Despite relinquishing its role as title sponsor, Merida has confirmed its commitment to the newly formed WorldTour team Bahrain McLaren as its equipment partner for the next three years. Merida first entered the road cycling scene in 2013 with Lampre-Merida in an attempt to increase its presence on the road cycling scene, a role that continued when the team transitioned to Bahrain-Merida in 2017.

For the 2020 season, Merida will offer the Bahrain McLaren team three bike options. In a bold move and one that resonates with the industry's current rhetoric and philosophy of thought, the brand will supply bikes equipped exclusively with disc brakes.

According to Jürgen Falke, product director and general manager of Merida Bikes, "Disc brake-equipped bikes represent 90% of our total sales, and regardless of what traditionalists think, soon rim brake bikes will be completely discontinued from our product portfolio altogether."

"The evidence and science is there, rim brake bikes do not have the same level of performance as disc brakes. When rain and bad weather is added, the difference is exponentially greater.

Last season's bikes were by no means the ugliest in the World Tour, but in 2020, Merida's presence in the peloton will be enhanced by a McLaren-inspired livery.

As a result, the bikes will feature McLaren's famous papaya orange. McLaren is one of the world's most successful and winning companies in Formula 1 and motorsports, so the introduction of this hallowed color was a natural fit for the title sponsor

.

However, to preserve the team's previous color scheme, cyan is used on the inner fork and saddle rails, while a red band and black tie the visuals together. The bike's manufacturer's name on the downtube and sponsor embellishments on the top tube and chainstays add to the bike's presence.

Curb weight is always a major factor in the pro peloton, especially in the mountain stages of Grand Tours. To allay these concerns and validate Merida's choice to go the disc brake route, the company spent nearly a year experimenting with different carbon fiber lamination techniques to not only ensure the lightest possible frameset, but to improve crash resistance across the board.

As it stands, the Merida Scultura disc, with pedals and cycling computer, comes in at a UCI-rated 6.8 kg. The React Disc also underwent a rigorous diet of shaving a few grams here and there and replacing various components to shed about 300 grams worth of fat, resulting in an aero road bike weighing 7.1 kg. One of the ways Merida was able to cut so many grams was by switching from Fulcrum Speed wheels to Vision Metron tubulars.

Bahrain McLaren will start next year with the current 3rd generation React, but a completely new version featuring hidden cables and full integration is scheduled for introduction and launch mid-year. The React, with its rumored 950g frame, will no doubt be seen at next year's races. It will consist of a 53/39T and 11-32T drivetrain assembly, pedals, and hydraulic stoppers, depending on the rider. As mentioned above, Vision is providing the team with Metron wheels paired with Continental Competition tubular tires.

Asked about the possibility of the team using tubeless tires next year, Falke assured that is the way forward. He said, "There is no doubt that tubeless tires are faster and more comfortable. The benefits far outweigh the possibility of it not working out if you look at Paris-Roubaix.

The finishing kit includes an FSA K-Force seatpost, Prologo saddle, and a fully integrated cockpit with Vision's ultra-clean Metron 5D bar/stem system. Pro-Logo bar tape and Elite Leggero carbon bottle cages complete the bike.

Frameset Merida Scultura Dura-Ace Di2 Disc

Front Brake: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 Rear Brake: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 Brake/Shift Lever. Ace R9170: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 Front Derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 Rear Derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace 11-32T Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 chainrings 53/39

Wheelset: Vision Metron 40SL TUBTyres: Continental Competition ALX ProLTD, 25mm tubular [8 9] Handlebar/stem: Vision Metron 5D integrated Handlebar tape: Prologo Pedals Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 Seatpost: FSA K-Force Light

Bottle cages: Elite Leggero carbon