"There is a big question mark around Christophe Laporte" - Growing concern within Visma as former European champion remains unable to train

Christophe Laporte has become a key part of Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Classics teams over recent years. As Opening Weekend kicks off this Saturday afternoon at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad though, the former European champion is a notable absentee.

Speaking on De Rode Lantaarn, Team Visma | Lease a Bike team boss Grischa Niermann addressed the growing concern surrounding Laporte and his lack of availability. "There is a big question mark around Christophe," Niermann admits. "He has been ill for a while. He is not super ill, but because of the virus he cannot train at the moment. I am not a doctor, but apparently there is no treatment for it either."

The absence of Laporte is definitely felt by Visma as well, despite the abundance of star power the team have to call upon, the Frenchman has, as mentioned, proved himself as a key cog in the Classics lineup. "It is a shame, because he is an important pawn," Niermann assesses. "Let's hope we don't have to miss him the entire spring."

In theory at least, Laporte is supposed to open his season at Milano-Sanremo later this month. Even this is by no means certain though. "Yes, it's all getting closer of course. If he can't train for much longer, it will be difficult. We don't get anything out of him if he only puts up a shirt number. He also has to be in order, and to be honest, it doesn't look like that at the moment," Niermann concludes. "But if anyone can get well quickly, it's Christophe."