Quick Answer
The Colnago TT2 is a 2026 prototype TT bike first raced by Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de Romandie prologue on April 28, 2026. The TT2 frameset — frame, fork, and seatpost — is 550 grams lighter than the TT1 it replaces, and delivers a claimed 2-watt drag reduction at 50 km/h measured as a weighted average across yaw angles. It will be available through Colnago’s dealer network from late September 2026 in four sizes: XS, S, M, and L.
When Tadej Pogačar rolled to the start line of the Tour de Romandie prologue on April 28, 2026, he was sitting on a TT bike nobody had raced before. Not a refreshed colorway. Not a component swap. A prototype — the Colnago TT2 — ridden in competition for the first time by the four-time Tour de France champion, six weeks out from the race where it would matter most.
This week’s Bicycle of the Week profile breaks down what the TT2 actually is, how it differs from the TT1 it replaces, and what the engineering decisions behind it reveal about where WorldTour TT bike design is heading in 2026.
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Contents
Why a New TT Bike Now
The Colnago TT1 debuted at the 2022 Giro d’Italia and served as Pogačar’s TT platform for all four of his Tour de France wins. It was regarded as one of the most aerodynamically efficient TT bikes in the WorldTour peloton. Replacing it was not a response to a performance deficit — it was a response to a shift in the nature of TT racing itself.
According to Cyclingnews, time trial courses have become increasingly punchy and technical in recent years, with weight a more important factor than it has been traditionally. Pogačar famously chose a stripped-down road bike over his TT bike for the mountain time trial at the 2025 Tour — a decision that underlined the limitations of pure flat-course aero optimization when gradients and technical sections enter the equation. The 2026 Tour reinforces that point: stage 1 is a team time trial finishing with a steep climb to the Olympic stadium in Barcelona, and stage 16’s individual TT climbs 500 meters on approach to Thonon-les-Bains, including the Côte de Larringes at roughly 4.3% average gradient over 9 kilometers. A TT bike that costs the rider on the climbs is no longer acceptable at the top level.
The Weight Reduction: 550 Grams
The headline number on the Colnago TT2 is a 550-gram reduction in frameset weight compared to the TT1, measured in size S — Pogačar’s size. That figure covers the frame, fork, and seatpost. The unpainted size S frame kit carries a claimed weight of 2,240 grams, down from 2,785 grams for the equivalent TT1 kit. Colnago states that complete TT2 builds — including aero extensions and a disc rear wheel — can be configured to hit the UCI’s 6.8 kg weight limit.
The weight savings were achieved primarily through structural simplification rather than exotic material substitution. As reported by BikeRadar, Colnago redesigned the tube junctions to reduce stress concentrations, which allowed for less carbon fiber overall and increased use of high-modulus carbon — delivering lower weight without compromising frame stiffness. The TT2’s less angular tube transitions also remove the localized material buildups that the TT1’s more complex junction geometry required. Simplification, in this case, is the engineering strategy.
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The Aerodynamic Development
Colnago’s aerodynamic development on the TT2 was deliberately focused on the front end of the bike — specifically the head tube, fork, and base bar — where the brand’s testing indicated the greatest marginal gains were available. The head tube has been slimmed down and its trailing edges softened. The fork features a wider-arcing crown and significantly shallower blades than the TT1. The base bar has been narrowed to 360mm center-to-center, reducing frontal area during accelerations and through technical course sections.
Colnago used techniques developed during the Y1Rs road bike program, including embedding pressure sensors in a prototype frame to measure real-world airflow rather than relying solely on computational modeling. Wind tunnel testing measured lateral force coefficients across multiple yaw angles, not just zero-degree drag — a more comprehensive testing methodology that produces results more representative of real-race conditions where crosswinds and varied headings are the norm rather than the exception.
The result is a claimed 2-watt drag reduction at 50 km/h over the TT1, measured as a weighted average across typical yaw angles. In stand-alone bike testing at 54 km/h, Colnago measured the TT2 at 66.7 watts weighted average drag compared to 68.5 watts for the TT1. With a mannequin onboard at 55 km/h, the TT2 lands at 344.4 watts WAD versus 346.0 watts for the TT1 — confirming that the gains hold up under simulated rider-present conditions.
