Gianni Meersman of Etixx Quickstep scores maiden Grand Tour victory on stage 2 of the Vuelta a España
![]() |
Vuelta a España: win for Meersman
Etixx Quickstep Press Release
Gianni Meersman seized the day in the Vuelta a España and won stage 2 in the town of Baiona, which was making its return to the race after three years.
© Etixx – Quick-Step / Tim de Waele
The Belgian, riding the Spanish Grand Tour for the fifth time in his career, produced a very fast finish in the Galician municipality, capitalizing on the excellent work of his Etixx – Quick-Step teammates, who protected him in the closing kilometers and brought him to the front in an ideal position.
Before coming to the start of the Vuelta a España, Gianni polished his form in two short stage races, Tour de Wallonie and Vuelta a Burgos, and even though a win eluded him, he credited those events as having an important role in his preparation for the season’s final Grand Tour.
“Wallonie and Burgos were the two races that I needed to step up my game and be at 100%. In the past weeks, I was feeling better and better by the day and knew that I will come at the start of the Vuelta in a very good condition. This stage was my primary goal and to take it, after a superb work of the team, gives me a really incredible feelingâ€, said a beaming Gianni, the 85th Belgian rider to notch up a victory in the race.
Sunday’s finish was a hectic one, but things turned out to be even more crazy due to some tricky corners and crashes which occurred in the last two kilometers. Escorted by his teammates, 30-year-old Gianni avoided any trouble and started the sprint from an excellent position, his fast legs and perfect timing bringing Etixx – Quick-Step its sixth Grand Tour win of the season.
“Not having the top sprinters here means things are more difficult to control, because everybody is aware of the fact there is a chance to pull it off. This leads all the time to huge stress and a nervous finale.
Fortunately, I had the guys with me in the last two kilometers and they did a marvelous job. Styby worked hard, then Yves protected me from the wind and I could go with 200 meters left. I want to thank the boys and at the same time to dedicate this victory to my wife and my daughterâ€, an excited Gianni concluded at the end of the stage which sent him to the top of the points standings.
Stage 2
1 MEERSMAN Gianni ETIXX – QUICK STEP 04h 16′ 39”
2 SCHWARZMANN Michael BORA-ARGON 18
3 NIELSEN Magnus Cort ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE
4 KWIATKOWSKI Michal TEAM SKY
5 VAN GENECHTEN Jonas IAM CYCLING
6 SBARAGLI Kristan DIMENSION DATA
7 BONIFAZIO Niccolo TREK – SEGAFREDO
8 RESTREPO Jhonatan TEAM KATUSHA
9 DRUCKER Jean-Pierre BMC RACING TEAM
10 MANZIN Lorenzo FDJ
11 KEUKELEIRE Jens ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE
12 ROJAS José Joaquin MOVISTAR TEAM
13 BYSTRÖM Sven Erik TEAM KATUSHA
14 PRADES Eduard CAJA RURAL – SEGUROS RGA
15 ARASHIRO Yukiya LAMPRE – MERIDA
16 LAMPAERT Yves ETIXX – QUICK STEP
17 BATTAGLIN Enrico LOTTO NL -JUMBO
18 WAEYTENS ZICO TEAM GIANT ALPECIN
19 MATE MARDONES Luis Angel COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS
20 SENECHAL Florian COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS
Overall
1 KWIATKOWSKI Michal TEAM SKY 04h 47′ 16”
2 ROJAS José Joaquin MOVISTAR TEAM
3 VALVERDE Alejandro MOVISTAR TEAM
4 FROOME Christopher TEAM SKY
5 PUCCIO Salvatore TEAM SKY
6 KENNAUGH Peter TEAM SKY
7 QUINTANA Nairo MOVISTAR TEAM
8 KONIG Leopold TEAM SKY
9 FERNANDEZ ANDUJAR Ruben MOVISTAR TEAM
10 CASTROVIEJO Jonathan MOVISTAR TEAM
11 MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel MOVISTAR TEAM + 00′ 01”
12 NIELSEN Magnus Cort ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 02”
13 GILBERT Philippe BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 04”
14 KEUKELEIRE Jens ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 06”
15 CHAVES Johan Esteban ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 06”
16 YATES Simon ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 06”
17 GERRANS Simon ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 06”
18 HOWSON Damien ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE + 00′ 06”
19 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 07”
20 ATAPUMA Darwin BMC RACING TEAM + 00′ 07”
… continued after advert
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Feature Interview: Ian Watson (Brother UK LDN)
- The Way Ahead (domestic road racing): Part 8
- News: Tom Dumoulin Stops Racing
- News: Nottingham Uni Track Team
- Emma Trott & Jenny Gretton join CAMS-Tifosi
- Feature Interview: Tim Elverson (Canyon DHB Sungod)
- News: Wout Van Aert Extends Contract
- News: Star Studded Lineup for UAE Tour
- News: Will Valverde Retire?
