When Isaac del Toro won Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour de France in Barcelona, he was riding the Colnago V5Rs lightweight race bike, rather than the Y1Rs aero road bike preferred by the rest of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, including team leader Tadej Pogaar, who crossed the line just behind him.Why would del Toro choose the V5Rs, when the Y1Rs offers, according to Colnago, around 4% energy savings? Its wind-tunnel test results show it to be 16 watts faster at 50km/h, a speed thats not unrealistic in a pro race.A source within the team has told us its mainly because del Toro really likes the V5Rs and uses it a lot in training. He swaps between the V5Rs and the aero Y1Rs and, were told, will be back on the Y1Rs on subsequent stages (as seen during today's Stage 3). Read more about Isaac del Toro's Colnago V5Rs Del Toro started Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour on the aero Y1Rs, but swapped to the V5Rs following a mechanical with 60km to go. Dario Belingheri/Getty Images In fact, del Toro started Stage 2 on the Y1Rs, which was also ridden by the rest of the team. He swapped to the V5Rs after a mechanical with 60km to ride forced a bike swap.The Stage 2 profile shows much of the 2,500m elevation gain was in the second half of the stage and the three laps of the finishing circuit included the particularly steep Montjuc climb.Lower weight Tadej Pogaar's Dark Series raw carbon Colnago Y1Rs weighed 7.25kg when we checked the bike ahead of the 2026 Tour de France. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media While in the majority of situations, aerodynamics trumps low weight, the V5Rs probably sits right on the UCIs 6.8kg weight limit. Ahead of the 2026 Grand Dpart, we weighed Pogaars Y1Rs at 7.25kg. In contrast, Pogaar's painted Colnago V5Rs for the 2025 Tour de France weighed under the UCI weight limit. Kyle Dewick / Our Media The Y1Rs del Toro was riding until his bike swap was painted, so it will weigh even more than Pogaars bike. For a weight-obsessed pro forced to make a bike change coming into a punchy finale and for his directeur sportif, that might tip the decision in favour of the lighter bike.There are other reasons why del Toro might favour the V5Rs over the Y1Rs. The bikes geometries are subtly different, with Colnago claiming the low weight and all-rounder design make the V5Rs an ideal companion for elevation-heavy stages, mountain stages in Grand Tours and for riders seeking an exceptionally responsive and lightweight ride.Colnago reckons the V5Rs is the bike for steep climbs and explosive sprints, too, attributes that make it well-suited to the Montjuc circuit. More on the 2026 Tour de France Who is Isaac del Toro? 4 things you need to know about the Mexican who could be a future Tour de France winner Isaac del Toro's stage-winning Colnago V5Rs may sit exactly on the UCI weight limit Fans told to avoid Tour de France stage 3 due to major wildfires A Tour de France breakaway only has a 2% chance of winning, so why join one? Every team bike at the 2026 Tour de France More agile geometry Del Toro also rode the V5Rs when he won the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes last month. Dario Belingheri/Getty Images Colnago claims the V5Rs delivers greater agility and superior control, especially on technical climbs and descents. It also says it is generally more comfortable.There are more frame-size options for the V5Rs, with seven sizes offered, rather than the Y1Rs five. The head tube angle for a medium-sized bike is 72.3 degrees versus the Y1Rs 73 degrees, and the front-centre is longer, which might offer greater ride stability on the fast descent that also featured. The ENVE cockpit on the V5Rs may be more comfortable if del Toro likes to use the tops. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media It may be easier to get a fit that suits del Toro, too, and there are more component choices. While UAE Team Emirates-XRG usually rides the V5Rs with an ENVE SES Aero Pro cockpit, the V5Rs can be fitted with other cockpits if preferred.In contrast, the Y1Rs uses Colnagos distinctive proprietary cockpit. For anyone who likes to climb on the tops, its arguably not ideal because the Y-shaped tops angle the hands and arms outwards, where theyre probably less aero than a tucked position, compared to the T-shaped bars of the V5Rs classic one-piece cockpit. The cockpit of the Y1Rs is more extreme and it could be more difficult to get comfortable on the tops. Simon von Bromley / Our Media All the UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders have a choice between the two bikes, so we may see them swap between the Y1Rs and V5Rs, as Pogaar did when he won the 2025 Critrium du Dauphin (now renamed the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes).Were told del Toro will be back on the Y1Rs for some of the coming stages.And finally, it was a great marketing coup for Colnago to have a 1-2 on the first road stage of the 2026 Tour, with the teams star riders on different bikes.It showcases the brand's road bike range and should raise awareness of its other options when the halo Y1Rs aero bike and the TT2 time trial bike have tended to hog the limelight thanks to their association with Pogaar.

