Wout van Aert will 'regret' letting Christophe Laporte win Gent-Wevelgem – Eddy Merckx and Tom Boonen wade in

Belgian legend Eddy Merckx has admitted he would not have gifted a team-mate victory like Wout van Aert did for Christophe Laporte at Gent-Wevelgem, while Tom Boonen has suggested the Jumbo-Visma star will “regret” his kindness. Van Aert escaped with Laporte after an attack on the penultimate ascent of the Kemmelberg. Once the pair had built an unassailable lead, the 2021 champion decided to let the Frenchman take victory.

Ad It was reminiscent of scenes from the opening stage at Paris-Nice last year, when Laporte led home Primoz Roglic and Van Aert after the Jumbo trio broke away. Gent — WevelgemLaporte wins Gent-Wevelgem from Van Aert after Jumbo-Visma masterclassA DAY AGO «I won on Friday [E3 Saxo Classic] 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 said after finishing runner-up on Sunday. Asked if he was surprised at his compatriot's decision, Merckx told Sporza: “Yes and no. »I bet 1,000 euros with my son that Laporte will win… It's his choice to let a team-mate win, but I wouldn't have done it." He added: «Of course, I don't know what's going on within the team.

»Wout van Aert was by far the best, you saw that on the Kemmel. He could write history by winning Harelbeke [E3], Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders." Van Aert outsprinted Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) to win E3 Saxo Classic last week. Reusser solos to Gent-Wevelgem win despite taking wrong turn in dramatic finish Roglic wins Volta a Catalunya despite Evenepoel taking final stage in Barcelona — 'Super pleased' Boonen, a three-time winner of Gent-Wevelgem, also said he would