Gianni Meersman

Gianni Meersman
Meersman at the 2013 Tour de l'Ain.
Personal information
Full nameGianni Meersman
NicknameMerrie[1]
Born (1985-12-05) 5 December 1985 (age 38)
Meulebeke, West Flanders, Belgium
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight63 kg (139 lb)[1]
Team information
Current teamPauwels Sauzen–Bingoal
Disciplines
  • Road
  • Track
Role
Rider typeAttacker[1]
Stage hunter[1]
Professional teams
2007Discovery Channel
2008–2011Française des Jeux
2012Lotto–Belisol[2]
2013–2016Omega Pharma–Quick-Step[3]
Managerial team
2017–Marlux–Napoleon Games (directeur sportif)
Major wins
Grand Tours
Vuelta a España
2 individual stages (2016)

Stage races

Tour de Wallonie (2014)

One-day races and Classics

Great Ocean Road Race (2015)
Handzame Classic (2015)

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 Discovery Channel, FDJ, Lotto–Belisol and Etixx–Quick-Step teams. He currently works as a directeur sportif for the Pauwels Sauzen–Bingoal 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, Fortuneo–Vital Concept announced that Meersman had agreed a one-year contract with the team for 2017.[4] However, a diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia and scar tissue on his heart forced Meersman to announce his retirement on 30 December 2016.[5] On 11 October 2017, Meersman was confirmed as the new sporting director for cyclo-cross team Marlux–Napoleon Games.[6]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Gianni Meersman". Omega Pharma–Quick-Step. Decolef. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Meersman signs with Lotto-Belisol". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. 29 November 2011.
  3. ^ "Meersman graduates to Omega Pharma-Quickstep". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. 19 November 2012.
  4. ^ "Meersman to ride for Fortuneo Vital Concept in 2017". cyclingnews.com. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Cardiac issues force Gianni Meersman into retirement". Cycling News. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Meersman returns to cycling as director of Marlux-Napoleon Games". cyclingnews.com. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.