Colnago has launched the latest addition to its “definitive” C Series, with the C72 said to be a bike that “pursues the perfect balance of the elements that define a ride”.
The C Series has been around since the launch of the C35 in 1989, with each model number reflecting the years since Colnago’s founding in 1954. Colnago says the series embodies the “essence” of the brand and that it introduces a new model when “it is time to redefine its own benchmark”.
For the C72, that means the C Series continues to be handbuilt in Italy, while the new bike gets a suite of new features that bring it in line with the latest road bike trends.
Handmade in Italy
Colnago says the C72 is made in Italy with “meticulous care” and its production can be summarised in four stages.
In Cambiago, the carbon tubes and joints of the frame are bonded and assembled in dedicated jigs before being hand-finished. The frames are then airbrushed at Colnago’s facility in Pisa before the final assembly and quality control back in Cambiago.
Like its predecessor, the Colnago C68, released in 2022, the C72 is assembled from seven parts.
Colnago says this offers a counter to an age when carbon bikes are made with a monocoque construction, and shows performance can stem from “craftsmanship, controlled assembly, and the ability to fine-tune stiffness, compliance, and force distribution with precision through modular construction”.
The multi-piece construction also leads the C72 to have its own “true design language”, where the lugs become a feature of the bike rather than a detail that’s hidden.
“The result is a frame that feels cohesive and refined – where every interface is deliberately designed, not simply assembled,” Colnago says.
It’s also a frame that is said to be 30g lighter than the outgoing C68 in a size 485. “With the right setup the bike can easily reach a weight of 6.8kg,” according to Colnago.
But this construction means the C72 is a hyper-exclusive bike, with Colnago limiting production to only 3,000 frames per year.
Ride tweaks and frame integration
Although Colnago says the C72 maintains its “racing DNA”, the latest C Series bike shifts towards a less extreme position.
Colnago has increased the stack-to-reach ratio so there is more flexibility in how you sit on the bike, with the possibility to assume a more relaxed and endurance-focused position.
The new stack-to-reach ratio is paired with a steeper steering angle and a longer fork rake for a more responsive steering action.
The new CC.02 cockpit is also said to improve handling thanks to a new curve shape and flare, which enables a more aggressive position and better brake control. Added to that, it’s 15g lighter than the CC.01 cockpit introduced on the C68.
The C72 is said to enhance comfort and control through a redesigned rear triangle and seat area, which improve compliance.
The bike can now fit tyres up to 35mm wide for extra comfort. This clearance is an increase of 5mm over the C68, and in line with the latest trends. Colnago goes as far as saying this makes the C72 “a road bike with an all-road soul”.
Elsewhere, the bike has new integrated components. The bottle cages now run flush with the frame and there is a storage box in the down tube, with a storage pouch that holds a mini ratchet wrench, a CO2 cartridge inflator and one TPU inner tube.
Colnago says a new integrated seatpost also has a more aerodynamic position.
Colnago C72 models and prices
The Colnago C72 is available as a frame kit and builds:
- Frame kit: £6,299 / €5,940
- Shimano Dura-Ace with ENVE SES 4.5 wheels: £14,999 / €15,900
- Campagnolo Super Record 13s with Bora Ultra WTO wheels: £14,999 / €15,400
- Shimano Dura-Ace with Fulcrum Sharq 57 wheels: £13,299 / €14,200
- SRAM Red AXS with ENVE SES 4.5 wheels: £16,299 / €16,000
Colnago says availability starts 60 days from ordering.
C72 La Scala
Alongside a frame kit and four standard models, Colnago has also produced the C72 Scala, which is limited to 72 numbered pieces and has a price of €22,000.
Colnago says the hyper-exclusive bike is inspired by the Teatro alla Scala opera house in Milan, with an "iconic red, gold and white aesthetic”.
