26/03/2023

Christophe Laporte over the moon with Gent-Wevelgem, praises Wout van Aert: "This victory is thanks to him"

Christophe Laporte has managed to fulfill the dream that remained in his career, to win a classic. He had already obtained the other, a stage in the Tour de France and today's victory in Ghent-Wevelgem closes his circle.

"It's a dream for me, to win a classic and a stage of the Tour de France, I've won one. I was missing the classic, I had done two times second and today I was first," Laporte shared in a post-race interview. "I am very proud if I think of my family and my wife and my two little ones, we have made many sacrifices to get here. I'm very happy, very tired, but very happy."

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After the race he told the Eurosport teammates how his victory was forged with his Jumbo-Visma teammate Wout van Aert. The two escaped the clutches of the peloton with over 50 kilometers to go as the duo flew away in the Kemmelberg. The duo hinted that they were the two strongest in the race, and that was proven as they extended their gap massively into the two-minute mark over the following climbs and flat roads into the finish.

It was matter of who they'd decide to win the race. Last year in the exact situation van Aert was given the win on the E3 Saxo Classic in front of his home crowd. The Belgian defended his title there last Friday, and as expected the choice was made for Laporte to take the win.

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"10 kilometers from the finish Wout asked me if I wanted to win. I think he knew the answer, it's something really incredible. What already happened in is something very rare and today it happened again. He was really strong, stronger than me today, so this victory is thanks to him," Laporte said.

A true winner since joining Jumbo-Visma, Laporte adds another big triumph to his extending palmarès. Collectively, this is another boost of motivation for Jumbo-Visma ahead of the cobbled monuments. "I suffered on his wheel, I gave it my all, it was a hard 50km, he's a great champion, I'm proud to have finished with him," Laporte concluded.