The discussion above about road vs touring bikes confuses the issue a bit

There are road racing bikes, road sport bikes, touring bikes, and cyclocross bikes. There are certain features that you should expect to find among each of these to the exclusion of the others, and certain things that all have in common.

The main thing that differentiates a road bike from a hybrid or 'flat bar road bike' is the drop handlebars, which allow changing hand positions while you ride for different situations and just to avoid fatigue.
The most important aspect of selecting a bike is how the bike fits your body, and if you can be comfortable riding it. There is no way to know for sure which models from which manufacturer will give you fit you want. Many people can get set up with to feel comfortable and relaxed on the most aggressively designed racing bike, while many people find a very stretched out aggressive position on less performance-oriented touring bikes or road sport bikes. I guess what I am trying to say is that the style of bike does not necessarily dictate the fit for you, although it might give you some idea.

The other thing that I think makes a big difference to how you enjoy your bike is the tire clearance and ability to fit fenders (so you can ride in or after the rain without getting soaked from road spray) and maybe a rack (if you every hope to commute or carry a substantial amount of stuff while you ride. Road racing bikes often do not have the ability to fit tires wider than 25mm, which many consider limits their usefulness on rough or loose surfaces. Road sport and touring and cyclocross bikes allow wider tires and often (but not always) mounts for rack and fenders.

What is the right bike for your long road rides might be used by someone else as a daily commuter or as a dedicated race bike. It all depends on what you want to do with the bike and how you set it up.

And component 'quality' that generally gets discussed in bike-selection threads is secondary to the usefulness of the bike for you.