Team Bahrain Victorious put the fifth generation Scultura thoroughly through its paces, winning mountain top stages of the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana before the bike was even launched.
Gen 5 keeps the Scultura's fabled lightweight, agility and rider comfort focus and even manages to improve on both measures.
The Scultura now incorporates learnings from the Reacto in terms of aerodynamics; they now share the same race proven geometry.
Improving weight, comfort and aerodynamics requires plenty of engineering ingenuity. Round tubes are lighter than aero profiled tubes, fatter tyres are more comfortable but less aerodynamic. There are always compromises to be made.
The new Scultura is the most aerodynamic ever and shows outstanding compliance, providing class-leading rider comfort. The marketing blurb suggests this helps keep the body fresh for the final sprint or ascent. A couple of mountain top, grand tour stage victories underline that point quite well!
"The new generation of the MERIDA SCULTURA scores in many areas: Weight, stiffness, handling. It is a top sporty all-rounder. The equipment is at a top level." - RennRad magazine (Germany)
SPECIFICATION -
FRAME - SCULTURA CF5 V, 700x30C max wheelsize, 100x12/ 142x12mm axle standard, Pressfit 86,5
FORK - SCULTURA CF5 Disc
BRAKES - Shimano Dura Ace, Hydraulic Disc
ROTORS - Shimano MT900, 160mm front, 140mm rear
BRAKE LEVER - Shimano Dura Ace Disc
HEADSET - MERIDA TEAM SL
HANDLEBAR - MERIDA TEAM SL 1P INTEGRATED
HANDLEBAR STEM - MERIDA TEAM ONE-PIECE INTEGRATED
GRIP - MERIDA ROAD Expert
DERAILLEUR (F) - Shimano Dura Ace Di2
DERAILLEUR (R) - Shimano Dura Ace Di2
SHIFTERS - Shimano Dura Ace Disc Di2
SEAT POST - MERIDA TEAM SL
SEAT CLAMP - MERIDA EXPERT
SADDLE - Prologo Scratch M5
CHAIN - Shimano CN-M9100-12
CRANK - Shimano Dura Ace
FREEWHEEL - Shimano CS-R9200
BOTTOM BRACKET - SM-BB92-41B, Pressfit 86.5
WHEELSET - ZIPP 353 NSW TL Disc
TYRES - Continental Grand Prix 5000S, 700 x 28c
AXLES - MERIDA EXPERT SL
MAX. WEIGHT - 120 kg