His recent victories over Ghent-Wevelgem and Through Flanders make Frenchman Christophe Laporte one of the outsiders for the Tour of Flanders which will take place on Sunday April 2.
Against all odds, Christophe Laporte has positioned himself as one of the big outsiders for the Tour of Flanders which will take place on Sunday 2 April. The Frenchman has been quite sensational on the roads of Flanders in recent weeks. This year, the Varois has already won twice. On March 26, the Jumbo-Visma rider won at Ghent-Wevelgem ahead of his teammate Wout Van Aert. Better still, he went for a second solo victory on A travers la Flandre on March 29. “It’s hard to realize, but I made sacrifices for it”. This is the first time since 2008 and Sylvain Chavanel that a Frenchman has won on the roads of Flanders.
In any case, the 30-year-old rider is impatient to battle it out and he considers the Tour of Flanders to be one of the most beautiful races of the season”. No Frenchman has won there for 31 years. The last victory tricolor dates back to the time of Jacky Durand. A little later there is Paris-Roubaix which “can suit me better”, testified after the race Through Flanders Christophe Laporte who will be at the start on April 9, 2023. His performances are also attracting attention such as former rider Tom Boonen, a member of the Quick-Step who is therefore keeping an eye on the Frenchman because his contract with Jumbo-Visma ends in 2023.
Christophe Laporte was born on December 11, 1992 in La Seyne-sur-Mer in the Var. Before pacing the roads around the world, the Frenchman first went mountain biking. It was only afterwards that he decided to take up road cycling. A choice that paid off. The runner became regional champion of the Côte d’Azur at the age of 19. In 2013 he managed to take the silver medal at the Mediterranean Games. Spotted by professional teams for his performances, he officially began his racing career with Cofidis in 2014. On the cycling circuit, he distinguished himself by winning, for example, a stage of the Tour du Luxembourg in 2018 or Paris-Nice in 2022. He also managed to become vice-world champion on the road in 2022.
Professional since 2014, Christophe Laporte first competed with the Cofidis team (2014-2021). He is now a member of the Dutch formation, the Jumbo Visma (since 2022).
Christophe Laporte lived three beautiful weeks during the Tour de France 2022. His Jumbo Visma team was very dominating and won the 2022 yellow jersey (Jonas Vingegaard) and the green jersey (Wout Van Aert). Suspicions of doping ensued around the Dutch team. A situation that the Frenchman regretted in July 2022. “I know that some people don’t believe in our performance. Cycling had a hard time cleaning up its image, it’s unfortunate,” he lamented.
Christophe Laporte obviously does not have the profile of a climber with his 76kg. In the mountains, its weight can quickly become a handicap.
Christophe Laporte is slightly above the peloton average in size. He measures 1m89.
The salary of the 20 richest riders in the peloton would exceed according to Today Cycling 1 million euros. Christophe Laporte’s salary was expected to be quite close to 1 million euros.
Christophe Laporte’s partner is Marion Sainglin. Together they had a son whom they named Mario.