Italian bicycle manufacturer Colnago has issued a statement refuting recent slurs against the brand made by retired classics specialist Tom Boonen and another retired pro, Dirk de Wolff.

Colnago CEO Nicola Rosin stated: "The performance of UAE Team Emirates is Colnago's top priority. That is why we have invested millions of euros and a lot of time in the development of their bikes. We are working hand in hand with UAE Team Emirates and UAE Team ADQ to first understand their requirements for our bikes and then ensure that what we offer is the absolute best available."

Colnago challenged Boonen and de Wolff to test their latest bikes after their comments on the Sporza Wielerclub Wattage podcast last week. De Wolff claimed that UAE Team Emirates Tour de France 2 winner Tadej Pogachar would be "decidedly faster" if he were riding a Cervelo, Specialized, or Pinarello bike from Jumbo Visma, Sudar Quick Step, or Ineos Grenadier.

Boonen, on the other hand, placed Colnago outside the top five arbitrary bike brands, stating that "there is still a big gap between the top five and the top ten or fifteen," and later added that "Colnago is catching up, but it is still an older bike and has yet to master super hyper aero He added, "We're still playing catch-up.

Colnago called this claim "baseless" and invited Boonen and his colleagues to Colnago headquarters to test ride Colnago's new V4R race bike.

Colnago also highlighted the publication of a white paper related to the V4Rs bikes. The white paper outlines the various aerodynamic and stiffness tests conducted by the brand and how the results compare to the brand's current bike, the V3Rs.

In the same white paper, Pogačar's own words are quoted: "Certainly the Colnago V4R is stiffer and more responsive. Certainly the Colnago V4R is stiffer and more responsive. This helps during fast races, attacks and sprints in the peloton. For me this was the biggest change from the V3R."

Pogachar has ridden Colnago bikes throughout his professional career. He brought Colnago its first victory in the 2020 Tour de France and doubled his co-winning tally the following year.

Founder Ernesto Colnago sold the brand to the Abu Dhabi investment firm in 2020 and introduced a number of high-profile new products. These included the V4Rs race bike and the TT1 time trial bike, both bikes being used by two sponsored teams.

Both UAE Team Emirates and UAE Team AQD have switched this winter from Campagnolo to Shimano Groupset and Enve wheels, and from Pirelli to Continental tires.

Despite the clear focus on equipment, Rosin says both sponsored teams are happy with the partnership and the Colnago bikes provided.

"We are of course in daily contact with the teams and have never heard them complain about the competitiveness of our bikes. In fact, they are ecstatic about the equipment we have provided so far.