Isaac del Toro’s Colnago V5Rs became a talking point after Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour de France. The Mexican won in Barcelona on Colnago’s lightweight race bike, while Tadej Pogačar finished just behind on the aero-focused Y1Rs.
The difference stood out because UAE Team Emirates-XRG had started the day aligned on the Y1Rs. That bike remains the preferred choice for most of the squad, including Pogačar.
Colnago claims the Y1Rs offers around four percent energy savings. Its wind-tunnel figures put it 16 watts faster at 50km/h, a realistic speed in elite road racing.
Del Toro’s winning bike choice therefore looked unusual at first glance. The explanation appears more practical than tactical.
Colnago V5Rs chosen after a mechanical
Del Toro began Stage 2 on the Y1Rs, like the rest of UAE Team Emirates-XRG. A mechanical with 60km remaining forced him to change bikes.
At that point, he moved onto the Colnago V5Rs. A source within the team said del Toro likes the model and uses it often in training.
He swaps between the V5Rs and the Y1Rs, rather than riding only one platform. The same source indicated he would return to the Y1Rs on later stages, as seen during Stage 3.
The timing of the bike change also mattered. Stage 2 included around 2,500 metres of climbing, with much of that elevation packed into the second half.
The finish featured three laps of a circuit containing the steep Montjuïc climb. That terrain gave the lightweight bike a clearer case than on a flatter route.
Weight and handling may have shaped the call
Aerodynamics usually beats low weight in most racing situations. However, the V5Rs likely sits close to the UCI’s 6.8kg minimum weight limit.
Before the 2026 Grand Départ, Pogačar’s Y1Rs weighed 7.25kg. Del Toro’s Y1Rs was painted, so it would weigh even more than Pogačar’s bike.
For a rider and directeur sportif facing a punchy finale, that difference could matter. A lighter spare bike made sense with Montjuïc still to come.
The V5Rs also offers different ride characteristics from the Y1Rs. Colnago positions it as an all-rounder for elevation-heavy stages and mountain stages.
The brand also says the V5Rs suits steep climbs and explosive sprints. Those qualities matched the demands of the Barcelona finishing circuit.
Colnago claims the bike provides greater agility and control on technical climbs and descents. It also says the V5Rs generally offers more comfort.
Fit options add another reason for Del Toro’s preference
Geometry may also help explain why del Toro feels comfortable on the V5Rs. The model comes in seven frame sizes, compared with five for the Y1Rs.
On a medium frame, the V5Rs has a 72.3-degree head tube angle. The comparable Y1Rs has a 73-degree angle.
The V5Rs also has a longer front-centre measurement. That could improve stability on fast descents, another feature of the Stage 2 route.
Component choice offers another distinction. UAE Team Emirates-XRG usually pairs the V5Rs with an ENVE SES Aero Pro cockpit.
However, the V5Rs can accept other cockpit options if needed. The Y1Rs instead uses Colnago’s proprietary cockpit design.
That Y-shaped cockpit has distinctive tops, which angle the hands and arms outward. For riders who climb on the tops, that position may feel less natural.
It may also be less aerodynamic than a tucked hand position. The V5Rs uses a more conventional one-piece cockpit shape by comparison.
UAE riders can switch between Colnago race bikes
UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders have access to both Colnago road platforms. That means the V5Rs and Y1Rs can appear across different stages and riders.
Pogačar has already moved between the two bikes in competition. He did so when winning the 2025 Critérium du Dauphiné, now renamed the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Del Toro is expected to return to the Y1Rs for some upcoming stages. His Barcelona win nevertheless gave Colnago a notable showcase.
The first road stage of the 2026 Tour ended with a Colnago one-two. It also placed the brand’s two top UAE riders on different bikes.
That outcome highlighted more of Colnago’s road range than usual. The Y1Rs aero bike and TT2 time trial bike often draw most attention through Pogačar’s success.