The Eddy Merckx 525R is our 2026 Race Bike of the Year, topping the category from a shortlist of eight bikes. In the process, it had to see off stiff competition in the final showdown between the three leading bikes of this year's test: Cervlo Soloist Force AXS Giant Propel Advanced Pro 0-Di2 Eddy Merckx 525RThese three bikes represent the very best in race-bike design in 2026. They show just how much race bikes have changed in the past decade and, in the case of the Merckx specifically, illustrate a genuine shift in how bike designers think about go-fast machines.Why did I choose the Cervlo Soloist, Giant Propel and Eddy Merckx 525R as my Race Bike of the Year finalists? And why did the Eddy Merckx take top spot in the race category? Read on to find out.Race bikes for the masses? The Merckx 525R represents the very latest thinking in race-bike design. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia Race bikes are the ultimate expression of speed on the road. Designers and engineers work tirelessly to eke out every ounce of pace to provide racers with the ideal tool to compete.That said, the latest generation of race bikes are becoming more accommodating; geometry has got less extreme as aerodynamic and biometric knowledge has increased.Thats why our trio of top-performing bikes are all as fast as ever, but easier to ride. Of course, theyre still not endurance bikes, but theyre all leagues ahead of the best race bikes from a few years ago when it comes to balancing speed and comfort.The Eddy Merckx 525R is the best weve tested in 2026, and the deserved winner of our 2026 Race Bike of the Year award. Read more on Bike of the Year 2026 Revealed: our Bike of the Year 2026 winners Why the Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 won our gravel category (and overall title) What is Bike of the Year? 2026 Race Bike of the Year shortlist 2026 Endurance Bike of the Year shortlist 2026 Gravel Bike of the Year shortlist Our top three race bikes of the year. Scott Windsor / ourmedia What we've tested the full 2026 Race Bike of the Year shortlist Cannondale SuperSix Evo 3 review 6,995 / $6,999 / 6,499 Cervlo Soloist Force AXS review 7,000 / $8,500 / 7,499 Eddy Merckx 525R review 6,299 / $N/A / 6,999 Factor Monza SRAM Force w/Power Meter review 6,799 / $7,199 / 8,299 Giant Propel Advanced Pro 0-Di2 review 5,799 / $N/A / 6,600 Merida Reacto 10K review 9,500 / $N/A / 10,199 Rose Shave FFX Red AXS review N/A / $N/A / 8,500 Wilier Filante SLR ID2 Dura-Ace Di2 review 9,500 / $12,900 / 10,900 In third place: Cervlo Soloist Force AXS The Cervlo Soloist takes third place. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia When I first tested the new Soloist, I was enthralled by the way it handles. It gains its nimble agility from sharing much the same geometry as Cervlos featherweight R5 all-rounder.Mix that with some of the aerodynamics from the unique design of the S5 and wrap in a bit of the comfort from the Caledonia endurance bike and its my favourite drop-bar road offering from Cervlo.Its an easy bike to live with, too. Its got a T47 threaded bottom bracket, UDH rear end, generous 36mm tyre clearances, and a simpler standard front end and headset compared to the proprietary components of the Cervlo S5. The Cervlo Soloist is a truly exceptional-handling bike. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia This Force AXS bike costs 7,000 / $8,500 / 7,499, which is in line with similarly equipped rivals from Cannondale, Specialized et al. Compared to its own stablemates, however, a Force AXS equipped S5 would set you back 9,450 / $10,250 / 9,999. That's a massive saving for a premium brand bike such as this.In our Cambrian mountain shootout, the Soloist was my personal favourite when it came to fast downhill sections of road. It rides firmer than both the second-placed Giant Propel and Eddy Merckx 525R winner, though. A great all-round race bike with an aero edge. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia In second place: Giant Propel Advanced Pro 0-Di2 The Giant Propel Advanced Pro 0 is a stunning example of the modern aero race bike. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia The latest generation of the Propel gets nearly everything right the balance between light weight, aerodynamics and handling is very hard to fault. The finishing of the bike is exceptional and the equipment levels are spot-on.As soon as I rode the Propel, I knew it was something special. It has the efficient speed of a true aero race bike, yet the lightness of touch and handling of a great all-rounder. That's not surprising when you consider it shares the same geometry as one of my favourite race bikes for handling, the venerable TCR. It's just as good going uphill as it is coming back down. