Tudor has struck gold—or rather, yellow—with its latest release celebrating cycling icon Fabian Cancellara’s triumphant return to the Tour de France.
The Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono “Yellow” represents more than just another colorway; it’s a tribute to one of cycling’s greatest champions and a strategic move that might signal bigger changes ahead for the Swiss watchmaker.
Cancellara’s Golden Return
When Tudor first launched the Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition” in 2024, many assumed it would remain a unique offering in the brand’s catalog. After all, mechanical chronographs dedicated to competitive cycling occupy a distinctly niche market segment. However, Tudor has proven that assumption wrong with not one, but two additional limited editions following the original release.
The newest addition, the Pelagos FXD Chrono “Yellow” (ref. 25827KNJN), celebrates a remarkable milestone: Fabian Cancellara’s return to the Tour de France as team owner of the Tudor Pro Cycling Team. This marks the first time the team will compete in cycling’s most prestigious race, making 2025 a landmark year for both Cancellara and Tudor.
Cancellara’s relationship with Tudor extends far beyond typical brand ambassador arrangements. The Olympic gold medalist and championship-winning cyclist retired from competitive racing in 2016 but maintained his connection to the sport by partnering with Tudor to establish the Tudor Pro Cycling Team in 2022.
His racing pedigree speaks for itself: 29 days in the Tour de France’s coveted yellow jersey and eight stage victories. The yellow colorway serves as a direct homage to this legendary achievement, as the race leader traditionally dons the iconic yellow jersey.
Technically, the Pelagos FXD Chrono “Yellow” mirrors its recently released sibling, the “Pink” edition that commemorated Tudor’s role as Official Timekeeper of the Giro d’Italia. Both models are limited to 300 examples and share nearly identical specifications, with color being the primary differentiator.
The 43mm carbon composite case measures 13.2mm thick, incorporating the height of its domed sapphire crystal. Titanium construction for the screw-down crown and chronograph pushers, along with the signature fixed bars connecting the lugs, maintain the model’s robust character while ensuring 100 meters of water resistance.
The dial showcases Tudor’s attention to detail with “Snowflake” hands, hour markers carved from luminescent ceramic composite, and a cycling-specific spiral tachymeter scale. Yellow accents extend throughout the subdial markings, creating a cohesive visual theme that differentiates it from the standard “Cycling Edition’s” red highlights. A fabric strap with pass-through design and central yellow stripe completes the aesthetic package.
Strategic Moves and Future Implications
The rapid succession of limited-edition chronographs from Tudor raises intriguing questions about the brand’s strategic direction. Within recent months, Tudor has released three racing-themed chronographs with carbon composite cases: the two cycling-focused Pelagos FXD models and the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 25” celebrating their Formula 1 partnership. This concentrated release pattern suggests more than coincidental timing.
Currently, Tudor relies on Breitling’s Caliber B01 architecture for its MT5813 automatic chronograph movement, a relationship established through a 2017 partnership where both brands exchanged movements to supplement their catalogs.
The MT5813 operates at 28,800vph with a 70-hour power reserve, featuring column wheel and vertical clutch construction typical of high-end chronographs. While it maintains COSC chronometer certification and adheres to Tudor’s stringent -2/+4 seconds daily accuracy standards, it notably lacks the METAS “Master Chronometer” certification found in some recent Tudor releases.
The timing and nature of these limited releases could indicate Tudor’s preparation for transitioning to an in-house chronograph movement. Breitling has recently developed its own three-handed movement, potentially signaling the end of the movement exchange partnership. For Tudor, producing small-batch limited editions represents an excellent strategy for moving remaining Breitling-based inventory while building anticipation for future developments.
The collector market’s enthusiasm for Tudor limited editions virtually guarantees rapid sell-through of these 300-piece releases, making them significantly more desirable than equivalent quantities of standard production models. Tudor achieves this with minimal development costs—essentially dial and strap color changes plus caseback engraving—while commanding the same $5,600 USD retail price as the standard “Cycling Edition.”
As Tudor continues expanding its chronograph offerings after years of dive watch focus, the Pelagos FXD Chrono “Yellow” represents both a celebration of sporting excellence and a potential harbinger of manufacturing evolution. Whether clearing inventory or genuinely diversifying the catalog, Tudor has created another compelling limited edition that honors cycling heritage while maintaining the technical excellence expected from modern Swiss watchmaking.
