Zwift’s newest update includes a new bike frame – the first Colnago to show up in Zwift, ever! It’s the V3Rs, which is described in the Drop Shop like this:
The V3RS represents the best of Colnago technology, and is designed to thrive in all conditions. The V3 is fast on the long climbs; in the windy plans; in the stages of Grand Tours; and perfect for a demanding Gran Fondo. It’s a great bike for all situations.
Of course, experienced Zwifters know that real-world performance doesn’t necessarily translate to Zwift performance. So at Zwift Insider we run frames and wheelsets through a battery of tests to figure out just how well they perform in Zwift’s virtual world.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Colnago V3Rs in Zwift…
Aero Performance
The V3Rs is only rated 2 aero stars, and that rating is reflected in flat course performance in our tests. This frame is one of the slowest in terms of aero performance, turning in the same time as the Zwift Carbon, Specialized Allez, Cannondale Synapse, and several other frames.
The Colnago V3Rs turned in a time of 51:35 on our test course (two laps of Tempus Fugit). By comparison, the fastest frame in game (Specialized Venge S-Works) turned in a time of 51:18. (Both of these test times were done with Zwift’s stock wheelset, the 32mm carbon).
This puts the V3Rs in the 13th percentile for aero performance.
Climb Performance
Fortunately, the V3Rs performs better on climbs than it does on flats! Rated at 3 stars for weight (more stars is better), the Colnago turned in the same Alpe time as the Cervelo S5, Felt AR, and Focus Izalco Max 2020.
The Colnago V3Rs turned in an Alpe du Zwift time of 49:11. By comparison, the fastest frame in game (Specialized Tarmac Pro) turned in a time of 48:57. (Both of these test times were done with Zwift’s stock wheelset, the 32mm carbon).
This puts the V3Rs in the 58th percentile for climb performance.
Comparisons + Alternatives
The Colnago V3Rs performs almost identically to the Cannondale Synapse in game: identical flat test results and a climb test time just 1s slower.
But it’s level-locked at 18 and costs 695,800 Drops, making it hard to recommend the Colnago V3Rs in terms of performance given the other frames already available in game.
The Specialized Tarmac SL7 is nearly same price, but available at level 5. It’s a much better climber, and also more aero. Canyon’s Aeroad 2021 is 100k Drops cheaper, climbs better, and is much more aero.
Fun fact: the V3Rs uses the Campagnolo SuperRecord groupset in-game. There aren’t many Zwift bikes using this groupset – the classic Zwift Steel is one. Do you know of any others?
If you want to run virtual Campy, or are just a big Colnago fan – then pick up the V3Rs. Then again, it sounds like we’ll all be riding this frame Haute Route Watopia 2021 events this weekend. So maybe take it for a virtual spin first? 😃
Questions or Comments?
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Performance stars are all well and good but the important question is – can I change the frame colour? 😂
Valid question! You can change the color of the colored part. Frame is mostly dark gray though.
Curious how it does on gravel. Hunch is it’s the same as the rest of the roads but would be great if they met in the middle. Some good compromise bikes would be great for courses with just a bit of jungle to make bike choice from the gun a bit more strategic
Your frame doesn’t change your gravel speed – that comes down to your wheels (technically your tires, but at this point it’s the same on Zwift.)
Looks like Colnago didn’t pay much. 😶
You have to wonder at why manufacturers would pay for a bike to be in the game with relatively poor performance. I mean… im not in the market for a new high-end bike… but I am sure the power of marketing would put S-Works into my head as a top-bike, but the Colnago as not quite so good…
I suspect most people considering the purchase of a high end road bike look to the results/use in pro racing and brand name, over Zwift ratings.
In Colnago’s case, it may be as simple as making it more of a household name, so that it is on people’s radar where otherwise it wouldn’t be.
I agree. But better rating (or rather performance) makes more people use it, therefore increasing the visibility of the bike/brand. That is true especially for the bikes that are at the top step performance wise (on Zwift).
Wonder when zwift are going to produce some Bianchi bikes with decent star rating
So it will climb better than my Zwift Carbon during the Haute Route, but not one to get to keep (unless they give it away to HR finishers). Oh well, that’s an anti-climax.
Re bikes using Campy – I just clicked over to your frame ranking article and noticed that the bike in the foreground has Campy (presumably SuperRecord). No idea what frame it is but there’s a Z on the seat tube, so maybe a Zwift Aero?
I believe so! Good spot.
The Pinarello from the Giro d’Italia challenge is also Campagnolo.
