Gent - Wevelgem in Flanders Field 2023 March 26, 260.9 km (1.WT)

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Apr 13, 2021
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They should sprint for the win, enough of this gifting, they have 2 minutes on a disorganised chase they should be free to race.
 
Nov 16, 2013
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Lol, if Van Aert has to give this one away to Laporte, he should start looking for another team ASAP. Unless Vingegaard is going to gift the TDF to Van Aert of course.

Yes, you may have a point but if Laporte hadn't shown weakness on the Kemmel, he could also argue that he would deserve to win just as much as Wout.
 
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If WvA wants, he can drop Laporte as a stone. Laporte will be very happy WvA waited for him.
The only reason Laporte is still there, is the UCI points for Jumbo with Laporte's guaranteed 2nd place, and to make the training ride for WvA a bit more comfortable with Laporte taking short pulls.
 
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Sep 20, 2017
12,403
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Lol, if Van Aert has to give this one away to Laporte, he should start looking for another team ASAP. Unless Vingegaard is going to gift the TDF to Van Aert of course.
Considering that Van Aert a) won the last classic the two of them annihilated, b) has won a classic this season (unlike Laporte), and c) has won this race before (unlike Laporte), if there has to be a gift, it should be to Laporte.
 
Oct 19, 2011
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I really thought Van Aert would be a bit more affected by E3 on Friday, but hell no. The guy is batshit crazy strong.
 
Sep 16, 2010
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They should sprint for the win, enough of this gifting, they have 2 minutes on a disorganised chase they should be free to race.
gladiator-entertained.gif
 
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Considering that Van Aert a) won the last classic the two of them annihilated, b) has won a classic this season (unlike Laporte), and c) has won this race before (unlike Laporte), if there has to be a gift, it should be to Laporte.
But there is no reason for a gift. Laporte is not on the same level as Van Aert. He wasn't brought to the team to be on the level of Van Aert. He already got more wins out of his move to Jumbo (including gifts) than he would have won had he stayed at a French team. Laporte working for Van Aert is only normal. Van Aert is the better rider, he is the leader and this race is too big to simply gift to a domestique who on the day is quite clearly inferior.
 
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Sep 20, 2017
12,403
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But there is no reason for a gift. Laporte is not on the same level as Van Aert. He wasn't brought to the team to be on the level of Van Aert. He already got more wins out of his move to Jumbo (including gifts) than he would have won had he stayed at a French team. Laporte working for Van Aert is only normal. Van Aert is the better rider, he is the leader and this race is too big to simply gift to a domestique who on the day is quite clearly inferior.
...you would not make a good DS.
 
Jul 10, 2009
1,068
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If WvA wants, he can drop Laporte as a stone. Laporte will be very happy WvA waited for him.
The only reason Laporte is still there, is the UCI points for Jumbo with Laporte's guaranteed 2nd place, and to make the training ride for WvA a bit more comfortable with Laporte taking short pulls.
Pretty much this. Wout gets 260k in his legs without having to go deep, they max the points, all in for next week. And as Logic said up-thread, LaPorte has had a way better go of it on this team then he would have otherwise. If I'm Christophe I take my 2nd and am happy about it
 
Mar 4, 2011
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How many riders have done the E3-GW double? That would still be motivation for Wout to win, non?

ed. guess not :(
 
Dec 6, 2012
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Everyday a handful of riders make fools of the peloton in rather predictable ways. Hopefully this so-called golden era won't wear itself down too quickly