Custom-made Colnago Y1Rs for Tadej Pogačari (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), which the Slovenian rode in both the Tour de France and the World Championships, were sold at auction for $190,500.
The bike was initially estimated to be worth $15,000–$20,000, but it ultimately sold for ten times that amount. Just minutes before the auction ended, the highest bid was $90,000, but last-minute activity pushed the final price up by another $100,000. Although this exact Colnago frame is not available for sale, a Y1Rs with similar specifications is valued at a retail price of $22,000–$29,000.
Sotheby's auction organizers keep information about the seller confidential, so it is unknown who exactly will receive nearly $200,000 (minus commission) for this custom-made bike. As the bike belonged to a collection named "Colnago: Legends & Icons," the seller could potentially be Colnago itself.
We also do not know who acquired Pogačar's bike, but the auction house rightly called it a collectible item rather than a very, very expensive new ride for the buyer. "A distinctive and historically significant racing machine, the Colnago Y1Rs Raw Carbon, is a bike for the most passionate and demanding collectors," the auction description states.
Among other items, Sotheby's also sold Pogačar's teammate João Almeida's C68 bike from this year's Vuelta, which found a new owner for $21,590.
Pogačar first used the bike in its unfinished form in this year's Tour's uphill time trial. Later, the bike received a new paint scheme and now features rainbow colors, celebrating the Slovenian's world championship titles. The bike with its new look made its first public appearance on the Mont Ventoux stage.
After its debut at the Tour, Pogačar used the bike to achieve major victories in the second half of the season.
"Pogačar secured his fourth Tour title, cementing his place in cycling's elite. From that day forward, he used no other bike to achieve major victories, winning, among others, the World Championships, the European Championships, and a record fifth consecutive Il Lombardia — all aboard this unique carbon black Y1Rs," the description reads.
