Christophe Laporte wins Gent-Wevelgem after remarkable show of dominance by Jumbo-Visma, Wout van Aert second
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ByEurosport
Updated 26/03/2023 at 19:39 GMT
Christophe Laporte won the 85th edition of Gent-Wevelgem. Laporte and team-mate Wout van Aert ripped away on the penultimate ascent of the Kemmelberg and stayed away to the finish. And Van Aert – winner of the event in 2021 – sat up to allow his team-mate to triumph after Laporte had finished second at the 2022 event. Sep Vanmarcke of Israel-Premier Tech emerged from a select group to take third.
Highlights: Laporte seals Gent-Wevelgem win after Jumbo-Visma dominate
Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) won Gent-Wevelgem after a dominant display from his Dutch super team in sodden conditions.
The 34-year-old stormed clear on the penultimate ascent of the Kemmelberg alongside team-mate Wout van Aert. And the pair stayed away – holding a near two-minute advantage over the chasing pack into Wevelgem – in an astonishing show of dominance.
And as they approached the line, they sat up, chatted and patted each other on the back before van Aert – fresh from defending his title at E3 Saxo Classic on Friday – allowed his team-mate to cross the line first.
"We decided we'd take it to the finish," Laporte said after the race.
"Wout asked me if I wanted to win. It's incredible. It's a pleasure. This has happened only once before in my career. I want to thank Wout for everything.
"I've never won a Classic before, and now I'm so proud. I think of my family and my little boy – it has taken so much sacrifice to get to this point.
"There was still 50km to go when we attacked. We made a lot of efforts together. We did everything to go to the finish together. It was hard for me to follow Wout. It was just incredible to be with him, and I'm so proud to do so much of it with him."
The Jumbo-Visma duo’s move on the Kemmelberg - some 50km out - caught a select group of fast men by surprise, and it was Sep Vanmarcke (Israel - Premier Tech) who emerged from that chasing group to beat Frederik Frison (Lotto Dstny) and Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) to the line to take the final spot on the podium - he was some 1’56'’ shy of the Jumbo pair.
For Laporte, it was a first win of the season in only his fifth outing after runs at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (third), Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne (sixth), Milano-San Remo (13th) and E3 Saxo Classic (23rd).
Van Aert, meanwhile, looks in ominous form ahead of the Tour of Flanders on April 2, and he indicated post-race that he had his eyes on Sunday's Monument.
"We just rode full on until the last 8-10km, maybe," Van Aert said.
"Then we were quite sure we had the victory. I won on Friday, and my eyes are on the races that are coming. Christophe also had a difficult start to the season with a sickness, and he's such a team player that it was an easy decision."
The win in Wevelgem follows success in the E3 Saxo Classic for Van Aert, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad for Dylan van Baarle and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne for Tiesj Benoot as the Dutch team dominate the cobbled Classics.
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