Disc brakes, tubeless tyres and an aero cockpit for UAE Team Emirates' Slovenian leader
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Tadej Pogacar's lightweight, aerodynamic race bike for UAE Team Emirates(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
He's riding the Colnago V3Rs(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
Complete with a Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
His Super Record chainset is fitted with 53/39 chainrings(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
Which is paired with a 12-speed cassette (Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
He is using disc brakes(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
Courtesy of Campagnolo's flat-mount calipers(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
His choice of wheels for stage 10 was Campagnolo's Bora WTO 60, wrapped in tubeless tyres(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
Stages shoulder the responsibility of measuring Pogačar's power(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
This data is then sent to the same brand's Dash computer(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
The V3Rs comes fitted with Deda's Alanera integrated bar-stem combo. We estimate it to be 42cm wide and 140mm long(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
Here's what was on the menu for stage 10(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
He is using Prologo's Scratch M5 saddle(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
He's using Look Keo Blade Carbon Ceramic pedals(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
Although he's been spotted using the latest Tour de France limited edition version of the same pedals(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
Elite provides bottle cages, with its 20g Vico Carbon cages(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
Pogacar's race number is held in place with a 3D-printed number holder(Image credit: John Wakefield / UAE Team Emirates)
Despite losing 1:21 in the crosswinds of Stage 7, Tadej Pogačar has looked the strongest GC contender in this year's Tour de France so far. On stage 8 he put in a decisive acceleration - and subsequently a record-breaking ascent of the Col de Peyresourde - to take back 40 seconds on his closest rivals. He then went on to win stage 9 ahead of Roglič - breaking Marc Hirschi's heart in the process - to further close the gap.
As we head back east towards the Alps, Pogačar sits just 7th at 44 seconds behind leader Primož Roglič, and save for any more crosswind mishaps in the lead-up, should light up stages 16 to 19 - four consecutive mountain stages punctuated by the second rest day - as he looks to further close the gap to his friend, rival, and fellow countryman.
Riding for UAE Team Emirates, Pogačar has a wide choice of technology at his disposal. Sponsored by Colnago, he has the Concept aero bike, the lightweight C64, or the combined lightweight-aero V3Rs in his stable. On each of which, he will run Campagnolo Super Record EPS, but can choose from rim or disc brake groupsets, and for his Campagnolo wheels, he has a choice of tubular or tubeless tyres.
The 21-year-old Slovenian has been riding Colnago's V3Rs, taking full advantage of the bike industry's latest aero-combined-with-lightweight trend.
He's specced it with disc brakes, and for the most part, tubeless technology courtesy of Vittoria Corsa Speed Graphene 2.0 TLR tyres, although for the mountain days he's been switching back to tubular tyres.
Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, we were unable to measure or weigh Pogačar's bike, but it's a fair assumption that it safely meets the UCI legal limit of 6.8kg with tubulars fitted, and a few hundred grams more with the tubeless wheel-tyre combination. Aerodynamics are clearly an important factor for Pogačar, especially for the flatter days; seen here ahead of Stage 10, the bike is fitted with 60mm deep Campagnolo Bora WTO wheels. As mentioned, tyres come via Vittoria's tubeless Corsa Speed tyres, however, mechanics are yet to share their preferred choice of sealant.
The task of calculating Pogačar's power numbers falls squarely on the shoulders of Stages, who supply the team with both a power meter and their range of Dash cycling computers.
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Pogačar's bike is fitted with a Prologo Scratch M5 saddle, which sits atop a proprietary Colnago seatpost. Pedals come courtesy of Look, who have provided their best road bike pedals, the KEO Blade Carbon with ceramic bearings. Bottle cages are the Vico Carbon from Elite, which weigh in at 20 grams.
Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton. He has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews.
On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.
