Colnago's Latest Super Bike Isn't For Pogačar
Colnago has just unveiled the C72, the latest evolution in their prestigious C-series lineage — a line of handmade Italian superbikes that have defined cycling's greatest eras since 1954. But here's the paradox: despite being Colnago's most prestigious model, their star rider Tadej Pogačar won't be racing it. Instead, he'll stick with the Y-series and V-series machines that have brought him so much success. So what exactly is the C72 for, and who is it designed to serve? The answer reveals a fundamental shift in how we think about what makes the «ultimate» road bike.
Key Takeaways
The C72 won't be raced by UAE Team Emirates or Pogačar — it's positioned as Colnago's «front-engine Grand Tourer» rather than their all-out race weapon, prioritizing versatility and elegance alongside performance.
Every C72 is made entirely in Italy at Colnago's Cambiago headquarters using a new «panel gap» joining technique borrowed from automotive engineering, resulting in cleaner aesthetics while maintaining the iconic modular construction.
The bike offers modern practicalities including 35mm tire clearance, internal storage for tools and tubes, and an updated narrower CC.2 cockpit — making it genuinely versatile for everything from coastal rides to cobbles.
Colnago's C-series heritage includes wins at Milano-San Remo dating back to Michele Dancelli in 1970, plus victories by Merckx, Saronni, Fondriest, and Farah on C40 and C50 models.
In a Nutshell
The C72 represents Colnago's assertion that the best bike isn't necessarily a Tour de France-winning race machine — it's one that balances performance with heritage, craftsmanship, and ride quality for cyclists who care about the journey as much as the destination.
Made in Italy: The C72 Production Story
Every C72 is assembled by hand at Colnago's Cambiago factory using automotive-inspired construction.
The C72 continues Colnago's unbroken tradition of manufacturing all C-series bikes entirely in Italy at their headquarters in Cambiago, just outside Milan. Tubing arrives from elsewhere in Italy and is assembled on-site using a new construction method called «panel gap» — a technique borrowed directly from automotive engineering. This approach creates continuous outer surfaces where tubes nest together, resulting in an extremely clean and elegant finish while maintaining the iconic modular construction that has defined C-series bikes for decades.
Once the frame assembly is complete, it's sent to Pisa for painting before returning to Cambiago for final assembly. This entirely Italian production process is what separates the C-series from Colnago's Y-series and V-series models. The C72 represents the 72nd year since Colnago's founding in 1954 — a naming convention that has marked every C-series model, from the C35 designed with Ferrari in 1989 to the iconic lugged C40 five years later.
Why Pogačar Won't Race It
The C72 is Colnago's grand tourer, not their F1 car.
Key Design Updates on the C72
C-Series Heritage at Milano-San Remo
Colnago's iconic bikes have won this monument repeatedly since 1970.
The Ultimate Cycling Experience
Riding unreleased superbikes on Italian coastal roads before witnessing Pogačar's historic win.
The test ride combined everything cycling dreams are made of: unreleased C72 bikes, the Italian Riviera coastline heading west from San Remo, then climbing Monte Bignone (7km at 7% gradient) before reaching 1,040 meters elevation at Passo Ghimbegna. The route included traditional Italian pro rituals — espresso stops at the base of climbs — before tackling the iconic Poggio climb and descending to the finish line on the Via Roma, the same finish used for Milano-San Remo.
The following day brought the race itself, where Tadej Pogačar delivered what the presenters called «probably amongst the best wins of all time» — a solo victory after crashing mid-race, defying predictions that he was finished. The entire experience reinforced the C72's philosophy: that the best bike isn't necessarily a Tour de France-winning machine, but one that enhances the complete cycling experience with heritage, craftsmanship, and ride quality.
The Ace of Clubs Legacy
Colnago's iconic emblem was born from a 1970 Milano-San Remo victory.
The Ace of Clubs Legacy
After Michele Dancelli's 1970 Milano-San Remo victory broke Italy's 17-year drought at the race, Ernesto Colnago created the «Asso di Fiori» (Ace of Clubs) emblem that now appears on every Colnago bike. This symbol represents the brand's deep connection to cycling's monuments and the victories that built its reputation as one of the sport's most storied manufacturers.
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