Pogačar's Tour de France Time Trial Bike: A $21,500 Beast

Tadej Pogačar, on his way to potentially winning his third Tour de France, is riding a high-tech, custom-built Colnago TT1 time trial bike. This isn't just any time trial bike though; it's a machine built for speed, featuring top-of-the-line components, custom parts, and a price tag that would make most cyclists gasp.

Colnago TT1: The Foundation of Speed

The Colnago TT1 is the Italian brand's first disc brake time trial bike, and it's designed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency. Its unique features include:

Bayonet fork: Hinged to the frame, offering a narrow front profile and high torsional rigidity.

Low head tube: For improved aerodynamics, with aero bar extensions mounted high.

Integrated water bottle: Seamlessly integrated into the seat stays, maintaining a sleek profile.

3D-printed bottle cage: Blends seamlessly with the seat stays, enhancing aerodynamics.

The TT1 frameset alone costs €6,200, which translates to roughly $6,782.

Wheels: A Blend of Enve and Aerocoach Expertise

Pogačar's TT1 is equipped with a front wheel that, while unbranded, resembles a deep Enve wheel. Experts estimate its cost at $1,200 to $1,500. The rear wheel comes from Aerocoach, their Aeox Ultra Orbit disc wheel, which they claim is the fastest they've tested, with potential for up to 5.8-watt savings over competitors. This wheel carries a price tag of £1,916.67, or $2,493.10.

Saddle: A Custom Creation from Prologo

Pogačar rides a yet-to-be-released Prologo saddle called the Predator, featuring massive carbon wings and tailored to the rider's specific needs. While the official price is still under wraps, the saddle is listed on Prologo's website for £1,019, which converts to $1,094.78. This price reflects the custom design, featherweight construction, and expected comfort of this specialized saddle.

Drivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace with a Touch of Customization

While Pogačar uses a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain, UAE Team Emirates has opted for a non-standard setup, replacing some components with aftermarket options.

Sprint shifters: Added to the brake levers, allowing for customized shift logic.

Framesandgear direct mount derailleur hanger: Said to enhance shifting performance, costing €50.

SRM Origin crankset: Potentially chosen for improved power meter accuracy, offering better strength-to-weight ratio than other road cranksets.

Carbon-Ti chainrings: The team's favored choice, with a 1x drivetrain and a massive X-Aeroring chainring, costing €300.

Carbon-Ti brake rotors: Ultra-lightweight and expensive, costing €220 per rotor.

AbsoluteBlack Graphenpads brake pads: Offering distinctive cooling fins, these pads cost €39.90 per brake caliper, totaling €79.80 for both calipers.

The total cost of the drivetrain components, including the Dura-Ace groupset and aftermarket parts, is estimated at $9,621.18.

Aero Bars: Custom-Made for a Champion

The TT1 features unbranded time trial bar extensions, potentially custom-designed. These extensions include additional shift buttons beneath the brake lever blades, further tailoring the rider's control over the bike. The exact cost of these custom bars is unknown, but other custom options from Aerocoach can cost upwards of £2,625.

The Grand Total: A Bike Worth More Than a Car

When all components are accounted for, Pogačar's Tour de France TT1 bike comes to a total of $21,556.09. This price tag surpasses the cost of a used Toyota Camry, placing it in the same price range as a new Toyota Corolla or even a Nissan Versa, making it a truly impressive, but expensive, piece of cycling machinery.

While the Colnago TT1 may not offer the practicality or affordability of a car, it undoubtedly contributes to Pogačar's pursuit of Tour de France glory, solidifying its place as a high-performance bike designed for speed and victory.