"I wouldn't have done it" - Eddy Merckx on Wout Van Aert's decision to gift victory to Laporte

At the Gent-Wevelgem race on Sunday, Wout van Aert presented the victory to his teammate Christophe Laporte after a remarkable performance from the duo. While some individuals regard Van Aert's actions as a kind gesture, others do not perceive it that way.

Together with his son, Eddy Merckx witnessed the entire race and he even bet against his son on Laporte's success. However, the Belgian cycling legend did not anticipate the way Laporte would secure the win.

"I bet 1,000 euros with my son that Laporte will win," he told Sporza. But he does not think van Aert should have gifted the victory to his teammate. "It's his choice to let a teammate win, but I wouldn't have done it."

He agrees that it might have been a team's call, such a decision may have been kept private from the public.  "Of course, I don't know what's going on within the team. Wout van Aert was by far the best, you saw that on the Kemmel. He could write history by winning Harelbeke, Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders,” concluded Merckx.