Colnago C72 La Scala Limited Edition Bike

The Colnago C72 La Scala Limited Edition Bike is a numbered run of 72, made to mark the C72's launch at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. It is the same hand-built Italian carbon road bike as the standard C72, dressed in a livery taken from the opera house: matte red, gold and marbled white, with an embossed trefoil emblem finished in gold leaf. Colnago says it used finishing techniques here for the first time. It is a collector's piece, and it is also a complete bike you can ride.

The C72 underneath

The frame is modular carbon, built from seven parts that are hand-assembled in Italy through joints and interlocks. Colnago has built frames this way since the early 1990s, and it was the first brand to put carbon frames in front of professional teams, famously winning Paris-Roubaix on the C40. The C72 carries that tradition forward, with joints that Colnago describes as matched like panel gaps for a cleaner overall look. A size-485 unpainted frame weighs 895g, which Colnago says is 30g less than the C68.

The C72 is also more comfortable than the C series bikes before it. Colnago redesigned the rear triangle and seat area to improve compliance, and tire clearance now goes up to 35mm. The La Scala ships with 28mm Pirelli P Zero Race TLR tires, so there is room to go wider for rougher roads or longer days. Colnago also updated the geometry with a higher stack-to-reach ratio. It is still a race-bred bike, and it can now be set up more comfortably for long rides. In the 51cm, stack is 562mm and reach is 387mm, with a 72.9-degree head tube angle.

Super Record Wireless and Bora wheels

The La Scala is built with Campagnolo's top groupset. Super Record Wireless is 13-speed, with the derailleurs, shifters, crankset, cassette and chain all from the same family. Gearing is a 52/36 crankset with an 11-36 cassette, a wide spread that suits mixed terrain as well as flat group rides. Hydraulic disc brakes run 160mm rotors in front and 140mm at the rear.

The wheels are Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 Disc in a dedicated La Scala edition. The 45mm rim depth sits between a climbing wheel and a full aero section, which fits a bike meant for varied riding. The saddle is a Prologo Choice, also in a La Scala edition. Those dedicated parts, along with the numbering and the finish, are what set this bike apart. The frame technology matches the standard C72.

Cockpit and fit

The cockpit is Colnago's CC.02 integrated carbon bar and stem, with a multitool built in. Colnago says its new curve shape allows a more aggressive position and better brake control in the drops, and that it is 15g lighter than the CC.01. Bar reach is 80mm with a 120mm drop. The stem is 110mm on the 48.5cm and 51cm sizes and 120mm on the 53cm. The edition comes in those three sizes, with 170mm cranks on the smallest and 172.5mm cranks on the other two. Grip Black bar tape and a matte black bottle cage finish the build. Pedals are not included, so you can fit the ones you already trust. The maximum combined rider and equipment weight is 264 lbs.

Who it's for

Colnago has been building bikes in Cambiago, near Milan, since 1954, and the La Scala is a nod to the city around it. It suits Colnago collectors who ride, and riders who want a C72 that nobody else on the group ride has. Each bike comes with its own number and a booklet about the story behind the project. If you only want the ride, the standard C72 delivers it. If you want one of the 72, this is the version to look at.