🚴 For the affluent cycling enthusiast or dedicated sports memorabilia collector, a rare opportunity has arrived to acquire a genuine piece of cycling history. Sotheby’s has officially opened bidding on a bicycle ridden by two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar, specifically the Colnago Y1Rs Raw Carbon that carried him through the crucial final stages of his dominant victory.
Dubbed a “Tour de France-winning” bike, the machine is not just a high-end bicycle; it’s a testament to Pogačar’s tactical genius and enduring power on the road. With an estimated value that could easily touch the $70,000 mark, this auction offers a unique chance to own a vehicle intrinsically linked to one of the most celebrated achievements in modern cycling. The sheer price tag alone makes it clear this is for the most well-off fans looking for more than just a souvenir—they are looking for an artifact.
🖤 The Raw Carbon Racer: Specifications of a Champion
The bicycle up for sale is the specific Colnago Y1Rs model Pogačar employed from Stage 16 onwards, beginning with the challenging climb up Mont Ventoux and culminating on Stage 20. This means the bike was under the Slovenian’s control during the decisive mountain stages that cemented his lead in the General Classification.
The machine’s aesthetic perfectly matches its pedigree. It is finished entirely in a striking all-black raw carbon look, a visual statement of pure performance and weight-saving. Subtle, yet significant, touches of the rainbow jersey accents—denoting the current World Champion’s status—adorn the frame, marking it immediately as a ride of cycling royalty.
Beyond the frame, the bicycle is kitted out with the exact, top-of-the-line components used by Pogačar during the race. This includes high-performance equipment from industry leaders such as Enve (likely for the wheels and cockpit), Fizik (for the saddle), and Shimano (for the groupset, typically the top-tier Dura-Ace). The buyer is receiving a machine built to the precise, exacting standards of a Grand Tour winner.
⏱️ The Mountain Time Trial Masterpiece
The specific Colnago Y1Rs being auctioned also has a lesser-known but equally impressive sibling that Pogačar piloted earlier in the race. Just days before switching to the final stage bike, Pogačar utilized a heavily modified version of the Colnago Y1Rs to claim victory in the Stage 13 Peyragudes mountain time trial.
This time trial variant was a masterclass in weight reduction and aerodynamic efficiency. It featured no paint whatsoever, meticulously stripped down to save every possible gram. The result was a startlingly light machine, tipping the scales at just 6.9kg—right on the UCI’s minimum weight limit for competitive bicycles. This earlier victory cemented Pogačar’s place in the yellow jersey and showcased his team’s willingness to deploy cutting-edge, customized equipment for key stages.
The decision to auction the bike from the final stages offers the buyer the ultimate connection to the moment of victory. As the bicycle now trades the tarmac of the French mountains for the velvet ropes of a global auction house, it transitions from a tool of elite performance into an irreplaceable icon of sporting history. Interested collectors must now compete to secure this unique and highly valuable piece of the Pogačar legend.