, intention. And above all, agility.

And what agility. When picking up speed, changing pace, or exiting corners, the V5Rs reacts as if it were anticipating your movements. No latency, no inertia: it jumps. It almost feels like it's half a second ahead of you. The bike "lives" beneath the rider, constantly under tension, like a rope ready to snap. At first, it's a little disconcerting—you wonder who's calling the shots. And then you get used to it. Worse: you get addicted. This nervousness becomes a mild drug. Once you've tasted this kind of reactivity, it's hard to go back..

When picking up speed, changing pace or exiting corners, the V5Rs reacts as if it were anticipating your movements.

But the real surprise, the one we didn't necessarily expect at this level of raw performance, is the comfort. Where the V4Rs could sometimes remind us, with a certain panache, that they were a thoroughbred designed for racing - understand: a little stiff over long distances or routes dented — the V5Rs make clear progress. The seatstays, thinner and higher, act like small invisible springs, absorbing a good part of the vibrations. The frame filters imperfections with an almost aristocratic elegance, without ever sinking into softness. We sometimes have the strange sensation of riding on a cushion… stretched to 8 measures.

It is this rare combination—feline liveliness and assured comfort—that gives the V5Rs this impression of accuracy.. As if every part, every line, every engineering choice had been made with the right attention to detail, without too much or too little. A machine that, without ever holding back the cyclist, seems to constantly whisper to him: " Go ahead, I'm already ready ».

The subtle balance between lightness and control

You can feel it from the first hours in the saddle: this V5Rs was designed for performance, of course - it's a modern Colnago, after all - but also, and this is rarer, for endurance. He doesn't seek to shine only over 10 kilometers at full speed, like a runner in too much of a hurry to show off his watts. No, he aims further. He wants to seduce you on 100, on 200, on a ride that starts at dawn and ends well after the post-ride coffee. In mytagas on the flat, he keeps this calm but firm will: to move forward, again, and well.

The geometry, slightly revised, clearly contributes to this ambitionThe position is more natural, less restrictive for the back and shoulders, without ever becoming lazy. You're well positioned, settled, efficient. And above all, the bike is forgiving. A slight shift in positioning? A slightly rough grip on the handlebars? It takes it. But make no mistake: it remains lively, ready to respond to the slightest impulse. This tolerance is not a weakness, it's a form of mechanical intelligence. The bike knows that the cyclist's body is not always perfect—especially after 100 km.

This tolerance isn't a weakness; it's a form of mechanical intelligence. The bike knows that the cyclist's body isn't always perfect—especially after 100 miles.

The behavior on descents also deserves a chapter. Precise, stable, reassuring — three words that we don't always associate with such responsive machines. The V5Rs holds its line with assurance, as if tracing an invisible rail. Even in tight turns, even at high speed, it doesn't float, doesn't escape. It stays there, faithful to its course, as if reading the route a split second before you.

Here again, Colnago seems to have found a subtle balance between aerodynamics and handling. And that's no small feat: many highly profiled bikes sacrifice steering precision.tage on the altar of pure speed. Not here. Here, the aerodynamics serve the pilot, not the other way around..

What we know (and what we guess)

Even if Colnago is still playing the mystery card on certain technical aspects - an old Italian habit, between elegance and marketing strategy - several data can already be confirmed, or at least reasonably anticipated:

• Frame weight: announced around 700 grams in size mediumYes, you read that right. Almost 100 grams lighter than the V4Rs, without it seeming to affect the overall suspension. A figure that places the V5Rs in the very closed circle of sharp climbers, without falling into the fragile ultralight category. It seems that Colnago has found a way to make you lose weight without losing muscle..
• Tire clearance: here too, the trend is confirmedThe V5Rs would be compatible with sections up to 32 mm — perhaps a bit more if you're a gamer. This opens up some very interesting possibilities: more comfort, more grip, more versatility. The bike then becomes as credible on the cobblestones of Flanders as on the hairpin bends of an Alpine pass..
• Aerodynamics: the lines have been clearly reworkedRaised seatstays, redesigned down tube, more advanced integrations... but without going overboard. No proprietary cockpit here, and that's probably good news. Colnago prioritizes modularity, ease of adjustment, and compatibility. A smart, pragmatic choice that shows that efficiency can be achieved without locking the user into a locked-down ecosystem.
• Positioning in the range: the V5Rs asserts itself as the thoroughbred of the montagnes, designed for long climbs, rugged profiles, elegant adventurers. It logically complements the Y1R , the other new product from the house, more streamlined, designed for flat stages and high speeds. Two bikes, two temperaments, but the same vision: to ride fast, with style.

A sober, but racy aesthetic

Visually, the V5Rs doesn't try to impress.. It doesn't blink, doesn't seek attention at all costs. It plays a more subtle score: that of racial sobriety. Taut lines, sharp proportions, refined colors — here, elegance comes through restraintA deliberate choice, which will appeal to those who like bikes that don't shout about their performance, but leave you guessing.

Some, more attached to a marked "racing" aesthetic, may regret the absence of more expressive details or more daring liveries. But this stripping down is deceptive. Because beneath this sober appearance hides real care taken with the finishes: fine, precise paint, without extras; clean, almost invisible junctions; perfectly mastered integration, without frills but without approximation either. Everything is in its place, measured to the millimeter, thought out.

You can tell that at Colnago, attention to detail has not been sacrificed on the altar of raw performance.Quite the opposite: here, performance is also expressed by the quality of the execution. A bit like a Swiss watch that doesn't need to be opened to prove its precision.

A Verdict 3bikes necessarily provisional... but already decided

It's difficult to make a definitive judgment after only 100 kilometers. That would be pretentious... or naive. But This short essay is enough to bring out some solid certainties. : the V5Rs is not a simple cosmetic evolution of the V4Rs. It is an ambitious, methodical overhaul, designed to meet the demands of the most complete rider in the current peloton... and, more broadly, those of all those who no longer want to choose between efficiency, comfort and riding pleasure.tage.

Livelier, lighter, more tolerant, the Colnago V5R assumes a more mature modernity. Less demonstrative, but more coherent, more profound. He does not seek to shine in a single register, but to excel everywhere. He accompanies the effort, he sublimates it — without ever crushing it. And this is perhaps its greatest strength: being a bike with character, without ever becoming a difficult bike..

A complete bike, yes. But above all, a fair bike.

To conclude,

The Colnago V5Rs is a racing bike. A bike designed to go fast, to last, and to make you want to attack. It doesn't try to please everyone - and that's precisely what makes it so appealing. It traces its route, striving towards excellence, with a form of almost disturbing evidence.

This first express test is only a beginning, a preview. But it's enough to create one certainty: the V5Rs isn't just another bike. It's a machine with character, built for those who want to go far, fast, and in style. And if it's alongside the greatest—like Pogacar—it's perhaps because it never cheats. It doesn't promise anything it can't keep.

A huge thank you to John Saccomandi and Marc Rebello, co-directors of the Rayon Vélo store in Domont (95), official Colnago dealers, for their welcome, their availability and their infectious passion. Thanks to them, this test could be achieved in ideal conditions, and it is also thanks to their expertise that this type of exceptional bike can today be discovered, explained, and bytaged.

This exceptional bike doesn't just mark our test ride: it also served as the christening for Marc's future bike, which he will be the proud owner of starting this evening. At Rayon Vélo, we don't just sell a frame: we extend the history of a legendary brand. And we give everyone the chance to write a page in its history.

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