Colnago V5Rs Frameset Info

Colnago has been building race bikes in Cambiago, Italy since 1954. Over those seven decades, they have supplied frames to more Grand Tour winners than almost any other manufacturer — bikes that have carried champions up mountain passes, across cobbled classics, and through decisive solo breakaways. The Colnago V5Rs Frameset is where that lineage lands today: the latest evolution of their V-series race platform, developed specifically for the demands of World Tour competition and ridden by Tadej Pogačar at the highest level of the sport. As a frameset, it puts that engineering directly in the hands of riders who know exactly what they want to build around it.

At 685 grams ready-to-paint, the V5Rs is the lightest frame Colnago has ever produced — 12.5 percent lighter than its predecessor without sacrificing the rigidity that race bikes require. Getting there meant rethinking the tube profiles from the ground up. Colnago drew directly from the Y1Rs, their time trial and triathlon project, adapting its thinner, high-performance carbon profiles to a road geometry. The result is a frame that achieves aerodynamic efficiency close to what you'd find on a dedicated aero bike while remaining light enough to excel on climbs. Total frontal area comes in at 250 cm² — a 13 percent reduction compared to the previous generation — with a narrower head tube further cutting drag at the point where wind resistance is most consequential during high-speed efforts.

The V5Rs was developed with the kind of process that elite race bikes demand. Colnago began with CFD simulation to model airflow across the frame, then moved to 3D-printed prototypes for rapid testing and refinement. Wind tunnel sessions with full competition setups — wheels, rider, kit — verified the aerodynamic gains before professional riders put the frame through real-world validation. Every claim made about the V5Rs has been confirmed under race conditions, not just in a laboratory. The newly developed carbon fork contributes to the overall aero story while also improving steering precision. It accommodates tires up to 32mm, giving the frame genuine versatility across road surfaces without compromising its race-ready character.

As a frameset, the V5Rs is built for the rider approaching a custom build with intention. The BSA English thread bottom bracket shell, braze-on front derailleur mount, and SLT-treated integrated headset bearings provide a solid, compatible foundation for a wide range of component choices. Whether you're matching it to an existing groupset, pairing it with carbon wheels you already run, or building from scratch with a specific performance target in mind, the V5Rs gives you the frame without compromise.

Specs at a Glance

Frame: Carbon monocoque — 685g ready-to-paint (lightest Colnago ever produced)
Fork: Carbon — 32mm tire clearance
Headset: 1-1/8" and 1-1/4", SLT treated bearings
Seatpost: Carbon, 15mm offset
Bottom bracket: BSA English thread
Front derailleur mount: Braze-on
Frontal area: 250 cm² (13% reduction vs. previous generation)
Weight savings: 12.5% lighter than predecessor
Available sizes: 42, 45.5, 48.5, 51, 53, 55, 57cm
Available colors: SDM5, SDM6, VRBK, VRWB, VRWC, VUBC, STNT

Design Benefits

685g frame weight is the lightest in Colnago's history — a meaningful number on climbs where grams translate directly to time, and significant enough that riders stepping up from the previous V-series will feel the difference.
Aero profiles borrowed from the Y1Rs TT project bring time trial–derived tube shapes to a road geometry, achieving frontal area and drag characteristics that rival dedicated aero frames without the weight penalty that typically comes with them.
13% reduction in frontal area — down to 250 cm² — and a narrower head tube reduce drag where it matters most during high-speed efforts, sprint finishes, and sustained flat riding.
32mm tire clearance on the new fork expands the V5Rs beyond pure smooth-road use, accommodating wider tires for improved grip, comfort, and rolling efficiency on rough race surfaces.
World Tour race validation — developed via CFD, 3D printing, and wind tunnel testing, then confirmed by professional riders under race conditions. The performance numbers reflect how the frame actually behaves, not just how it tests in isolation.
Frameset format lets you build exactly what you want — choose your groupset, wheels, and finishing kit without paying for components you'd replace anyway.

Final Take

The Colnago V5Rs is a race frame with no qualifications attached. It's the lightest and most aerodynamic road frame Colnago has ever built, developed alongside professional riders competing at the highest level of the sport. At $5,499.99, it's a serious investment in a platform that's been validated where it counts. For the rider who wants to build a custom race machine around a frame that doesn't ask for compromises, this is it.

Colnago V5Rs Frameset - Specifications

Frame Material:

Carbon Monocoque

Fork:

Carbon

Headset:

1"1/8 and 1"1/4 - SLT Treated Bearings

Seatpost:

Carbon / 15mm offset

Front Derailleur Type:

Braze-On Required

Bottom Bracket Type:

BSA English Thread

*Specifications are subject to change.

Colnago V5Rs Frameset Geometry

Size:

42

45.5

48.5

51

53

55

57

B. Seat Tube (c-t)

420

455

485

510

530

550

570

C. Top Tube Length

503

514

530

544

564

578

595

D. Head Tube Length

101

112

127

146

162

181

199

E. Chain Stay Length

408

F. BB Drop

74

72

G. Seat Tube Angle

75.5

75.3

74.8

74.5

73.8

73.5

73.3

H. Head Tube Angle

70.6

71.5

72.3

72.5

73

73.5

I. Stand Over Height

683

714

743

766

784

801

820

J. Wheel Size

700c

K. Stack

509

523

539

557

575

593

612

L. Reach

371

377

384

390

397

404

411

Thanks to the whole R&A Crre for an amazing build and experince. From the first look (a Colnago ride event at R&A) to the conversation with the staff about for - to the master fitting session before (and after) to the incredible build. All first class plus. The bike is dialed in AF. Great communication and service. I’m a customer of R&A in Brooklyn going back 20’years and the Walnut Creek team are also amazing. Thanks!!