Wout van Aert will 'regret' letting Christophe Laporte win Gent-Wevelgem – Eddy Merckx and Tom Boonen wade in
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Published 27/03/2023 at 13:08 GMT+1
Wout van Aert may have boosted team morale at Jumbo-Visma by allowing Christophe Laporte to win Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday – but not everyone was impressed by his decision. Belgian stars Eddy Merckx and Tom Boonen have said they would not have been so generous, with the latter saying Van Aert might come to “regret” it and questioning whether Laporte could really count it as a legitimate win.
Highlights: Laporte seals Gent-Wevelgem win after Jumbo-Visma dominate
Video credit: TNT Sports
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.
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.
"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.
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E3 Saxo Classic Highlights as Van Aert beats Van der Poel and Pogacar in sprint finish
Video credit: TNT Sports
Boonen, a three-time winner of Gent-Wevelgem, also said he would not have let Laporte win had he found himself in Van Aert’s position.
"I have also helped team-mates to the win, but never in such a situation," said Boonen.
"You help team-mates to let them fight for the win. This again looked good for the team's marketing, but I don't know if I would have done it.
"Jumbo scores, but Gent-Wevelgem is Gent-Wevelgem. That race is a nice addition to your honours list. It is more than a ride in Paris-Nice."
He also questioned what a gifted victory would mean to Laporte, who would have been a heavy underdog in a sprint showdown with Van Aert.
"Do you want to win like this?" continued Boonen. "I would have sprinted for it. Such a sprint would have looked strange, but it was the fairest."
He continued: "Wout is going to regret it. Riders come and go. Christophe Laporte will probably become the key figure for Wout in Flanders and Roubaix, but that is not a guarantee.
"Suppose you have a hard fall after 5km on Sunday, then you will regret it very much."
Van Aert heads to the Tour of Flanders on Sunday amongst the favourites, along with defending champion Van der Poel and Pogacar.
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