Merida has unveiled the new ETMO, its 'most price-focused' Bosch-powered electric mountain bike to date. The brand says the bike is designed to bring full-power performance to a broader audience without diluting its trail credentials. The ETMO is built around an aluminium full-suspension frame and takes cues from Meridas eONE-EIGHTY. The bike comes with 160mm or 140mm of travel, depending on the model. The ETMO looks to offer great versatility, with the 400 EQ and 500 EQ coming equipped with mudguards and a rack, opening the door for e-bikepacking. Prices start at 3,650 / 4,380 for the ETMO 400, and top out at 5,250 / 6,300 for the more aggressive, trail-ready ETMO 800. Bosch power meets alloy know-how The Performance Line CX motor is better suited to trail riding. Merida Merida says it has used long-standing expertise in aluminium frame design and manufacturing to hit this aggressive price point with the ETMO. It says the cheaper frame retains the ride quality and durability riders expect from its eMTB range. At the heart of the ETMO sits a Bosch Performance Line drive system, bringing full-power assistance to the platform. The system depends on the model, with the ETMO 400 Pro, 500 Pro, 700 and 800 featuring the trail-oriented Performance Line CX, while the 400 and 500 models use the more utilitarian Performance Line PX model. There's a variety of battery sizes through the model range, too, with the smallest being the PowerTube 540 and the largest the PowerTube 800. The bike takes design cues from the eONE-EIGHTY. Merida The goal, according to Merida, was to create a bike that could be used in anger by newer riders and experienced eMTB users alike. The geometry and suspension kinematics are designed to deliver stable, confidence-inspiring handling without sacrificing playfulness on the trail. 140mm and 160mm travel options There are two travel options. Merida Depending on the model, the ETMO platform delivers either 140mm or 160mm of suspension travel from its all-aluminium frame. The longer-travel versions, 700 and above, are positioned as aggressive all-rounders, suited to enduro-style terrain, bike-park sessions and bigger mountain adventures. Meanwhile, the 140mm options, the 400 and 500, are intended to strike a balance between efficiency and capability for trail riders looking for a versatile do-it-all machine. SUV eMTB The ETMO 500 EQ looks similar to Specialized's Terro X. Merida The EQ models come equipped with mudguards and pannier racks, which could make them capable all-terrain commuter bikes. Merida ETMO pricing Merida ETMO 400: 3,650 / 4,380 Merida ETMO 400 EQ: 3,800 / 4,555 Merida ETMO 400 Pro: 4,100 / 5,000 Merida ETMO 500: 3,900 / 4,700 Merida ETMO 500 EQ: 4,050 / 4,875 Merida ETMO 500 Pro: 4,400 / 5,280 Merida ETMO 700: 4,600 / 5,500 Merida ETMO 800: 5,250 / 6,300

Raphas latest kit for Team Amani is said to pay homage to East Africas rich cultural traditions in cloth textiles, while expressing the belief that the region will become for cycling what it has for running. East Africa is a heartland of record-breaking runners responsible for incredible feats of human endurance but the region's potential for cycling is largely untapped. That's where Amani comes in. Based for much of the year in Iten's "Home of Champions", Amani riders train in Kenyas Great Rift Valley at 2,400m above sea level, Rapha says. Team Amani was founded in 2020 and addresses the inequalities that have kept African cyclists out of the top tier of the sport, Rapha says. You may like: New Black Cyclones book extract: a call for a revolution by the global Black cycling community to transform the sport The launch campaign includes a headpiece made from Sisal, a fibre used across Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Rapha From limited access to international races and lack of high-performance infrastructure, to barriers in visa, travel, and sponsorship systems, the obstacles have been many but not insurmountable, Rapha continues. Having started in gravel racing, the womens team stepped up to the UCI Womens Continental last year. It now aims to take its success to the road, and to reach the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift by 2028, alongside the Giro d'Italia Women and La Vuelta Femenina. Team Amanis 2026 kit features recurring motifs representing sunshine, peace and energy. The Adey Abeda flower, an emblem of the Ethiopian new year, is used across garments. The kit has repeating patterns, but with irregularities. Rapha There is also an alternate red jersey. Rapha Inspired by multi-hued fabrics that reflect centuries of craftsmanship, Rapha's 2026 collection for Team Amani brings the heritage of East African printing and materials to proven aerodynamic apparel. From the Kanga of Kenya to the Congolese Kuba, in East Africa, cloth is culture. Patterns and materials are passed through generations, Rapha says. Reflective of this craft heritage, Rapha has introduced irregularities into the design to represent hand-woven textiles based on natural dyes that have been tweaked to match a contemporary palette. A close-up of the Team Amani bib shorts. Rapha To launch the new kit, Rapha worked with former bike racer and photographer Finley Newmark and Nairobi-based stylist Kennedy Mirema. They incorporated the foundational materials of East Africa, including Sisal, a fibre common across Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia for making traditional attire.This is used in the campaign to create a headpiece as a tribute to the craftsmanship and textures that define the region. Rapha has been an official sponsor of Team Amani since 2024, despite a shake-up elsewhere at the brand. Last year, Rapha ended its partnership with EF Pro Cycling after seven years, before announcing a new partnership with Team USA. Raphas CEO Fran Millar said the relationship with EF Pro Cycling had gotten tired and that working with Team USA is a way to speak to a new and different demographic. Read more: Rapha reveals first kit collection with USA Cycling

From the 16th to the 22nd of February, the peloton will be in the Middle East for what is the second World Tour stage-race of the season: the UAE Tour. The race, characterized by its flat stages and hot weather, will once again host some of the world's very best. We take a look at its profiles. The...