- News: Drops to Race on Ribble
- News: GB Team for World CX Championships
- Feature Interview: Imani Pereira-James
- News: Tadej Pogačar to work on his time trial
- News: Fernando Gaviria Hopes for 2021
- News: Julian Alaphilippe to start in Tour de la Provence
- News: Dan Martin Still Learning
- News: Froome after 5th Tour Win
- News: Beeston Race Team
- Team News: Astana – Premier Tech 2021 Goals
- Brits in UCI Teams 2021
- News: British Junior Racing Team Tofauti Everyone Active
- The Way Ahead: Part Seven
- News: Tour of Valencia (3-7 February)
- News: Bernal & the Giro
- News: 2021/22 CX Season British Dates
- News: Fabio Jakobsen Getting Better
- News: Bauke Mollema’s 2021 Season
- News: Tom Pidcock’s aims for 2021
- News: Tim Wellens Focus on Classics
- News: UAE Tour returns in Feb
- News: Deceuninck – Quick-Step Media Day
- Q&A: Lauren Creamer racing for LVIV in 2021
- Feature: Brother UK/LDN Women’s Team
- News: Gilbert uncertain about 2021
- News: Jakob Fuglsang at Ruta del Sol
- Team JRC Shutt Ridley Women’s Team
- Team News: Chris Froome optimistic about 2021
- News: Ambitions for Trek-Segafredo leaders
- News: Tom Dumoulin Programme
- News: Team Bahrain Victorious 2021 Goals
Other News on VeloUK
- Feature Interview: Ian Watson (Brother UK LDN)
- The Way Ahead (domestic road racing): Part 8
- News: Tom Dumoulin Stops Racing
- News: Nottingham Uni Track Team
- Emma Trott & Jenny Gretton join CAMS-Tifosi
- Feature Interview: Tim Elverson (Canyon DHB Sungod)
- News: Wout Van Aert Extends Contract
- News: Star Studded Lineup for UAE Tour
- News: Will Valverde Retire?
- News: Drops to Race on Ribble
- News: GB Team for World CX Championships
- News: Tadej Pogačar to work on his time trial
- News: Fernando Gaviria Hopes for 2021
- News: Julian Alaphilippe to start in Tour de la Provence
- News: Dan Martin Still Learning
- News: Froome after 5th Tour Win
- News: Beeston Race Team
- Team News: Astana – Premier Tech 2021 Goals
- Brits in UCI Teams 2021
- News: British Junior Racing Team Tofauti Everyone Active
- News: Tour of Valencia (3-7 February)
- News: Bernal & the Giro
- News: 2021/22 CX Season British Dates
- News: Fabio Jakobsen Getting Better
- News: Bauke Mollema’s 2021 Season
- News: Tom Pidcock’s aims for 2021
- News: Tim Wellens Focus on Classics
- News: UAE Tour returns in Feb
- News: Deceuninck – Quick-Step Media Day
- News: Gilbert uncertain about 2021
- News: Jakob Fuglsang at Ruta del Sol
- Team JRC Shutt Ridley Women’s Team
- Team News: Chris Froome optimistic about 2021
- News: Ambitions for Trek-Segafredo leaders
- News: Tom Dumoulin Programme
- News: Team Bahrain Victorious 2021 Goals
- News: Busy season ahead for Peter Sagan
- UAE Team Emirates signs Marc Hirschi
- News: WorldTourTeams in Challenge Mallorca
- News: Wout Poels to focus on the Tour de France