Wout van Aert happy to help Laporte into victory at Gent - Wevelgem: "He is such a team player that it was an easy decision"

Wout van Aert has won the E3 Saco Classic, and has played a key role in the events that decided Gent-Wevelgem. After delivering the decisive attack, he rode with Christophe Laporte and opted to hand the victory to his trustworthy right-hand man.

The rainy day in Wevelgem was perfect for the Jumbo-Visma duo who moved clear of the peloton in the second of three climbs of the Kemmelberg. It was an expected attack, however what wasn't expected what that both had the legs to move clear. As was the case during last year's E3 Saxo Classic, Van Aert and Laporte had the privilege to decide which of them would take the win in Belgian roads.

“We rode full throttle until about eight or ten kilometers from the finish. At that time we were pretty sure that the victory was in our hands," van Aert said in a post-race interview. "I won on Friday and I have my sights set on the races to come. Christophe also had a difficult start to the season due to illness. He is such a team player that it was an easy decision.” Van Aert has chosen the path of collective strength, as the victory meant a lot for the Frenchman.

“We were talking about that a few days ago. We told each other that something like that would probably never happen again, but a few days later the exact same thing happens. It's unbelievable that this works at this high level, but all the hard work comes out here. It is very nice to do that together," the second placed concluded. With the Tour des Flandres and Paris-Roubaix to come soon, all the pieces of the puzzle seem to be coming along for van Aert as his form seems to be very good.