Gent-Wevelgem 2022

This weekend, the 21-year-old's exquisite early season form culminated in a historic victory at Gent-Wevelgem, becoming the first African rider to win a Belgian ...

With Girmay perched on the group’s tail, tightening his shoes before the sprint, Laporte made a move that he would come to regret. All three of his rivals were straight on him, and Laporte found himself leading them out with a surplus of lactate on board. Girmay hails from Asmara, Eritrea, and a family bursting with cycling enthusiasts. It changed a lot in the future, especially for all African riders.” “But I felt confident in the last 250 metres. Søren Kragh Andersen’s (Sunweb) last ditch attack just outside the flamme rouge yielded zero response and caused the peloton to stall, and it was over to the leading group to take the spoils. As the gap nudged 40 seconds with 10 km to go, shoulders could be seen drooping as a weary Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl came up to help for the first time. On the last time up the Kemmelberg, this time the steeper Ossuaire side, Van Aert put in his most determined attack of the day so far. There was no let-up in Jumbo-Visma’s efforts to detonate the group, however, and it was Laporte who launched the decisive move. This weekend, the 21-year-old’s exquisite early season form culminated in a historic victory at Gent-Wevelgem, becoming the first African rider to win a Belgian Classic, and on his debut. With 24 km left to race, the quartet started working well together without a moment’s hesitation. Then in the end you know everybody is waiting for Van Aert so I played it a bit easy.”