Sharing a team with one of the sport’s greatest ever sprinters mean opportunities for individual success could be hard to come by. But when Gianni Meersman has been given his chance to shine this year he has taken it in style. Competing against elite fields at the Volta a Catalunya and Tour de Romandie, Meersman took two stage victories at each. He followed it with an impressive, consistent ride at the Criterium du Dauphine where, although a stage victory eluded him, he topped the points classification.

While the 27-year-old has lacked individual victories – second in the national road race, five top-five finishes at the Vuelta, four at the Tour of California – he has been a regular feature at the sharp end of races this year. His debut year at Omega Pharma-Quickstep has therefore been an encouraging one, and with the Belgian side investing in their sprint train this winter he could find more opportunities heading his way next year.