Has Pogačar Killed The Climbing Wheel?

In 2026, Tadej Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates squad have shifted the meta, opting for wheels at least 60mm deep—even on the hilliest race days. But is this just for the pros, or should amateur riders be ditching their 40mm "all-rounders" for something deeper?

In this video, Ollie breaks down the data behind the move to deep-section wheels. He looks at the marginal gains in watts, why the "weight penalty" of deeper rims is much smaller than you think and explains how much performance you’re actually leaving on the table.

0:00 The 60mm Revolution: Pogačar’s Winning Edge
0:42 Why 40-45mm Wheels Became the "Standard"
1:34 The Data: Watts Saved at 45km/h
3:34 Aero vs. Weight: Does 100g Really Matter?
5:14 Milan San Remo Case Study
6:38 Is 60mm Relevant for Amateur Speeds?
8:53 Handling the Wind: Stability & Modern Tech
11:15 Why Brand & Tire Choice Still Matter
12:25 Are Climbing Wheels Dead?
13:10 What’s Your Ideal Wheel Depth?

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If you could only own one set of deep-section wheels for all your riding, what depth would you choose: 40mm, 50mm, or 60mm+? 👇

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