Moving from CF3 to CF5 carbon is the reason to look at the 9000. The CF5 V frame uses premium fibres to shed weight while keeping the balance that defines this platform: low mass, razor sharp handling, useful aerodynamic efficiency and the sort of comfort that stops long races and long days from grinding you down.

The frame keeps the standards that make the bike easy to live with and easy to build cleanly: internal cable routing, a 1 1/2 to 1 1/4 tapered head tube, a 142 x 12mm rear axle, a Pressfit 86.5 bottom bracket and a flat mount rear brake with the Disc Cooler heat sink. A Scultura CF5 Disc carbon fork sits up front, and there is clearance for tyres up to 30c if you want more air volume for rough tarmac.

Shimano Ultegra Di2 handles shifting, 12-speed with a 52-36 chainset and an 11-30 R8101 cassette, and the left crank arm carries a 4iiii PML300 and Precision 3 power meter. That matters more than it sounds: you can train and pace properly from day one rather than budgeting for a power meter afterwards. Braking is Ultegra hydraulic disc.

Reynolds BL 46 Expert DB carbon wheels are 46mm deep with a 21mm inner rim width, tubeless ready with tape and valves supplied, and come fitted with Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR 28c tyres. The cockpit is a Merida Team one-piece carbon bar and stem on the Team SL headset, with a Prologo Nago R4 PAS saddle on Nack rails and a Team SL II carbon seat post. It is a race bike that is genuinely ready to race.

Features

• CF5 V carbon frame using premium fibres, with Scultura CF5 Disc carbon fork
• Shimano Ultegra Di2 12-speed electronic shifting, 52-36 chainset, 11-30 cassette
• 4iiii PML300 and Precision 3 left arm power meter fitted as standard
• Reynolds BL 46 Expert DB carbon wheelset, 46mm deep, 21mm inner rim width, tubeless ready
• Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc brakes with Disc Cooler flat mount rear
• Merida Team one-piece carbon cockpit and Team SL II carbon seat post
• Prologo Nago R4 PAS saddle with Nack rails
• Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR 700x28C tubeless ready tyres, clearance up to 30c