Articles on your site suggest Cannondale Evo has the same speed climbing as the Tarmac Pro. Is that still true? Things change on Zwift so just curious.
Yes, in our Alpe climb tests they’re essentially the same: https://zwiftinsider.com/fastest-bike-alpe/
I make a simple calculation for bikes… Is it better on the flat than S-Works Venge, better on hills than S-Works Tarmac or better on mixed courses than Tron…
Tron is cheating, dont forget that ^^
Don’t say that! I’m just about to go and do one more climb of the Alpe to get it!
I earned that tron…no way it’s cheating.
Tarmac Pro not enough to help me do the Alpe in 49:11 :DDD
So I’m going to be forced to use an inferior bike to my Aeroad for Haute Route?! Ah well I suppose it is the same for everyone
Same here. Or the evo for the third day. At least we can choose are wheels where the most speed difference matters. So enve 3.4 for day 2 and 3 if you do not have the lightweights wheels from the alp spinner. Not sure between the 3.4 or dt Swiss for first day.
DT swiss. Lots of flat on day one.
I pick the DT Suisse over the 3.4’s on anything flatter than Road To Sky. Quatch Quest is no-brainer: go DT.
I wouldn’t be sure about that one, since all the media pictures of the V3Rs are with the Lightweights. Could be that you are forced to ride with the LWs. Wouldn’t be bad in the end, since everyone would be riding the same thing.
The media shots that I have seen with riders in this year’s HR kit show the bikes all with Campag Bora wheels. While the bike may not be great, I am a newby still on the Zwift Carbon, with the Enve 3.4s, so anything would be an improvement for me on the frame, and at least I will not be at a disadvantage to anyone else for once! I am getting closer to having enough drops for the Aeroad, and am hopeful that the HR will get me there. At least it doesn’t sound like I will be wishing I… Read more »
Update – I rode Stage 1 this morning and we get to use our own wheels with the frame.
How do you choose? If you have them on a bike (so Cha he now and get off my tron) they transfer? Can you change more than once (like after the climb)? Finally mountain bike frame I assume we can’t bike swap for jungle?
You cannot swap bike. The Colnago takes the last wheels you had on before the stage. You can go to the garage and change your wheelset 9and the bike color).
When the difference between a “good” bike like this colnago and a “great” bike like the tarmac pro is 14 seconds, I dare say it doesn’t matter much at all which bike to pick. 14 secs is between the ears in my book!
Not really. 14 seconds is still 14 seconds, it’s measurable. And before you say, well it doesn’t matter. Imagine if you get dropped from a faster group because you crested the reverse hilly 2 seconds slower. That can translate to 5 mins by the end of the event.
Reverse KOM I mean… I need to go to sleep.
I saw a ASTANA team player widing Wilier frame in France map few months ago. Wilier frame havn’t be released. But regard to colnago v3rs, i won’t expect anything.
here mentioned fastest climb frame is tarmac pro, isn’t it already replaced by canyon aeroad 2021?
Not after Zwift changed it! https://zwiftinsider.com/updated-canyon-aeroad-2021/
This Zwift star-based performance indication is a joke. Selecting a bike based on these stars is ridiculous. Thankfully, we have the Zwiftinsider analysis. Thank you Eric. At least, this time, they didn’t overestimate performance and then downgrade it like they did with Canyon Aeroad
Yeah, that star system is useless. Long overdue for an overhaul to give the user actual insight as to how well a bike or wheel performs.
another useless bike in the garage. Unless you are a Colnago super fan why on earth would you purchase this? as other have mentioned, Colgnago didn’t pay enough to get better specs
Wait what? Their sticking me on some bike but I have to pick wheels for it? When do I do that? I have 808s, the small
enve’s (3.4), dunno just ride my tron. Level 31 abs 4 million drops. Any specific recs?
C’mon folks help a fastidious rider out here 🙂 1) wheel change when and mid race? 2) mountain bike swap I assume no but did anyone try?
Just realized I could go try now and did can change wheels bike color, all accessories just not frame itself no mountain bike switch. Eric I think enve 3.4s Vs my zipp 404 or 808 but I have 4 million drops I think ok good but any thoughts?
For the first event, I’d go with a fairly aero setup. 3.4s won’t help you must compared to the major aero gains of 808s.
Went with the dt swiss on stage one it worked well. Thinking the enve 3.4 for stage two and three. Too much time climbing compared to time spent going down and on the flat to use aero wheels.
Wow, what a crappy bike.