Race bikes head-to-head: Pogačar’s Colnago Y1RS vs Vingegaard’s Cervélo S5 – Which setup will prove fastest?

Pogačar is riding the Colnago Y1RS (Image credit: Josh Croxton)

Vingegaard is riding a Cervélo S5 (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)

First, the machines themselves.

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Vingegaard’s S5 uses the one-piece HB19 Cervélo bar/stem combo. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )The bar uses the brand’s ‘plus four’ philosophy, meaning the bar is four cm narrower at the hoods than the drops. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )The stem bolt hole was covered with this neat sticker (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )Vingegaard runs a pretty low front end.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )There’s just one 5mm spacer under his stem; note the bayonet-style front fork, one of the things that makes the S5 so fast. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )

We were allowed a good look at both riders’ number two race bikes, something that never fails to surprise and impress mere days out from the start of the world’s biggest race. We did leave the mini shadow bike stands at home this time, and used a proper folding bike stand. The shadow stand is a great tool, but we wanted to minimise the risk of one of these bikes toppling over if we could; it wouldn’t have been a good look.

Bar-wise, Vingegaard’s S5 has the accompanying HB19 integrated bar and stem from Cervélo with a single 5mm spacer underneath. It’s an aggressive and low front end, and after looking at so many bikes, where possible a low front end seems to be a priority for the team for an aero gain.

We didn’t have time to get the tape measure out here for full measurements, but Vingegaard’s bar looked reasonably narrow; Cervélo offers it in 36/40 and 38/42cm versions, and it will almost certainly be one of these two. As long as overall handlebar width is 40cm (measured outside to outside) and the inner distance between brake hoods is 28 cm, bars are deemed UCI legal.

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Vingegaard has a photo of his family attached to the bars of his number one race bike, as we saw this at the TTT start.

Pogačar’s bike features the Colnago CC.Y1 integrated bar and stem, with its distinctive forward sweep. Pogačar’s bar had a 145mm ‘stem’ and was in the 377-400 size, which complies with the UCI rules. The bar has a reach of 79 and a drop of 130. Pogačar also had an aero Wahoo computer mount and the famous Hulk sticker on the top of the bars.

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Vingegaard’s bike was set up with SRAM Red 1x(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )A 52-tooth chainring for this bike; chainring swaps will depend on the course and terrain. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )A Wolf Tooth chain keeper was fitted; spot the electrical tape, I assume to smooth things that little bit more. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )165mm cranks for Vingegaard: SRAM uses a colour coding system to denote crank arm length.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )

Each rider and their teams use a different groupset, with Pogačar on Shimano Dura-Ace and Vingegaard on SRAM Red.

Vingegaard’s bike was running SRAM Red 1x, and he’s been on board with 1x drivetrains for quite some time now. His bike had 165mm cranks with a 52-tooth chainring with a 10-34 or 36 cassette, complete with a waxed chain.

Pogačar uses a 2x Dura-Ace setup with a range of aftermarket drivetrain parts. He runs 165mm cranks too, but this bike had 40-55 tooth Carbon-Ti chainrings, and thru axles, pulley wheel bolts, and a direct-mount rear mech hanger all from the same brand.

He had a Dura-Ace cassette with an 11-34 tooth sprocket sizing, and a chain that looked like it had a drip wax lube applied.

His bike was also fitted with a Beone bottom bracket – a Spanish manufacturer.

Pedal-wise, Vingegaard uses the Wahoo / Speedplay aero pedals that have dimples on one side. His team buys these pedals themselves as they have an existing sponsorship agreement with rival Garmin for computers.

Pogačar uses Dura-Ace SPD-SL pedals with yellow cleats for a few degrees of ‘float’.

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Vingegaard was running Vittoria Corsa Pro speed TT tyres.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )‘690’ on the rear DT Swiss hub, an internal team note.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )Name sticker on the wheels; this must help keep track of individual riders’ wheels, unless Vingegaard likes a specific spoke tension etc. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )This makes things clear. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )

When it comes to wheels and tyres, there are some interesting differences to be observed.

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Vingegaard had a 140mm width saddle fitted.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )The inline aero post is striking. Vingegaard is reported to be around 176cm in height, so he likely sizes down to the 51cm frame. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )Spot the tape covering the seatpost bolt clamp hole. (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )The size sticker hides behind the seat tube bottle cage.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )The narrow, aero front end is one of the S5’s assets.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )

When it comes to saddles, Vingegaard had a 140mm Prologo Choice fitted, a sleek-looking saddle with a cutout that the brand says is aerodynamically optimised; check out those side ‘vents’ in the images.

It weighs a claimed 152 grams, and the rails can be separated from the carbon shell, allowing for replacement parts to be swapped in the event of a crash.

In terms of details, we were particularly impressed with the neatness with which the Visma mechanics had taped over various bolt holes to smooth airflow; everything looked tidy.

Pogačar uses a 3D printed Fizik Argo saddle without a cutout, and with carbon rails. The saddle is available in 140 and 150mm widths, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a custom saddle for Pogačar himself. It’s a little heavier than Vingegaard’s, with a claimed weight of 196 grams, or 190 grams for the equivalent 140mm version.

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Pogačar chooses a 3d printed Fizik Argo saddle; this one looks a little different from what you can buy off the shelf.(Image credit: Josh Croxton)That includes the rainbow stripe. (Image credit: Josh Croxton)Carbon rails to drop a little more weight.(Image credit: Josh Croxton)This is an ‘aero’ bottom bracket from Spanish brand Bikeone.(Image credit: Josh Croxton)Carbon-Ti thru-axle on the non-drive side. (Image credit: Josh Croxton)Here’s that sharp-looking head tube, a little taller than Vingegaard’s S5.(Image credit: Josh Croxton)Another sticker covering the seat post clamp bolt.(Image credit: Josh Croxton)Here’s the angular seatstay to the tube junction. (Image credit: Josh Croxton)