"I have no doubt that I will be back at the level of 3 years ago": Christophe Laporte is back, hungry to win at Roubaix

Christophe Laporte has always been counted among the dark horses for the biggest races, but it wasn't until he joined Team Visma | Lease a Bike in 2022 that he truly stepped up his game. In particular his 2023 campaign was a massive success crowned with a European title. But since then, the Frenchman has been haunted by health problems that did not allow the 33-year-old to show his full potential in the most important races of the season.

"It all started in Milan-Sanremo 2024. I got sick during that classic and also suffered from saddle pain," Laporte explained from Visma's training camp in Spain. "Surgery was unavoidable and as a result, my spring was largely ruined."

But Laporte seemed to have made a full recovery, and in the second half of the season, he secured an Olympic bronze medal in Paris, and won the Paris-Tours. Everything seemed to be heading in the direction... until it wasn't anymore halfway through the winter preparation.

"I got sick at the beginning of the season and thought it wasn't anything serious. Ultimately, it took almost a month before we actually knew it was cytomegalovirus." That virus completely exhausted Laporte. "For the first six weeks, I even struggled with 10-minute walks. Every morning I woke up hoping things would get better. But that only happened very slowly. It was the toughest period of my career."

Not only did Laporte miss out on the Classics for second season in a row, he would in fact sit out of competition until the August. "I'd never experienced such a long period without training and racing."

Fortunately, the long wait was rewarded with another podium at Paris-Tours, and finally a GC victory at the Tour of Holland. "That's why it was very important to end the season on a positive note," said Laporte, who could then head towards the 2026 season with renewed motivation.

And as far as he can reveal, the preparation seems to be heading in the right direction. "I have no doubt that I will be back at the same level as 3 years ago," Laporte declares confidently.

The 2023 winner of Dwars door Vlaanderen and Gent - Wevelgem hopes to extend his palmares: "I showed then that I can win classics and I want to compete for victory again this spring."

If everything goes perfectly, Laporte would become a key card of Visma's ambitious Classics team with Wout Van Aert and "rising star" Matthew Brennan as leading figures. But against Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel, they could use all the tools in their disposal: "Along with them, I'll be one of the protected riders for the classics. Our goal is to reach the final with as many pawns as possible every time. This way, we have a better chance of winning a classic as a team."

In the Monuments, Laporte seems to be settling into a more submissive role. "I'll try to help Wout win there. Although I still dream of Paris-Roubaix, because that race suits me best."