Stability and Handling
Beyond weight and aerodynamics, Colnago identified crosswind stability as a meaningful performance factor on the TT2. Large tube profiles, disc rear wheels, and aggressive cockpit positions make TT bikes inherently susceptible to lateral forces in crosswinds, which force the rider to make constant small steering corrections that interrupt position and cost speed. The TT2’s updated tube profiles and revised carbon layup were specifically engineered to reduce those lateral forces, allowing the rider to maintain an aerodynamic tuck for longer without neuromuscular fatigue from continuous micro-corrections.
The seat stay layout has also changed substantially. The TT1 used a distinctive horizontal seat stay that ran parallel to the integrated water bottle to form a continuous aerodynamic line. The TT2 reverts to a more conventional sloping seat stay configuration, positioned alongside the bottle rather than in line with it. The result is a visually less aggressive rear triangle that is also structurally simpler.
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Sizing and Availability
The TT1 was effectively a single-target platform, engineered primarily around the proportions of WorldTour riders. The TT2 expands to four sizes — XS, S, M, and L — with geometry revisions in M and L that raise the front end to accommodate a wider range of rider positions without requiring extreme spacer stacks or extension towers. The S size, which Pogačar races, is geometrically unchanged from the TT1, indicating his current position was already fully optimized within the existing system. The new XS size specifically addresses smaller riders, who have historically struggled to achieve a functional aero tuck on a TT bike without compromising power output.
The TT2 frame kit includes frame, fork, seatpost, base bar, integrated aero bottle system and cage, headset, bearings, and small parts. It is priced at $7,500 / £6,499 / €7,040 — identical to the TT1 pricing — and will be available through Colnago’s dealer network from late September 2026. The bike accommodates up to 30mm tyres, uses a BSA 68 bottom bracket standard, is UDH hanger compatible, and can fit a 70-tooth chainring for flat-course racing.
What It Means for the 2026 Tour
Pogačar finished sixth at the Romandie prologue on the TT2 prototype — a 3.2 km sprint on a course that was far from flat — and went on to take the overall race lead. The debut was a functional validation rather than a showcase result, but the choice to race a prototype publicly six weeks before the Tour underlines UAE Team Emirates’ confidence in the platform. With both the stage 1 team TT in Barcelona and the stage 16 individual TT featuring significant climbing, the TT2’s weight reduction targets exactly the conditions that will define those stages. Whether 550 grams becomes meaningful time at the finish is what July will determine.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Colnago TT2?
The Colnago TT2 is the successor to the TT1 time trial bike used by UAE Team Emirates. It was first raced as a prototype by Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de Romandie prologue on April 28, 2026. The TT2 frameset is 550 grams lighter than the TT1 and delivers a claimed 2-watt drag reduction at 50 km/h. It will be available to consumers through Colnago’s dealer network from late September 2026 priced at $7,500 / £6,499 / €7,040.
How much lighter is the Colnago TT2 than the TT1?
The TT2 frameset — comprising frame, fork, and seatpost — is 550 grams lighter than the TT1 in size S. The unpainted size S frame kit is claimed to weigh 2,240 grams, down from 2,785 grams for the TT1. Colnago states that complete TT2 builds including extensions and a disc rear wheel can be configured to reach the UCI’s 6.8 kg weight limit.
What sizes does the Colnago TT2 come in?
The TT2 is available in four sizes: XS, S, M, and L. The S size is geometrically unchanged from the TT1 and is the size Pogačar races. M and L feature a higher front end than their TT1 equivalents to accommodate a wider range of rider positions. The new XS size is designed for smaller riders who previously could not achieve an optimal TT position on the TT1.
James Hickman is a former USA Cycling Expert-level coach who has worked with cyclists at every level, from beginners to competitive racers. He served as a coach for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program, helping riders prepare for and complete century events. A Masters-category racer himself, he competed and earned podium finishes in Southern California events and holds a Platinum finish at El Tour de Tucson, completing the century in under five hours.
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