Tadej Pogačar is racing the 2026 Vuelta a España, and it is the story of the whole race. UAE Team Emirates has confirmed the five time Tour de France winner for the Gran Partida in Monaco on 22 August, his first Vuelta since 2019. The reason is simple. The Vuelta is the one Grand Tour he has never won, and a red jersey in Granada on 13 September would complete the set. You can see the bikes behind his team in our pre-owned Colnago collection.
Why this Vuelta matters
Pogačar already holds the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia. Win the Vuelta and he becomes only the ninth rider in history to take all three, joining a very short list. He last rode the race in 2019 as a 20 year old, finishing third with three stage wins and the young rider classification. Seven years on he returns as the clear favourite.
The bike under the bid
Pogačar rides Colnago, and the 2026 route shapes which frame comes out. This Vuelta stacks up more than 58,000 metres of climbing across seven summit finishes, which plays to Colnago's lightweight V5Rs. On flatter and rolling days the team leans on the aero Y1Rs. It is the same two bike logic most of the peloton now follows, a light climbing frame for the steep days and an aero all-rounder for everything else.
If you want the detail, our guide to what bike Pogačar rides breaks down the V5Rs and Y1Rs side by side.
Getting on a Colnago without the race budget
A new Colnago at this level runs into five figures. The pre-owned market is where the same frames become reachable. A Pre-owned V4Rs or V5Rs can put you on the platform Pogačar races, in your size, for a fraction of retail.
- Climbing frame: Colnago V5Rs, built for days like the Vuelta's summit finishes
- Aero all-rounder: Colnago Y1Rs, for flat and rolling stages
- Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
- Wheels: ENVE
If you are buying used, check the usual points: clean bonded areas, straight dropouts, and a sensible service history on the groupset and bearings. Our mechanics run those checks before a bike is listed, and every bike ships worldwide with a one-year Bikeroom warranty and Bikeroom Rider Protection, so you can buy in full safety. Prefer the real thing? Our team bikes come directly from World Tour teams, with their race history intact.
How to watch it
Follow Pogačar on the first summit finish and again on the queen stage through the Sierra Nevada, where the race is likely won or lost. If his climbing looks like the riding you want to do, start with our Colnago bikes or browse the wider road range to compare climbing frames across brands.
Want help finding a climbing bike in your size and budget? We are happy to help. Talk to our concierge.
Sources: Cycling Weekly, Olympics.com, BikeRadar.
