Christophe Laporte triumphs at Gent-Wevelgem in dominant Jumbo-Visma one-two
The Frenchman broke free with Wout van Aert with 52km to go
Having finished second last year, Christophe Laporte prevailed in grisly weather at Gent-Wevelgem with the help of his Jumbo-Visma team-mate Wout van Aert.
It was a trademark show of dominance from the Dutch team in Flanders. Van Aert and Laporte attacked together on the penultimate ascent of the Kemmelberg and swapped through turns for 52km. Drawing out a two-minute gap, the pair rode arm in arm into Wevelgem to secure an impressive one-two, the Frenchman's wheel crossing the line first.
For onlookers, there were echoes of last year’s E3 Saxo Bank Classic, where the same duo rode away in tandem, that time for the Belgian to win.
Sep Vanmarcke (Israel-Premier Tech) won the bunch sprint for third to complete the podium at the Belgian Classic.
How it happened
Wrapped in gilets, rain capes and leg warmers, the peloton rolled out from beneath the arches of Ypres’s Menin Gate, embarking on a 260.9km route through West Flanders. They would face nine tough hellingen en route to Wevelgem, including three ascents of the mighty Kemmelberg.
The race started fast. With the first climb not expected for 165km, a five-man breakaway formed, featuring Groupama-FDJ’s Lewis Askey, and cruised at 46.5km/h for the first two hours. Two chasing groups then joined, swelling the breakaway to 14 riders after the first 100km.
At the race’s halfway point, Soudal Quick-Step drove splits in the bunch, taking advantage of the wind which tore across the open country plains. A few crashes came here, with Łukasz Wiśniowski (EF Education-EasyPost), Michał Kwiatkowski and Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadies) all forced to withdraw.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Reigning champion Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) was also among those who hit the deck, but the Eritrean was able to remount his bike and catch back up with the peloton.
When the climbs finally arrived, the breakaway held an advantage of just one and a half minutes.
Over the bergs, tyres skipped across the wet cobbles, the riders’ faces unrecognisable with dirt. The peloton soon began to thin out, and the attackers were reeled back in with 55km to go, on the approach to the final five climbs.
On the penultimate ascent of the Kemmelberg, the sixth of the day's nine climbs, Van Aert launched the race-winning move, flanked by team-mate Christophe Laporte. Behind, a small group attempted to chase, but couldn’t break free from the peloton.
The Jumbo-Visma duo led by a minute onto the final climb - the tougher, steeper side of the Kemmelberg - where Van Aert began to distance Laporte. The Frenchman then clung on as his team-mate hurtled through the flat roads, stretching out their advantage to over two minutes towards Wevelgem.
Jhonatan Narváez (Ineos Grenadiers) and Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) tried to attack on the run-in to the town, but neither could distance themselves from the chase.
Having won the E3 Saxo Bank Classic earlier in the week, Van Aert was content to sit back and let Laporte edge for his first victory of the season.
Smiling, the duo gestured towards each other as they came across the line. The history books will list Laporte as the winner, but the victory was certified Jumbo-Visma.
Results
Gent-Wevelgem 2023 (260.9km)
1. Christophe Laporte (Fra) Jumbo-Visma, in 5-49-39
2. Wout van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma, s.t.
3. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Israel-Premier Tech
4. Frederik Frison (Bel) Lotto Dstny
5. Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo
6. Mikkel Bjerg (Den) UAE Team Emirates, all at 1-56
7. Alexis Renard (Fra) Cofidis
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe
10. Dan McLay (GBr) Team Arkéa Samsic, all at 2-04
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is fluent in French and Spanish, and holds a master's degree in International Journalism, which he passed with distinction. Since 2020, he has been the host of The TT Podcast, offering race analysis and rider interviews.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill, and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides. His best result is 28th in a hill-climb competition, albeit out of 40 entrants.
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Wout van Aert 'in a good place' ahead of Tour of Flanders despite Visma-Lease a Bike illness and injury crisis
Loss of Christophe Laporte and Dylan van Baarle 'a big blow' says DS Grischa Niermann as team builds for Monument double header
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Lorena Wiebes grabs Gent-Wevelgem victory in close photo-finish sprint
Dutchwoman claims crown on sixth appearance at Belgian Classic
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mads Pedersen topples Mathieu van der Poel to win Gent-Wevelgem
"I had to believe that my sprint was good enough to beat Mathieu," says former world champion after two-up finale
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Will Visma-Lease a Bike and SD Worx-Protime dominate Gent-Wevelgem again?
The ante-penultimate Classic before the Tour of Flanders always offers up exciting action
By Adam Becket Published
-
Cian Uijtdebroeks turns up to Jumbo-Visma training camp in black kit
The 20-year-old, at the centre of Bora-Hansgrohe v Jumbo-Visma storm, headed out on a ride with his new teammates
By Adam Becket Published
-
Jumbo-Visma's Michel Hessman facing lengthy doping ban
German rider previously suspended by Jumbo-Visma after positive anti-doping test
By Cycling Weekly Published
-
Wout van Aert to target Giro d'Italia general classification in 2024
Belgian will target top five finish at Italian Grand Tour as leader of Jumbo-Visma, according to reports
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers and Jumbo-Visma among teams working on new pro racing league
According to Reuters, around five teams are in the early talks for a new competition
By Adam Becket Published