From the 16th to the 22nd of February, the peloton will be in the Middle East for what is the second World Tour stage-race of the season: the UAE Tour. The race, characterized by its flat stages and hot weather, will once again host some of the world's very best. Here is when and where to watch the...

Clubs and organisers must rise to meet the modern challenge of promoting racing on the open road or see it fade away, says Brian Cookson

From its humble beginnings in a Wisconsin barn in 1976, Trek Bicycles has grown into one of the largest bicycle brands in the world. Over its 50-year history, Trek has been at the forefront of bike design and technology, with an evolving mission that includes sustainability initiatives, advocacy, expanding cycling access, and encouraging adults and youth to get into the sport.To celebrate its 50th Anniversary, Trek has unveiled a limited edition collection of paint schemes that it says reflects the brands origins and its purpose for the next 50 years: changing the world through bikes. This collection includes three limited-edition bikes: The First 50 Project One ICON, The First 50 Replica, and No. 76 Project One ICON. These bikes are only available for pre-order during a six-week period, now through April 13, 2026.The First 50 ICON and ReplicaThe First 50 paint scheme represents Treks story in a collection of graphics.The First 50 paint scheme represents the story of Trek over the past 50 years through 50 separate graphics, each representing its innovations, values, people, and defining moments. According to Trek, each graphic speaks of a chapter in the brands story from its barn beginnings to its current position as a global leader in cycling.The graphics include images of the original barn where the brand was founded, Treks founders, various sustainability milestones, and references many of its innovations and initiatives. It also pays tribute to Gary Fisher and Keith Bontrager, whose brands ultimately joined Trek and helped shape its future.There are surprises everywhere on the frame, said Micah Moran, Treks Art Director and lead designer on the project. Each graphic element represents something real that shaped Trek and shaped cycling. Its a bike you can ride and a story you can explore.Riders curious about learning the meaning behind all of the graphics can take a deep dive into an editorial feature on the brands website, where there are explanations for each of the 50 illustrations. Additionally, a 50th anniversary coffee table book is coming in June 2026, expanding on each graphic and telling the story of Treks first 50 years.The Trek website includes descriptions providing the meaning behind each graphic in The First 50 paint scheme.The Lidl-Trek World Tour teams will also race aboard bikes with the limited-edition The First 50 paint schemes on the worlds biggest stage the 2026 Tour de France Femmes and Tour de France.But you dont have to be a World Tour rider to get one of these bikes. The First 50 ICON is available exclusively on the Madone SLR 9 AXS. The limited-edition frames are numbered on the chainstay and include special finishing details, including a limited-edition white saddle with red rails and Aeolus RSL wheels with matching graphics. This ultra-premium, limited edition ride is as top of the line as you can get, and it will cost you $16,000.The First 50 Replica adds the limited edition paint scheme to the Madone SL 7 and costs a heck of a lot less than the ICON.If youre interested in The First 50 paint scheme, but not interested in paying $16K to get it, The First 50 Replica might be for you. It features the same paint scheme and 50th anniversary iconography on the frame of the Madone SL 7. It lacks a few of the finishing touches, but otherwise looks nearly the same, and it sells for $6,600.No. 76 ICONThe No. 76 ICON paint scheme is quite a bit more subdued, but still pops with gold highlights and subtle throwback details.According to the brand, No. 76 is a bridge between where Trek began and where were headed. This paint scheme aims to honor the brands heritage by combining it with the present. It includes the original Trek logo and a heritage blue color inspired by its earliest bikes, with golden anniversary highlights and graphics for a decidedly classy and more subtle look than The First 50.According to Trek, The scheme features Treks original 1976 logo, a graphic of Treks early brass-plate headbadge, and the brands heritage blue, a color inspired by Treks earliest handmade touring bikes. The design is intentionally restraineda minimal, elegant nod to the era when five employees in a red Wisconsin barn set out to build something better.The No. 76 ICON combines a modern superbike with a retro-inspired paint scheme.The No. 76 paint scheme is available exclusively on Treks fastest road platform, the Madone SLR 9 AXS. It includes Aeolus RSL wheels with special golden decals, as well as a special edition white saddle with red rails. Like The First 50 ICON, the No. 76 ICON is an ultra-premium ride, with a $16,000 price tag.50th Anniversary AccessoriesTreks 50th Anniversary collection will expand beyond the bikes described above to some more affordable accessories, including a limited-edition jersey, water bottles, a t-shirt, and more.Trek 50th Anniversary Bikes: AvailabilityThe bikes in Treks 50th Anniversary Collection are available for preorder now through April 13, 2026, with deliveries beginning in June.Head to the Trek website or your local Trek dealer to learn more or preorder.trekbikes.comThe post Trek Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary with Limited Edition Collection appeared first on Bikerumor.

NS1 aero road bike drops a staggering 203g and has provision for up to 35mm tyres

INEOS Grenadiers have revealed their lineup for the 2026 UAE Tour and it is a team that mostly consists of young riders that the team is giving opportunities to. However, the British team can very well chase stage wins, as they make it to the Middle East with Joshua Tarling and Sam Welsford in their...