The 2026 Tour de France kicks off with an unusual take on the team time trial, in which times are taken individually for each rider. The yellow jersey is on the line for the fastest rider over the 19.6km course, and that means riders are here in Barcelona with their time trial bikes optimised to the Nth degree.
We’ve already seen that Remco Evenepoel has a brand new Specialized Shiv TT time trial bike, and no time trial is complete without a mention of his name in the running, but what of the two hot favourites for the GC by the time we get to Paris in three weeks, Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard?
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The bikes themselves
Pogačar is riding the new Colnago TT2 (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
Vingegaard is riding a raw, unpainted Cervélo P5 (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
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Handlebars
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Pogačar’s extensions are raised up, and at an angle, they are almost certainly totally custom for him. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
There’s foam pading on the arm rests and further up near the hand holds too.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
Grip tape on the base bar, plus two pairs of di2 shifters per side. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The Wahoo Bolt computer gets tucked inbetween the extensions neatly.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
Di2 shifters tucked neatly inside the hand holds at the end of the bars.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
We watched a mechanic use a glue gun to attach this extra shifter.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
Here’s the overall setup; it’s pretty mean looking.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
What to read next
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Vingegaard’s extensions are branded Vision, and are also likely completely custom for him. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
517 grams; this is very interesting. A way for the team to easily track weight maybe? (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
SRAM blip shifters on the underside of the bar ends. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The extensions are attached to the base bar with a single vertical pillar. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The ‘stem’ here is really sculpted and angular. Spot the white paint marker on the base bar ‘stem’.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
It looked striking in the flesh. Angular and purposeful. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
What struck us was just how low the base bars are, it felt extreme holding it, and you would need to be completely confident with a bike like this. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
An older Garmin Edge 540 computer tucked neatly in between the extensions. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
There it is, a very neat and slick setup. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )Drivetrain and gearing
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Vingegaard has a 64-tooth SRAM 1x aero chainring. 160mm cranks for the Danish star too.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The lowest gear won’t be too small with that 64-ring and this 10-36 cassette.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
He had a fully waxed drivetrain and a SRAM Red chain too.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
And a Wolf Tooth chain catcher, as officially reccomended by SRAM.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
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Here’s Pogačar’s setup, Dura-Ace cranks and a 1x chainring. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The team were also running a K-Edge UAE custom chain catcher. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
11-30tooth cassette for Pogačar here. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The bike had been fitted with gold Carbon-Ti aftermarket parts like the hanger and pulley wheel bolts. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
160mm cranks for Pogačar.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
As well as a 64-tooth chainring too. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
This is the aero Bikone bottom bracket with a totally smooth threaded cup. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
Wheels and tyres
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Vingegaard was running 30mm Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed tyres.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The tyres were set up tubeless, but were a good bit larger than Pogačar’s.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
Here’s the tubeless valve inside the disc wheel, which bore a date of 05.2026. Perhaps the sealant setup or manufacture date.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
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Pogačar was running Continental GP5000 TT tyres, the brand’s fastest.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
Here’s the tubeless valve, both Enve wheels also had ‘TP’ marked on them by hand. Perhaps some extra work had gone into them. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
25mm tyres front and back were fitted. The team must have decided they are the fastest option. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )Saddles, seatposts and extras
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A Prologo TGale TT saddle for Vingegaard.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
Note what appears to be an added aero cover at the back of the seatpost clamp. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The saddle was set pretty far back on the seatpost, and there’s a lot of adjustability. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The post sits very flush against the frame. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
Vingegaard’s name was on the rear of the seatstay junction. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The P5 uses a bayonet style fork, which the Colnago TT2 has now eschewed in favour of user-friendliness. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
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It’s a Fizik Aeris 1.0 TT saddle for Pogačar.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
This was the defending Tour champion’s main TT bike. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The TT2’s seatstays are far more regular looking than the extreme shape of the TT1.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
UCI rider height categories dictate handlebar setup; both Pogačar and Vingegaard are in category one. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The TT2 still has a very compact headtube. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )