Omega Pharma – Quick Step’s Gianni Meersman has had a very good season so far. In the shadow of star signing Mark Cavendish he has evolved into a contender for both hillier stages and even mass sprints, and has so far won two stages each in the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour de Romandie.

Yesterday he took his second runner-up place in a row at the Critérium du Dauphiné: After winning the sprint behind stage winner David Veilleux on stage 1, he came short against Cannondale’s Elia Viviani on the stage to Oyonnax.

Meersman accepted the result: “Elia Viviani is a true sprinter, so it’s no shame to come second to him. But I’m second again! It’s the seventeenth time this year that I make the top 7.”

There is a positive for Meersman, though: With his consistent placings he has taken the lead in the points classification, and he says himself that he has hopes of defending the jersey: “I’m now leading the green jersey and second overall. I’d like to keep this jersey all the way.”