Ghent – Wevelgem 2023: Laporte ahead of Van Aert, the ranking

Christophe Laporte won on Sunday March 26 in the classic Ghent Wevelgem ahead of Wout van Aert.

Wout van Aert as a grand prince. The Belgian, considered one of the great favorites of the race, let his teammate, the Frenchman Christophe Laporte, win on the roads of Ghent-Wevelgem. The two men set off 50 kilometers from the finish and performed a great number to finish hand in hand. “About ten kilometers from the finish, Wout asked me if I wanted to win, I think he knew the answer”, explains Laporte on arrival. “It’s really amazing. A few days ago, we thought that what we did on the E3 Saxo Classic last year almost never happens in a career, but we did it again today today. He was really strong, stronger than me today, I owe him this victory, it is thanks to him.”

It’s been a dream for me since I was a kid to win a Classic and a stage in the Tour de France. I was missing a Classic, last year I finished 2nd twice, today I am first. I am very proud, I think of my family, my wife, my two little boys. We are making a lot of sacrifices to get there and I am very, very happy”, declared Christophe Laporte. For Wout van Aert, the preparation could not have been better before the Tour of Flanders. “For me, it was always planned that I come to ride here on Ghent-Wevelgem. It’s a beautiful classic, we will try to win with the team today. There will be a week to recover and focus on the Tour of Flanders. Friday’s win? She really did me good.”

What is the course of Ghent-Wevelgem?

The Belgian classic which started in Deinze near Gent for years now starts from the Grote Markt in Ypres. All the paved climbs, including Mount Kemmel and the dirt road sections, called “plugstreets” will still be there.