Four ultra-rare Colnagos – including Pogačar’s Ventoux (not Toulouse*) Y1Rs – go under the hammer at Sotheby’s

If you’re stuck for Christmas present ideas, Sotheby’s is adding some serious cycling bling to Collector’s Week in Abu Dhabi with four exceptionally rare Colnago bikes, including Tadej Pogačar’s Tour de France Y1Rs, a C35 Oro collaboration with Ferrari, and the C68 Rossa No. 1 bike ridden during the official presentation of La Vuelta 2025. Warning: you’ll need to dig deep.

We’ll start with Pogačar’s stripped-back Y1Rs.

“On 22 July 2025, Tadej Pogačar lined up for the 16th stage of the Tour de France in Toulouse, wearing the yellow jersey and astride a bicycle that immediately captured the attention of the cycling world,” says the Colnago press release.

* Small point: he didn’t. If Pogačar was in Toulouse on that day, he’d have been in the wrong city. The stage went from Montpellier to Mont Ventoux. The race was in Toulouse a week earlier.

“For the hill climb time trial to the Planche des Belles Filles, he rode a Colnago Y1Rs in a raw black-and-white livery, devoid of the UCI colours, marking the first public appearance of this custom machine,” Colnago continues.

Another small point: the 2025 Tour de France didn’t go to La Planche des Belles Filles – not on 22 July, nor on any other date. And Stage 16 wasn’t a mountain time trial.

The mountain time trial where this bike made its first appearance was Stage 13, on 18 July, from Loudenvielle to Peyragudes, a few hundred miles from La Planche des Belles Filles. Then Pogačar rode it in subsequent stages, including on Ventoux.

“After the stage, the bike was finalised with the signature World Champion accents – red, green, yellow, and blue – creating the Naked Black edition known today,” says Colnago. “The frame’s exposed carbon finish and precise detailing reflect both extreme performance engineering and aesthetic refinement, designed to complement the abilities of the reigning World Champion and support his campaign for overall Tour de France victory.”

Pogačar did secure his fourth Tour de France win, of course, but Colnago has got a little confused about the details here. Ah, well, we all make mistakes. It looks like Colnago now has the correct story on the Sotherby’s website.

The current bid on this one (11am, 2 December) is US$35,000.

Colnago C68 Rossa No. 1 — Joāo Almeida Presentation Bike for La Vuelta 2025

Next up, we have the Colnago C68 Rossa No. 1. This is the very bike ridden by UAE Team Emirates XRG’s Joāo Almeida during the official presentation of La Vuelta 2025, held in Turin.

Colnago says, “Created as a numbered limited edition of just 80 pieces, the C68 Rossa commemorates a historic milestone: the first-ever departure of the Spanish Grand Tour from Italy, in August 2025. Its presence marks not only a celebration of the race, but also a tribute to the deep and longstanding connection between Italian craftsmanship and elite cycling.”

Colnago has now released special editions of the C68 for each of the three Grand Tours.

“The Rossa distinguishes itself through its brilliant, vibrant red livery, achieved through a complex silver-leaf coating process – a finish that required more than a year of meticulous work,” says Colnago. “Entirely made in Italy, the bike captures the essence of Colnago’s artisanal excellence and its modern expression of racing prestige.”

The current bid (11am, 2 December) is US$13,000.

C35 Oro Ferrari Collaboration

Now this one really is eye-catching. The Colnago C35 was conceived in 1989 to celebrate the Italian brand’s 35th anniversary.

“Crafted in Italy under Ferrari’s technical guidance, the C35 was among the very first road frames to be produced in carbon-fibre composite, a material that, at the time, belonged more to aerospace and competitive automotive engineering than to cycling,” says Colnago. “Its introduction marked a pivotal moment: a bold leap into the future at a time when carbon was far from the industry standard it has become today.”

This one comes equipped with a gold-plated Campagnolo Super Record groupset – with rim brakes, naturally – and Colnago five-spoke carbon-fibre wheels.

“With its sculpted, flowing lines, dramatic silhouette, and unmistakable presence, the C35 is unapologetically bold – a piece of cycling history created not to blend in, but to astonish. It is a bicycle for connoisseurs: rare, avant-garde, and undeniably unforgettable.”

Yeah, okay. Rein it in a bit.

The current bid (11am, 2 December) is US$13,000.

Colnago track bike built to Eddy Merckx’s 1972 hour record dimensions

Eddy Merckx set a new hour record at 49.431km (30.715 miles) in 1972, and this is a restored Colnago-built track frame created to the exact geometry he used.

“The frame itself features perfectly round Columbus SL–derived tubing, with reinforced seatstays – a testament to the engineering principles of the era: purity, stiffness, and speed above all,” says Colnago.

The current bid (11am, 2 December) is US$4,500.

If you do happen to have a whole lot of cash in your pocket – or you’d just like to check out the bikes in more details – head over to Sotheby’s website.

Bidding is open on Sotheby’s until 5 December 2025 at 19:30 GST (Gulf Standard Time). That’s four hours ahead of GMT/UTC – so we’re talking about 3:30pm on Friday afternoon for UK readers.