An icon returns. The highest-performing frame De Rosa has ever built, in an understated graphic treatment that lets the design speak for itself.

The De Rosa Merak Classic is the fifth evolution of a name that carries as much weight as any in the brand's history: two years of development behind the most technically advanced road project De Rosa has ever signed. In the Classic version it reads unfiltered — geometry front and centre, graphics pared back to the essentials.

At a glance

The layup: high- and ultra-high-modulus fibres

On a 700-gram frame, the carbon layup is the reason that weight still delivers stiffness and performance.

The Merak is built predominantly from T1100 and M40J, two of the finest fibres on the market, with a proportion of 60T used where even greater stiffness is called for. Premium fibres account for more than 70% of the structure, while standard-modulus T700 — found in a large share of the carbon frames on sale today — does not appear at all. Higher-modulus fibre needs less material to reach a given stiffness: that is how you take out weight without taking out response.

Light, without turning twitchy

The real question is not how much it weighs, but how it behaves as the speed rises. The rear triangle and fork carry generous cross-sections, with a clear visual presence when you look at the bike from behind, and that same work translates into control on descents and stability at speed. In profile the silhouette stays taut, the top tube running unbroken towards a compact front end.

A frame that invites you to go fast and, above all, leaves you feeling settled while you do. In a typical build the complete bike sits around 6.9–7.1 kg, but that figure is indicative: there are a great many variables. What we know at Cicli Corsa is that going under the UCI 6.8 kg limit is far from difficult with the right components — and they are components you will find in our catalogue. Several complete-bike builds are available, and you can find them here.

Cockpit: ACR Hidden Cables compatibility

The Merak is compatible with the ACR Hidden Cables standard: cables and brake hoses run inside the front end without tying you to a single component. ACR cockpits are offered by a range of manufacturers in different widths, geometries and price brackets, so you can pick the one that suits your position and replace it years later without calling the frame into question.

For the launch of the new Merak, De Rosa worked with Vision on a dedicated handlebar drawn around the lines of the frame: it is the pairing the brand had in mind, not the only one open to you. The cockpit is not included in this listing — if you are unsure which to choose, get in touch before you order.

One platform. Three ways to read it.

The platform is one, and it is exceptional. This is no cosmetic update: the Merak once again manages to surprise on technical content and performance, without setting style aside — and at De Rosa, style has never been an accessory.

Then there is everything else, and that part is about you. Classic, Dynamic and Race share exactly the same frame: what changes is the way the project presents itself, and therefore what it says about the rider. Tell us who you are, and there is a reading of the Merak that looks like you.

The Classic is for those who don't need to say it.

The logo on the down tube grows smaller and the surface of the frame is left clear. It takes nerve, because it only works if the shapes hold up to close inspection — and these do: complex, carefully worked surfaces, to which De Rosa has entrusted the elegance of the model.

Four colourways — Classic Blue, Classic Green, Classic Iris and Classic Rose — and with graphics pared back to the essentials, the choice of colour becomes the decision that defines the bike. This is the version you choose when the bike should be recognised by the people who know how to recognise it.

One frame, many roads

The Merak was not conceived as a pure climber's bike, it is not a dedicated aero bike and it is not an endurance bike: it is an all-round race bike, and in a market of increasingly specialised models that is a deliberate position rather than a compromise. Tyre clearance up to 34c widens its range, from a narrow, reactive setup to a more forgiving configuration when the road surface stops cooperating. If what you are after is an outright endurance geometry, get in touch: there is a better fit for that use in the De Rosa range.

Eight sizes, from 42.5 to 56.5

Eight sizes make for a closely spaced range: they let you get very near the correct fit, but they are also sizes where two adjacent options are not interchangeable. On a bike with a racing position, height alone is not enough to decide.

At Cicli Corsa we work in bike fitting and have many years of experience identifying the correct frame size: with recent fit data, or the measurements of the bike you ride today, we can give you a reliable indication while you are still choosing. For anyone who wants absolute certainty, we go deeper into the assessment once the order is placed.

Cicli Corsa and De Rosa: partners since 2012

Cicli Corsa was founded selling De Rosa. We have been official dealers since 2012, and over those years the relationship has become something more than a supply agreement: with Cristiano De Rosa and his sons we share respect, friendship and a great deal of work done side by side.

And we don't leave you alone with a box. If you prefer, we will deliver the Merak built: we choose the groupset, wheels and cockpit together, and the bike arrives ready to ride. It is also the most direct route to going under 6.8 kg, because the final weight is decided there, in the components. If you would rather build it yourself, we remain your reference point for every compatibility check.

Knowing a product from the inside means knowing which builds genuinely work, and guiding you through the choice instead of simply logging an order. We are not one catalogue among many: De Rosa is the house we started from.

And if you have a question, someone answers. Our customer service team is on hand for sizing, cockpit pairing, complete builds or any doubt before and after your purchase: write to customerservice@ciclicorsa.com and you will hear back from someone who knows these frames.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cockpit included? No, it is supplied separately. Thanks to the ACR Hidden Cables standard you can pair cockpits from different manufacturers: if you haven't decided yet, get in touch and we will work out together which one suits your position.

Can I choose a seatpost with setback instead of zero offset? Yes. Alongside the zero-offset post, 12 mm and 25 mm setback versions are available, and the choice is made when you order at no extra cost: it lets you dial in your saddle position from the very first ride. Just tell us the setback you need at the time of purchase. Tightening torque: 6 Nm.

Can you build the complete bike? Yes. You can buy the frameset on its own, or leave the build to us and receive the Merak ready to ride. Several builds are already in our catalogue; for a bespoke specification, write to us before ordering and we will prepare a quote.

What is the difference between Classic, Dynamic and Race? Nothing technical: the same frame, the same layup, the same ride characteristics. Only the graphics, the finish and the aesthetic interpretation change. The Classic keeps its markings to a minimum; the Dynamic works with longitudinal lines that follow the surfaces; the Race takes an openly race-oriented approach. You choose with your eyes, not with the spec sheet.