Isaac del Toros first Tour de France has already moved far beyond anything he expected. Two days into the race, the Mexican has gone from debutant to stage winner, white jersey leader and key helper in Tadej Pogacars first move into yellow. One day after taking his maiden Tour stage win in Barcelo...

Wildfires are ravaging southwestern France, with Tour de France organisers announcing changes to todays stage 3 so public resources could be focused on rescue and firefighting operations.The changes to stage 3, from Granoller, Spain, to Les Angles, France, were announced on Sunday evening. They limit the race to the bare minimum people in the last 40km for its completion, as it heads through the Pyrenees-Orientales region and finishes in Les Angles.Race organisers ASO announced that the last section of the stage will be limited only to the riders and essential vehicles. They said the caravan would not travel along the last 40km of the route, and fans were told not to gather along the route or near the finish.But if you are watching todays stage 3, you may have spotted the odd spectator on the roads within the restricted section of the route.Local police officers told sports journalist Anders Mielke on TNT Sports that this is because they cannot stop locals from attending the race.We have police officers at every corner. We just saw some fans being told off and that they were not allowed [to be on the roadside], Mielke said while reporting from within the last 40km.If you see fans in the last 40km, it will be local people living on the course, Mielke said.Yet Mielke reported later in the day from Col du Calvaire, the second last climb of the day within the last 40km. He reported seeing fans from Norway and Germany.The restrictions to stage 3 come as extreme heat has spread across Europe with wildfires breaking out across the continent.Ahead of the Tour de France, race director Christian Prudhomme said the Tour de France organisers were taking extra steps to ensure the safety of the riders and the public.We will obviously experience high temperatures during the Tour de France. Protecting the riders and the public is paramount for us. The watchword is adaptation, Prudhomme said.French officials were also told they could cancel Tour de France stages if a red heatwave alert is issued, according to a French Interior Ministry document seen by Reuters."In exceptional circumstances, and in consultation with the organiser and all relevant parties, you may decide to cancel a stage if health or operational conditions no longer allow for the simultaneous safeguarding of spectators and staff, and the continued provision of emergency services to the public," the document said.Tomorrows stage four heads from Carcassonne to Foix, where temperatures could hit 39C. More on the 2026 Tour de France Isaac del Toro's stage-winning Colnago V5Rs may sit exactly on the UCI weight limit Fans told to avoid Tour de France stage 3 due to major wildfires A Tour de France breakaway only has a 2% chance of winning, so why join one? We weighed Tadej Pogaars 2026 Tour de France bike and its heavier than you might think Jonas Vingegaards Cervlo S5 for the 2026 Tour de France is bang on the UCIs 6.8kg weight limit Can the Tour de France ever be Pogaar-proof? The race organisers face a near-impossible task These 2 Tour de France rule changes could reshape the 2026 race Cycling just got weirder Netcompany-Ineos adopt peculiar tactic for Tour de France team time trial

At the Tour de France, the racing does not always end at the finish line. Sprint deviations, sticky bottles, feeding breaches, littering fines, time penalties, yellow cards and relegations can all become part of the daily story, especially in a race where every stage result and jersey position is wa...