Tadej Pogačar claimed a dominant victory in stage 3 of the UAE Tour on Wednesday, sprinting ahead to win in his iconic white rainbow skinsuit. The World Champion triumphed over Oscar Onley and Felix Gall to secure the win.
Onlookers also noticed some intriguing updates to Pogačar’s gear, including his bike setup. Following his time trial performance the previous day, Pogačar was seen using new Enve SES 6.7 wheels. These wheels featured silver hubs and spokes, noticeably different from those of his teammates. This setup could either be part of a new wheelset in development or a test for a revised hub and spoke configuration.
UAE Emirates-XRG, Pogačar’s team, has a close partnership with Shimano, but riders, including Pogačar, were still seen using Carbon-Ti carbon fiber chainrings, similar to last year. The Slovenian cyclist had customized versions of these chainrings on his bike.
Additionally, the team’s sponsor Elite provided insulated bottles to help keep Pogačar’s drinks cooler under the scorching UAE sun, possibly aiding in regulating his core temperature during the race.
Another noteworthy detail was Pogačar’s silver spokes and hubs, which stood out from the standard black components on his teammates’ bikes. Typically, Enve SES wheels come with Sapim CX Ray spokes, made from stainless steel, and include internal spoke nipples for a slight aerodynamic advantage.
It remains unclear whether the silver spokes and hubs are a new design or if they are slightly lighter than the regular black ones. Speculation suggests they might offer improved aerodynamics or different spoke tensions suited to Pogačar’s needs.
Despite these uncertainties, the small adjustments are part of the relentless pursuit of perfection at the top level. As the season progresses, answers may emerge about these new components.
Interestingly, although UAE Emirates-XRG has entered a four-year partnership with Shimano, Pogačar and his teammates continue to use certain aftermarket parts. Pogačar’s custom Dura-Ace chainset still featured Carbon-Ti chainrings, with his TP logo and the “UAE Emirates” wordmark etched on them, possibly indicating some flexibility in the team’s equipment choices.