Gianni Meersman

Gianni Meersman (born 5 December 1985) is a Belgian former professional track and road bicycle racer, who rode professionally between 2007 and 2016 for the , , and teams. He currently works as a directeur sportif for the team.

After stage 3 of the 2007 Tour de Georgia, Meersman was forced to abandon the race due to a severe case of patella tendinitis. He treated the riders of the Grand Peloton, a charity fundraiser ride, to his presence as the Peloton Captain of the "Blue Peloton". Meersman finally came to Grand Tour prominence, after 10 years as a professional racer, at the 2016 Vuelta a España winning two stages in bunch sprints. During the race, announced that Meersman had agreed a one-year contract with the team for 2017. However, a diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia and scar tissue on his heart forced Meersman to announce his retirement on 30 December 2016. On 11 October 2017, Meersman was confirmed as the new sporting director for cyclo-cross team .

Major results Meersman (centre) on the podium after winning the 2015 Handzame Classic. Also pictured are Antoine Demoitié (left) and Tiesj Benoot (right).

2002 2nd Time trial, National Junior Road Championships 2004 1st Circuit de Wallonie 10th Grand Prix Criquielion 2005 1st Stage 1 Ronde de l'Isard 3rd Flèche Ardennaise 7th Road race, UCI Under-23 Road World Championships 8th Overall Le Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux 2006 2nd Zellik–Galmaarden 6th Overall Circuit des Ardennes 2007 1st Stage 5 Tour of Austria 1st Stage 3 Tour de Georgia 7th Overall Tour of Belgium 8th Overall Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen 2008 1st Stage 4 Tour de Wallonie 2nd Overall Étoile de Bessèges 3rd Trophée des Grimpeurs 3rd Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan 6th Overall Four Days of Dunkirk 9th Overall Circuit de Lorraine 2010 2nd Overall Paris–Corrèze 2011

1st Stage 2 2nd Road race, National Road Championships 2nd Paris–Troyes 2nd Route Adélie 3rd Halle–Ingooigem 4th Flèche d'Emeraude 7th Overall Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali 8th Brabantse Pijl 10th Overall Ster ZLM Toer 2012 1st Stage 4 Paris–Nice 2nd Overall Tour de Wallonie 3rd Clásica de San Sebastián 10th Overall Volta ao Algarve 1st Stage 1 2013 Volta a Catalunya 1st Stages 1 & 2 Tour de Romandie 1st Stages 1 & 3 1st Prologue Tour de l'Ain

2nd Road race, National Road Championships 6th Les Boucles du Sud Ardèche 6th Eschborn-Frankfurt City Loop 7th Trofeo Platja de Muro 2014

1st Points classification 1st Stage 5 1st Trofeo Muro-Port d'Alcúdia Tour de l'Ain 1st Prologue & Stage 2 3rd Overall Ster ZLM Toer 3rd Trofeo Ses Salines 3rd La Drôme Classic 4th Overall Tour de Picardie 4th Trofeo Palma 6th Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec 7th Grand Prix Impanis-Van Petegem 9th Classic Sud-Ardèche 2015 1st Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race 1st Handzame Classic 1st Stage 1 Volta ao Algarve 2nd Le Samyn 6th Down Under Classic 2016 Vuelta a España 1st Stages 2 & 5

2nd Overall Tour de Wallonie 3rd Handzame Classic 8th Münsterland Giro

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

+ Legend — Did not compete DNF Did not finish