Tadej Pogacar's Liège-Bastogne-Liège winning Colnago sells for $40,000 at US charity auction

Tadej Pogacar's success on the road continues to generate considerable interest beyond professional cycling. The Colnago V5Rs ridden by the Slovenian to victory at the 2026 Liège-Bastogne-Liège has been sold for $40,000 at the USA Cycling Foundation's Bicycles & Bluegrass Benefit in California, with the auction helping raise funds for American athletes preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The bike was among almost 100 items offered during the fundraising event, which collectively generated $162,915 for the USA Cycling Foundation's athletes. Other notable sales included an autographed rainbow jersey belonging to Brandon McNulty, which fetched $7,300, and a signed Team USA jersey that attracted a winning bid of $6,050.

The benefit combined cycling activities with an evening celebration featuring an athlete panel, a live auction, bluegrass music and dancing. According to the organizers, the wider event raised close to $1 million to support American athletes as they prepare for the next Summer Olympics.

The Colnago V5Rs was donated by the Italian manufacturer and features the brand's world champion livery, reflecting Pogacar's status as reigning road world champion. Its appeal goes beyond its connection to the Liège victory: the bike was also used by the Slovenian at the Amstel Gold Race, where he finished third, before claiming his fourth victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The bicycle's racing history has been verified against UAE Team Emirates-XRG's service records. The winning bidder will also receive proof of ownership through the Colnago app, with an embedded NFC tag connecting the frame's serial number to its authenticity, original specifications and competition history. The digital record is designed to be transferred to the new owner's name.

Pogacar's equipment has repeatedly attracted high bids at auctions. In 2025, a custom Colnago Y1Rs ridden by the Slovenian during the 2024 Tour de France and other races sold for $190,500 at a Sotheby's auction.

His memorabilia has also generated significant sums for charitable causes. Earlier in 2026, a race-worn Milano-Sanremo skinsuit was auctioned by the Tadej Pogacar Foundation for €95,100. The winning bidder, American Karl McDonnell, received the item personally from Pogacar at the Pogi Challenge in Slovenia. The Slovenian matched the winning bid, bringing the total raised to €190,200 for initiatives supporting children and young people facing serious illnesses.

The proceeds from the California auction will contribute to the USA Cycling Foundation's work supporting athletes through their development and preparation for international competition. The funding model is particularly important in the United States, where sports federations do not receive the same kind of direct government support for elite Olympic programs found in many other countries.

Molly Pickall, Executive Director of the USA Cycling Foundation, highlighted the importance of private contributions ahead of the Los Angeles Games.

“Our athletes are proof of what private support can do,” Pickall said. “In Paris, American women won every one of Team USA's Olympic cycling medals. LA28 is the first Summer Games on home soil since 1996, and we want to arrive with the strongest team we've ever fielded. This auction gives every fan, anywhere in the country, a way to be part of the Foundation that supports USA Cycling.”