The name Eddy Merckx conjures carbon race bikes and Belgian cobblestone heritage. But in 2026, the iconic Belgian brand has made a move that will delight titanium devotees and endurance cyclists everywhere — launching not one but two new titanium road bikes: the Corsa Pévèle Ti and the Corsa Strasbourg Ti.
Named after two of the most famous monuments in Eddy Merckx’s palmares — the Roubaix cobbled sector of Carrefour de l’Arbre (near Pévèle) and his legendary 1969 Tour de France stage win into Strasbourg — these bikes carry serious historical weight. They’re also seriously modern.
What’s New: The Corsa Pévèle Ti vs Corsa Strasbourg Ti
While both bikes share the same Italian-crafted Columbus Hyperion 3AL-2.5V titanium tubing and Belgian assembly, they serve different riders:
- Corsa Pévèle Ti: An all-road endurance bike with 38mm (2x) or 40mm (1x) tyre clearance. This is the bike for long days in the saddle, cobbled classics, and year-round road riding. It supports T-Type drivetrains and features 3D-printed UDH dropouts.
- Corsa Strasbourg Ti: The gravel-capable sibling, accommodating tyres up to 50mm. Integrated dynamo cable routing, the same 3D-printed UDH hardware, and a geometry that balances adventure riding with on-road efficiency.
Both bikes are handcrafted in Italy from Columbus Hyperion tubing — a high-end 3AL-2.5V titanium alloy widely regarded as among the finest titanium used in cycling — before final assembly in Belgium. The welds are immaculate, the finish options restrained and beautiful.
Specs, Geometry and Pricing
The bikes are sold as framesets and complete builds:
- Framesets: £4,499 / €4,999
- Complete builds: Starting at £7,465 / €8,295 (Pévèle Ti) and £7,776 / €8,640 (Strasbourg Ti)
- Compatible with T-Type drivetrains (SRAM AXS or Shimano Di2 in respective builds)
- Standard 27.2mm seatpost for comfort and easy upgrades
- BSA threaded bottom bracket shell — no press-fit headaches
The pricing puts these squarely in the premium titanium segment — comparable to Moots, Lynskey, and Mason — but the Merckx badge adds a level of heritage and cultural weight that few brands can match.
Why Titanium? Why Now?
The titanium revival has been quietly building for several years. While the latest carbon race bikes from Colnago and others push deeper into sub-700g frame weights, a different cohort of cyclists is rediscovering titanium for what it does better than carbon: longevity, vibration damping, aesthetics, and repairability.
A titanium frame bought today will likely outlast every component on it — twice over. It won’t delaminate. It won’t crack invisibly from impact stress. And it looks better with age, not worse. For the rider investing in a long-term relationship with their bike, titanium makes compelling financial and emotional sense.
Eddy Merckx’s decision to launch two titanium models in 2026 also signals something wider: even marquee race heritage brands recognise that the most passionate cyclists aren’t always racing. They’re doing long all-road adventures, Paris-Roubaix sportives, and 200km weekend rides — and they want a bike built for that life.
Who Are These Bikes For?
The Pévèle Ti is a dream machine for the endurance road and cobbled-classics enthusiast. It’s the kind of bike you take to Roubaix, ride the sectors at sunrise, and then put on the wall — knowing it will outlast everything else in your garage.
The Strasbourg Ti is for the rider who wants one bike that does everything: road rides in the week, gravel adventures at weekends, touring in summer, all-weather training year-round. With 50mm tyre clearance, it covers impressive terrain. Pair it with a good set of gravel tyres and it transforms completely.
Both bikes reward riders who care about craft, history, and the long game — and who perhaps aren’t chasing Strava PRs so much as memorable days on the bike.
What This Means for You
If you’re in the market for a premium bike that will genuinely last a lifetime, these are serious contenders. Before making any decision, consider:
- Titanium is heavier than top-end carbon but typically lighter than steel. These bikes won’t be climbing machines — they’re comfort-distance weapons.
- The pricing is premium but reflects handmade Italian construction and genuine heritage. Compare against other titanium framesets in the £4,000–5,000 range to contextualise.
- If you already love cobbled roads, gravel, and long-distance riding, the versatility of a gravel-capable titanium bike may eliminate the need for multiple bikes entirely.
- Both models support modern drivetrain standards (T-Type, UDH) so they won’t feel outdated next year.
Key Takeaways
- Eddy Merckx has launched two new titanium bikes: the Corsa Pévèle Ti (endurance road) and Corsa Strasbourg Ti (gravel-capable).
- Both use Columbus Hyperion 3AL-2.5V titanium, handcrafted in Italy with Belgian final assembly.
- 3D-printed UDH dropouts, T-Type drivetrain support, and BSA threaded shells make them future-proof.
- Framesets start at £4,499/€4,999; complete builds from £7,465/€8,295.
- These bikes are for riders who value longevity, craft, and versatility over outright weight savings.
Sources: BikeRadar, road.cc, CapoVelo (2026)
