'It corners like it's on rails' – at £2,400 for the entry-level model and with all the aero you'll need, Merida has knocked it out of the park with the new Reacto

Fifth-generation Merida Reacto on platform at global reveal.

It’s been six years since Merida unveiled the fourth-generation Reacto, and despite mounting peer pressure to chop weight and make the platform even more aero than ever, it’s managed to stay relevant and competitive. Merida, however, was secretly working on a successor behind the scenes, and Bahrain Victorious rider Matej Mohoric even went as far as to test a new Reacto prototype in the open at last year’s Tour de France.

Merida and Bahrain Victorious, unfortunately, parted ways at the end of 2025 after a nine-year partnership, and now finds itself without a WorldTour team for 2026 – an unfortunate outcome given the work put into the new Reacto platform. The word on the street, however, suggests Merida will be back in the WorldTour in 2027 but that's a story for another day...

Author Aaron Borrill took the Reacto up ridiculously steep 10km Puerto de El Bartolo climb that will feature in this year's stage 6 of the Vuelta a España – look at that view (Image credit: Aaron Borrill)