Gianni Meersman
Meersman at the 2013 Tour de l'Ain.
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Gianni Meersman |
| Nickname | Merrie |
| Born |
5 December 1985 Tielt, West Flanders, Belgium |
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 63 kg (139 lb) |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Retired |
| Discipline | Road and track |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type |
Attacker Stage hunter |
| Professional team(s) | |
| 2007 | Discovery Channel |
| 2008–2011 | Française des Jeux |
| 2012 | Lotto–Belisol |
| 2013–2016 | Omega Pharma–Quick-Step |
| Major wins | |
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Gianni Meersman (born 5 December 1985) is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer for Quick-Step Floors. In 2012, he rode for UCI ProTeam Lotto–Belisol. 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. However, a diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia and scar tissue on his heart forced Meersman to announce his retirement on December 30, 2016.
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