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 Discovery Channel, FDJ, Lotto–Belisol and Etixx–Quick-Step teams. He currently works as a directeur sportif for the Pauwels Sauzen–Bingoal team.

Gianni Meersman

Meersman at the 2013 Tour de l'Ain.
Personal information
Full name	Gianni Meersman
Nickname	Merrie[1]
Born	(1985-12-05) 5 December 1985 Meulebeke, West Flanders, Belgium
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight	63 kg (139 lb)[1]
Team information
Current team	Pauwels Sauzen–Bingoal
Disciplines	Road Track
Role	Rider (retired) Directeur sportif
Rider type	Attacker[1] Stage hunter[1]
Professional teams
2007	Discovery Channel
2008–2011	Française des Jeux
2012	Lotto–Belisol[2]
2013–2016	Omega 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)

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]