Said to be faster, lighter, more compliant, and it’s already got four stage wins under its belt
(Image credit: Merida)
Merida just announced the launch of the all-new Scultura Team for 2022. Featuring aerodynamic tubing profiles, a wider tyre clearance, and the brand's all-new one-piece carbon cockpit with Force Diffuser technology, Merida says its new Scultura Team is not only more aero, but also more compliant and lightweight - a trio of qualities very difficult to combine, making it a potential contender in the best road bikes market. Even bigger news is that it comes sporting the just-announced Dura-Ace 9200 series groupset, complete with a power meter.
Now in its fifth generation, the Scultura comes with a rich race heritage and even has four wins under its belt this year, from the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España. It's been the go-to bike for Merida's World Tour teams for years and bears the name of Team Bahrain Victorious on its frame.
The Scultura Team edition fits into the Merida road bike range as a model for serious racers at the highest level, alongside aggressive riders taking on sportives, gran fondos, and fast-paced club runs.
Lighter weight
A balance between weight and aerodynamics is always going to be an art rather than a science. According to Merida, the Scultura Team continues to tip towards the lightest weight possible, even with better aerodynamics on hand.
The brand says that by optimising the carbon layup and using a greater percentage higher-modulus carbon fibre, the new Scultura weighs in at 822g for a size medium frame. That's 4.4 per cent lighter than its predecessor and potentially making way for a space on the best lightweight road bikes list.
More aerodynamic
Merida says these weight savings don't come at the expense of wind-cheating aerodynamics, as it's leveraged the lessons of its Reacto aero bike to make the Scultura more aero even while the weight dips. Specifically, that means a reduced frontal area and adapting aero specific Reacto design features around the head tube and fork area. It also means introducing complete cable integration with a one-piece carbon cockpit, hiding the seatpost clamp, and lowering the attachment points of the seat stays.
According to Merida, these changes add up to substantial drag reduction. The outgoing model generated 234.3 watts of drag at 45km/h (just under 28mph) with 40mm wheels and a weight of 6.9kg. Moving to the new model is said to reduce drag by 10 watts at the same speed, while also weighing slightly less with deeper wheels. Compared to the Reacto it's just over a 10-watt penalty while realising a weight saving of 300 grams, and makes it all the more possible that the Scultura Team could find its way onto our list of the best aero road bikes.
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Better compliance
The best race bikes aren't just light and fast, they are responsive and comfortable over the long haul. Merida says it has made updates in this area as well.
According to the brand, compared to the previous iteration of the Scultura, the bottom bracket stiffness remains at 62 N/mm of deflection while lateral fork stiffness is up 12.8 per cent to 53 N/mm. That likely means better pedalling efficiency and more precise steering performance, though Merida claims comfort gets equal billing.
The brand says it has built more compliance into the Scultura Team, with a 40mm shorter seat tube that reveals more of the seat post and introduces a bit of flex, as well as clearance for 30mm tyres. This makes it possible to run lower pressures, reduce rolling resistance and increase puncture resistance. Merida also claims to have reduced vertical stiffness between the bottom bracket and saddle from 111 N/mm to below 80 N/mm.
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The 2022 Merida Scultura Team(Image credit: Merida)
A reduced frontal area contributes to better aerodynamics(Image credit: Merida)
Lowered seat stays do the same(Image credit: Merida)
A direct mount rear derailleur improves shifting(Image credit: Merida)
The brand new Shimano Dura-Ace 9200 series is the powerhouse behind it(Image credit: Merida)
CNC-machined cooling fins help to dissipate braking heat(Image credit: Merida)
The frame bears the name of Merida's World Tour team, Bahrain Victorious(Image credit: Merida)
The Scultura Team V features a fully integrated cockpit(Image credit: Merida)
New Dura-Ace shifters are on board(Image credit: Merida)
All cables are internally routed through the stem for a neat finish up front(Image credit: Merida)
Aero tubing profiles can be found throughout(Image credit: Merida)
The Scultura comes with a rich racing heritage and has long been the go-to bike for Merida's World Tour teams(Image credit: Merida)
With a shorter seat tube, more seat post is exposed, which builds in some more compliance(Image credit: Merida)
Despite incorporating aero tubing profiles, Merida says the Scultura is lighter than ever(Image credit: Merida)
The cockpit clamping mechanism is Merida's Force Diffuser, which it says spreads the load of clamping force to prevent steerer fatigue(Image credit: Merida)
There's ample clearance for 30mm tyres now(Image credit: Merida)
Pricing and availability
Availability varies by country but the 2022 Merida Scultura Team should begin to appear in November. Pricing is set at £7,750 / €9,999.
Specifications and other features
There are plenty of other new features not yet touched upon, including the brand's new one-piece carbon cockpit. With integrated stem and spacers, and internal cable routing that funnels everything through the stem, the end result is a neat and tidy front area.
The brand also introduces its Force Diffuser technology: this is wrapped around the carbon steerer to, according to Merida, help spread the load of force to reduce fork steerer fatigue.
Powering the new Scultura Team is the all-new Shimano Dura-Ace 9200 series groupset, including a direct-mount rear derailleur for improved shifting, while the disc brake callipers feature CNC-machined cooling fins which apparently reduce braking temperatures by a third when tackling long and demanding descents.
Finally the bike comes fitted with a Prologo Scratch M5 saddle with carbon rails, Vision Metron 45 SL tubeless-ready wheels shod with Continental 5000 Tubeless 28mm tyres, 12mm thru-axles and size-specific stem lengths and bar widths to accommodate riders of varying sizes while keeping everything in proportion.
Weight: frame (822 g in size M) fork (389 g in size M)
Groupset: Dura-Ace 12s Di2 incl. power meter
Wheelset: Vision Metron 45 SL tubeless ready
Handlebar: Merida Team SL 1P cockpit
Saddle: Prologo Scratch M5
Tyres: Continental 5000 Tubeless 28mm
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Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes.
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 140 lb.
Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx
