Sonny Colbrelli's Merida Reacto for the 2017 Tour de France - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
The unreleased Vision Metron 6D integrated stem and handlebars - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Colbrelli runs 172.5mm cranks - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Neat cable routing to the Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 rear derailleur - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Updated seatstays on the new Reacto improve ride comfort - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Key design features of the Reacto remain - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Colbrelli runs Fulcrum's Speed 55t wheels for the flatter stages of the Tour - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Most teams are still getting use out of their Dura-Ace 9000 pedals before they switch over to the latest 9100 series pedals - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Another update on the Reacto is an improved S-Flex carbon seatpost - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Bahrain-Merida and Astana have their team colours on the Prologo saddles - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
The S-Flex seatpost features a silicone rubber insert, similar to Specialized's Zertz inserts - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
An updated head cluster contributes to the Reacto's improved aerodynamics compared to its predecessor - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
A narrower head tube on the Reacto also results in the lower headset bearing being positioned lower down - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
The flat, deep profile tubes on the Vision Metron 6D handlebars - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
While stage 4 looked straight forward on paper, the Cavendish/Sagan saga gave everyone something to talk about - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
The Reacto is equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 brakes front and rear - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Colbrelli opts for sprint shifters on the drops - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 shifters on the Merida Reacto - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Continental's Competition ALX 25mm tubular tyres are the most popular tyres in the WorldTour peloton - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Bahrain-Merida runs Elite Vico Carbon bottle cages - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Room for 25mm tyres and seemingly more, depending on what the brake calipers allow - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
The rear brake is positioned underneath the bottom bracket - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
As with most aero road bikes, the Reacto has an integrated seatpost clamp - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
One of the more obvious updates on the bike is the new top tube shape - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
The new Reacto is available in disc or caliper versions, with two geometry types for each - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Sonny Colbrelli has achieved three top 10s so far in his debut Tour de France, equalling his best showing among his six Grand Tour appearances.
The 27-year-old Italian joined Bahrain-Merida for the 2017 season, which is his first at WorldTour level.
In a distinctive vinyl wrap, Colbrelli debuted the 2018 Merida Reacto at the Criterium du Dauphine in June. Released officially a few days before the Grand Depart in Dusseldorf, the 2018 Merida Reacto sees a raft of changes from its predecessor.
Riding on Reacto CF4 geometry, Colbrelli unsurprisingly opts for the more aggressive geometry option of the model. The two geometry options are available in both disc and caliper versions, with all four models of the frame approved by the UCI.
Updated seatstays on the new Reacto improve ride comfort - Josh Evans / Immediate Media
Updated seatstays to the rear of the frame are reduced in size and feature a sharper angle to the rear dropouts, resulting in greater comfort and claimed aero improvements.
The front end of the bike sees more aero optimisation. The head cluster of the bike is designed to be paired with Vision’s Metron 5D integrated handlebar and stem cockpit, although Colbrelli runs an updated version of the Metron 5D, the 6D.
While the Metron 5D system runs a 10-degree forward curve on the bars for a more ergonomic fit, the Metron 6D runs at zero degrees, a straight system that reduces frontal surface area.
Merida has the Metron 6D exclusively until April 2018, when the handlebar system will become available to buy as a standalone product.
Bahrain-Merida’s bikes are paired with Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 groupsets, and power meter equipped cranksets provided by SRM.
