News: To mark the finale of the 2026 Tour de France, Colnago is presenting eight individually painted Y1Rs for the riders of UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Seven of the bikes are painted yellow, and one is finished in white. These unique models not only evoke the classification jerseys of the Tour de France but also celebrate the collective achievement of the entire team.
On the morning of the final stage of the 2026 Tour de France, Colnago unveiled an extraordinary collection in Paris. The Italian manufacturer created a custom-designed Y1Rs for each of the eight riders who competed for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
Seven of the racing bikes were painted yellow – the color of the overall leader and arguably the most famous jersey in cycling. The eighth bike is white, signifying the young rider classification. The unveiling took place just a few hours before the Tour de France finale on the Champs-Élysées.
Eight Colnago Y1Rs as hand-painted individual pieces
These special edition models are not part of a limited sales series. Each of the eight Y1Rs was designed and hand-painted as a personal, one-of-a-kind piece for a rider of UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
Despite the shared design language, each bicycle features individual details. These include, among other things, the national flag of the respective rider. At the same time, the bikes incorporate various elements that evoke the course of the 2026 Tour de France and the team's performance.
The most striking feature is the complete elevation profile of the Tour de France. It runs along the seat stays, tracing the route from Barcelona to Paris. This makes the entire Tour journey visible on the frame – from the opening kilometers in Spain to the traditional finale in the French capital. The top tube also displays the names of all the UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders who contributed to the race.
Tour route and rider names on the frame
The design of the eight wheels is not intended solely to highlight the achievements of individual riders. Rather, the focus is on the team as a whole.
Especially in a three-week stage race, a captain's success is closely linked to the work of his teammates. Support, pacing, positioning, drafting, nutrition, and tactical assistance are difficult to represent in a results list. Colnago addresses this idea with the names on the top tube. Although only one rider ultimately wears the yellow jersey, each of the eight bikes is meant to demonstrate that the success was earned by the entire team.
Hidden detail for five Tour victories
Another design element only becomes visible when the handlebars are turned. In the cockpit area, there is a hidden reference to Tadej Pogačar's Tour de France successes.
The years 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025 are listed. The series is completed by the fifth overall victory expected in 2026. This detail connects the current special collection with the Slovenian's previous Tour de France successes.
Tadej Pogačar's Y1Rs with rainbow accents
The Y1Rs bike designated for Tadej Pogačar stands out even more from the other yellow models. As the reigning UCI Road World Champion, the Slovenian rides with the rainbow colors on his bike.
Colnago has therefore integrated several corresponding accents into the special paintwork. These include an iridescent ace of clubs on the head tube. According to the manufacturer, this symbol is only used on the personal bicycle of a reigning world champion.
Another hidden element is the model designation Y1Rs in Morse code. It was integrated into the paintwork as a sequence of dots and dashes.
White Colnago Y1Rs for Isaac del Toro
While seven riders received a yellow Y1Rs, Isaac del Toro's bike was designed in white. The color scheme is based on the white jersey of the best young rider. Del Toro led the young rider classification before the final day of the 2026 Tour de France. The white special edition bike nevertheless incorporates the same key design elements as the yellow bikes. It also features the elevation profile of the Tour, the names of his teammates, and the rider's national flag.
Special edition also for Brandon McNulty
Brandon McNulty will also receive a personal Y1Rs. The American had to abandon the Tour de France on stage 18 due to illness. Nevertheless, he is part of the eight-member collection. Colnago justifies this with his contribution during the race: his work for the team was already part of the history of this Tour.
With this move, the manufacturer once again emphasizes the team spirit. Not only the riders who reach Paris or win a classification jersey will be recognized, but also the contributions of those who previously performed important tasks for the team.
Colnago Y1Rs: Not for sale
The eight special edition models will not be available for regular purchase. Each bike was specially made for the respective rider and will be presented to the athletes as a gift from Colnago.
The collection therefore consists of truly unique pieces. The focus is on the handcrafted paintwork and personal details. Colnago did not provide any information regarding potential technical differences compared to the Y1Rs regularly used in racing.