Omega Pharma - Quick Step Cycling Team is pleased to announce that we've reached an agreement with Gianni Meersman. The 27 year-old Belgian rider will race with the team for the next two seasons (2013-2014).
"Gianni's arrival further improves the team's technical capacity," explained team manager Patrick Lefevere. "I'm expecting him to have a season as a major player in some Ardenne classics like the Brabantse Pijl or the Amstel Gold Race, as well as in some stages of important stage races or one day events. This year in races like the Paris-Nice Gianni has proven to be competitive in close group arrivals and in arrivals on slight uphills. I'm sure that Gianniwill be able to mature even more next year and garner some important results for himself as well as the team."
"I'm very happy to become a part of this group and to ride side by side with great champions," said Meersman. "Patrick Lefevere had already seeked me out in 2007. His faith in me is very important to me. My goal is to improve even more compared to last season and to try to increase the quantity and quality of my victories. When I have what it takes to make captain I'm going to play my cards and when necessary I'll also put myself in the service of the team, as I've seen many champions from this squad do."
Meersman's arrival brings to 29 the number of athletes who will be defending the team colours next season.