Jumbo-Visma’s stellar season continued after Belgian champion Wout van Aert and the versatile Frenchman Christophe Laporte combined to devastating effect in the opening race of so-called Flanders Week. The duo established a lead of almost two minutes over a chasing group of eight before sitting up to take in the applause on the home straight of the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, where they locked arms in celebration.
Van Aert crossed the line just ahead of Laporte to secure his third win of the season and his first ever win in E3 – having finished runner-up in 2019 and being marked out in 2021. Switzerland’s Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ) won the sprint for the final place on the podium as the chasers came home 1:35 in arrears.
Ad/> A huge acceleration from Van Aert on the Taaienberg with 80km remaining proved the pivotal moment of the 203.9km race, the Belgian champion joined by teammates Laporte and Tiesj Benoot as the first major shake-out occurred. Defending champion Kasper Asgreen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) joined the trio along with Milan-San Remo winner Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious), Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) and that man Kung.
Tour de FrancePogacar has 'fear factor', only Roglic can stop him – WigginsYESTERDAY AT 13:41 They soon caught and passed the day’s main break of seven riders, who had been up the road since going clear after 40km. Ineos Grenadiers led the chase with Dylan van Baarle and Jhonatan Narvaez soon infiltrating the leading group along with Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies), Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert), Michael Gogl (Alpecin-Fenix) and Quick-Step’s Florian Senechal, plus Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X) and Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ).
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