Meersman is one of the most familiar names in the professional peloton. In fact, Gianni is the son of Luc and grandson of Maurice Meersman, both remarkable professionals. Gianni is one of the team's most important transfers of the year. Thanks to his skills as an attacker and speedster, Gianni is a rider who can instigate or infiltrate important breaks and win small-group sprints, like he did this year in the fourth stage of Paris-Nice. Gianni's secret ambition is to win the World Championships, a race he loves and that is particularly special to him, while his favorite hobby is snooker, a game in which ability and concentration count just as much as they do in a bike race. In 2013 Gianni aims to further improve on his portfolio by becoming a specialist in important breaks.