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia This Propel dismisses the downsides common to aero bikes; its not heavier than an all-rounder, in fact the top-of-the-range SL 0 bests the UCI limit in a size medium at 6.5kg.Even this second-tier bike is impressively light my large-sized (58cm equivalent) bike tipped the scales at 7.39kg (with Ultegra Di2 and Giant SLR 50mm-deep wheels). The same model of the previous-generation Propel was half a kilo heavier. The Propel might be an aero race bike, but it's no slouch on tough terrain. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia Its good to see the inclusion of a power meter, too. After Giant acquired Stages back in 2024, it made the decision to include power meters on all its performance road bikes.The Propel's overall road manners are brilliant. It feels light but not flexible, fast handling but not flighty, firm but not uncomfortable; its the Goldilocks of race bikes, getting (nearly) everything just right. The Propel is near-perfect, but it's not our winner. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia My only criticism of the complete package is about the tyres. In an age when bigger volumes are being embraced, especially here in the UK where weve had to deal with deteriorating road surfaces for more than a decade, Giants conservative choice of 28c tyres feels a little out of step. It's especially disappointing given Giant upped the tyre clearances to 32mm on this new Propel.It also begs the question, if you can make an aero race bike this good everywhere, does Giant need to keep the TCR? And that comes from an avid TCR fan and owner.Our Race Bike of the Year: Eddy Merckx 525R Force AXS The Eddy Merckx 525R is our Race Bike of the Year for 2026. Andy Lloyd The 525R does race design differently, and it makes for a bike thats fast without being hard work. A more accommodating ride position blends with sharp handling and aero efficiency. This is all down to a new way of thinking about race-bike geometry.Race bikes have always featured near parallel 73/73.5-degree angles, long reaches, low stacks and short wheelbases, although biometric knowledge has moved on since those numbers were decided on.The designers at Merckx had seen the trend for racers to push their saddle as far forward on the rails as possible to achieve a more over the cranks position. This opens your hip angle and makes for more efficient power when pedalling. The Merckx 525R does race-bike geometry differently. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia So they integrated this into the 525Rs design, steepening the seat angle instead, yet keeping the top-tube length the same. That means the long reach so favoured by pros to get into the full aero position can be achieved without resorting to excessive stem lengths and/or weird negative stem angles.That means you dont compromise the handling in pursuit of straight-line speed. Its also claimed to improve weight distribution, which brings positives when it comes to handling stability. The Merckx 525R brings plenty of speed without the drama. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia On the road, the Merckx is wonderful. Aside from the accommodating ride position, it feels light, quick-handling and stiff through the cranks. Its a fantastic bike to sprint and climb on.The forward position is akin to being up on the nose of the saddle (or on the rivet in old-school racing parlance), yet still comfortably placed on the saddle's more accommodating parts.The ride position is aggressive without being contorted or stretched. I didnt feel the need to take up Pilates or become a master Yogi to get the best of this bike. Read more: I thought only racers should ride race bikes, but a new bike has changed my mind The Merckx 525R shows how far race bikes have come. Andy Lloyd / Ourmedia Quite simply, the 525R is the best aero race bike Ive ridden, precisely because its not an uncompromising aero race bike. If you like the narrow-bar trend, Merckx has you covered. If, like me, youre not so much of a fan, you're covered too, thanks to Merckx offering multiple width/length options through its online configurator.Merckx takes the win thanks to its wonderful all-round ride and good range of options, and while it's premium, it's not hugely expensive.