Jumbo-Visma DS Richard Plugge on Gent-Wevelgem performance: "That was the best team building you could wish for"

Gent-Wevelgem is a race that sparked a lot of controversy from an unexpected topic. Christophe Laporte won the Belgian classic as he crossed the line together with Wout van Aert, a decision which was criticized by Belgian figures and fans from other locations. Team DS Richard Plugge believes there isn't any problem and the race was a great exercise in team building.

“As team management, we insist that cycling is a team sport. One of them crosses the line as the winner, but without the help of the other teammates that is not possible," team DS Richard Plugge. "That Van Aert awarded the victory to Laporte yesterday, who of course had worked hard enough for it himself, that was the best team building you could wish for. We like to see the whole team willing to support each other.”

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As they did at the E3 Saxo Classic last year, the duo attacked together and comfortably took the victory. Having won all four major cobbled classics the team is putting on quite a display. It's depth is evident, but tactical choices and raw power are also present. Although Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar looked to be at the same level as van Aert in the E3 Saxo Classic, the Dutch team has dominated. That may not be the case this weekend in Flandres however, but Plugge remains positive.

“The number of victories is just not that important. As a team we have a number of main goals and we also find the way we race very important. We have a few world top riders with Van Aert, Primož Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard, but we have also invested heavily in the second line just behind them. Riders like Christophe Laporte, for example, who can also win," he concluded. 

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Marijn de Vries stirs the pot on Gent-Wevelgem: "How proud will Laporte be of a victory where he knows he was not the strongest?"

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