Colnago has returned to track cycling after an absence of seven years with the new T1Rs, which it describes as its “most aerodynamic bike ever”.
The T1Rs will debut this weekend at the UCI’s London 3 Day racing event taking place at Lee Valley Velodrome. Eagle-eyed attendees will be able to see how the new bike references Colnago’s TT1 time trial bike and Y1Rs aero bike, which it claimed to be faster than any other bike on the market, when it launched in December last year.
However, Colnago says the engineering solutions behind its first track bike since the K.one have been “developed and pushed to the extreme”, in terms of aerodynamics and stiffness, without the constraints imposed by road cycling (such as brakes and gears).
Optimised for high, high speeds
Colnago says the T1Rs delivers peak performance at speeds of over 60kph and has a lower drag coefficient at higher speeds compared to ‘traditional’ designs.
The means airflow around the bike is “cleaner and more stable, allowing the bike to maintain its velocity with exceptional efficiency”.
At the front of the bike, the dual-crown fork, adapted from the TT1, is said to minimise drag without compromising stiffness or control. Colnago adds that the fully-integrated stem ensures “seamless airflow from the handlebar to the frame.”
The rear triangle of T1Rs is adapted from the Y1Rs and has bulged chainstays designed to smooth airflow transitions and reduce turbulence around the drivetrain. The aero-shaped dropouts are ‘ultra-narrow’ to further optimise the passage of air.
The bike also fits narrow hubs (65mm at the front and 100mm at the rear) to reduce the frontal area.
Colnago says these features create a “unified aerodynamic system” that’s “engineered not only to reduce resistance, but to deliver stability, precision, and pure speed where it matters most”.
While bikes such as Team GB's Hope HB.T and the Look P24 have remarkably wide forks and seatstays, Colnago opted to keep the profile of the T1Rs narrow.
It says it evaluated a wide design but decided to stay narrow to enable air to pass around the bike, adding that wide or narrow designs work, but that bikes that are in the ‘middle’ are not as effective.
Elsewhere, the bike has clearance for 28mm tyres and can fit chainrings with as many as 72 teeth.
Frame stiffness
As well as optimising the T1Rs for high speed, Colnago has designed its latest bike to withstand the power of track cyclists.
By connecting the stem and cockpit to the fork blades, the dual-crown fork layout is said to increase torsional stiffness at the front of the bike.
The bike’s rear triangle is compact for “exceptional lateral stiffness”. This also opens up further benefits: the stiffness allows for a narrower Q-factor to keep the rider’s feet closer together for improved pedalling efficiency and a more aerodynamic profile.
Meanwhile, the deep chainstays, dropouts and seatstays are said to be designed to cope with the high torque track cyclists produce when starting races and accelerating.
Stiffness is also aided by a “track-specific carbon layup” with high-strength and high-modulus fibres.
Colnago uses PP mandrels during the carbon layup process to add internal rib structures in the seatpost, bottom bracket area and fork crown. These internal structures are said to “ensure optimal stiffness despite the use of aerodynamic tube profiles”.
The oversized T47 bottom bracket, combined with the reinforced seat tube, is said to reduce torsional stiffness during sprints, in and out of the saddle.
Cockpit options for different track disciplines
Colnago has designed the bike with a set of cockpit variations for different track disciplines.
The SR-Track stem for sprint and endurance events, such as the keirin, is compatible with a standard 31.8mm handlebar, while the T-shaped structure and its dual-bolt clamping system are designed for maximum torsional stiffness.
Because this is track racing, the SR-Track stem is only available in some pretty aggressive sizes. There are three lengths – 125mm, 150mm and 175mm – with a negative rise of -6.5˚, and the maximum stack height is only 20mm.
For time trial and pursuit events, the T1Rs can be fitted with the TT-Track cockpit. This consists of a monocoque carbon stem and base bar unit that’s 38cm wide with a -17mm stack at the hoods. The column base has a reach of 93mm and a stack of 25mm, relative to the frame.
The TT-Track can be fitted with modular aero extensions for multiple hand positions and optimised ergonomics.
Geometry for different disciplines, too
The T1Rs is available in three sizes – small, medium and large – with geometry to match the specific demands of different track races.
Colnago says the reach and stack ratio is developed to match the needs of pursuit riders, while the low-stack cockpit enables a tucked position.
For endurance and sprint races, the T1Rs has an extended reach, with the bike almost hitting the UCI length limit in a size large.
“For this reason, the steering angle and fork rake of the T1Rs have been carefully tuned to provide high stability and precise control, even during sharp and rapid directional changes,” Colnago explains.
How much does the T1Rs cost?
The UCI recently announced it will cap the price of track bikes for the 2028 LA Olympic Games, in a bid to stop the spiralling costs of these hyper-specialised machines.
While the UCI hasn’t released any specific figures yet, we can be pretty certain Colnago’s T1Rs track bike will fall below the price cap, with a frame kit costing €6,500.
The T1Rs frame kit includes the frame, fork, seatpost, saddle clamp and small parts, with the cockpit components available separately. The SR-Track stem costs €250, while the TT-Track basebar costs €320 and the adjustable extension kit costs €270.
This makes the T1Rs significantly cheaper than many of the bikes used at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, including Team GB’s €29,188 Hope HB.T Paris bike.
Colnago says this is intentional. It wants people to buy its track bike and ride it.
It also hopes the T1Rs will be raced at the LA Olympics, even if professional riders customise the ‘platform’ with their own cockpits and saddles. However, Colnago will need to find a national team for this hope to become a reality.
