Christophe Laporte: "That would be the dream scenario: I win in Roubaix and Wout in the Ronde"

Christophe Laporte is an experienced rider with six participations at the Tour of Flanders already under his belt. 2023 could be the most important one so far however, as despite not starting the race as the team leader, he and Jumbo-Visma aim for nothing but the win this afternoon.

"Creating situations from which both Wout and I benefit," Laporte stated as the goal ahead of the race. "The way I can help him the most is to race full. It's not my job to go get water bottles, or to put Wout out of the wind. The best that can happen is that we ride the final together and that I can make actions that will get the opponents into trouble and that will enable Wout to race economically."

Jumbo-Visma have had a tremendously successful spring and Laporte was a part of it. He's had very little racing this year, consisting only of one-day races, but has made them count. He was crucial in Dylan van Baarle's win at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, rode alongside Wout van Aert to conquer Gent-Wevelgem, and then rode by himself to win Dwars door Vlaanderen alone. His form has peaked at just the right time, and when the team needs him the most.

"Last year I was ninth, the year before that I was eleventh. I used to think that this race was too hard for me, and actually I still think that a bit. A top result is only possible on a top day," he continues. "The Tour of Flanders is 260 kilometers. Dwars door Vlaanderen there was 180. We've had great weeks with the team, we couldn't have done better, but this is one level higher. I think Paris-Roubaix suits me better anyway."

After fulfilling his personal goals in the Belgian cobbles he will be at the service of Wout van Aert in Flanders. Although in a race like this he shouldn't be pacing for the Belgian, he will likely sacrifice his chances following the happy collaboration that was Gent-Wevelgem. Furthermore Laporte is quite motivated with Paris-Roubaix, a race in his home country where he should be a better option for the win.

"That would be the dream scenario: I win in Roubaix and Wout in the Ronde, but if you dream, you unfortunately usually wake up the next morning. Although: what we have already achieved this spring comes close to a dream," he concluded.