Unseen and new time trial frameset used for the first time in stage 3's team time trial
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Vincenzo Nibali's Merida Time Warp TT(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Vincenzo Nibali and his Bahrain-Merida teammates use Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 pedals(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Bahrain-Merida use Elite Crono CX bottle cages on the time trial frameset(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Nibali uses an unbranded Fulcrum 55T AC3 front carbon wheel(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Grip tape on the base bars reduces weight and improves aerodynamics(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Nibali's Merida is equipped with a Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 drivetrain with an SRM Origin crankset(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A Shimano Di2 charging and adjustment port is located at the bottom of the main frame triangle(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 derailleurs provide the shifting on Nibali's Merida(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A cable tie holds the Di2 cable to a proprietary, direct-mount rear derailleur hanger and also out of the wind (Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Until today the Merida Time Warp TT hadn't been tested in a race scenario and it is understood it was only very recently approved by the UCI for racing. It doesn't appear on the UCI approved frames and forks list yet either.
The frameset features a complete overhaul of the existing Merida Warp TT frameset design, with the most obvious change being the oversized tubing junctions, which form triangular sections at the seat cluster, head tube cluster and bottom bracket area – a design that shares similarities with Canyon’s Speedmax frameset.
The frameset uses a Vision Metron Trimax carbon cockpit, with Nibali opting to use grip tape rather than handlebar tape on the base bars and handlebar extensions.
Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 components provided the shifting and braking for Nibali’s time trial setup, while an SRM Origin crankset with Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 series chainrings sat at the head of the drivetrain.
Photographed with 56/44 chainrings, like the majority of the peloton, Nibali actually used a 58-tooth outer chainring for the team time trial on stage three of the Tour.
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Fulcrum carbon wheels were paired with 25mm Continental Grand Prix ALX tubular tyres and Nibali opted for a Prologo Dimension saddle.
Click or swipe through the gallery above for a closer look at the new time trial frameset from Merida.
