Generous Van Aert selflessly gives Gent-Wevelgem victory to Laporte after team time trial
Wout van Aert who was one of the top favourites to win the 2021 Gent-Wevelgem cycle race, went against all odds by selflessly giving his victory to his teammate, Jordi Laporte. The race was held over a 247km distance between Ypres and Wevelgem with 25 teams participating. After a long battle, the Jumbo-Visma team emerged winners and in a show of sportsmanship, Van Aert gave the team’s win to his teammate.
How the race played out
The Gent-Wevelgem race is one of the most prestigious events in the cycling calendar, and this year was no exception. The race kicked off in Ypres with all teams looking to get a winning edge. However, at around the 200km mark, the Jumbo-Visma team took the lead and went on to win the team time trial with a time of 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 18 seconds.
Van Aert’s decision to give his victory to Laporte
After winning the race, Van Aert pulled up and waited for his teammate Laporte, who was behind him. When Laporte finally caught up, Van Aert pointed at him, indicating that he was the winner. Laporte couldn’t believe it and was initially hesitant to accept the victory, but Van Aert insisted. The move by Van Aert showed true leadership and exemplified the teamwork and selflessness that is often seen in cycling teams.
Reactions to Van Aert’s gesture
The reaction from the cycling world was overwhelming, with many applauding Van Aert for his gesture. Laporte himself was grateful and acknowledged that he wouldn’t have won without Van Aert’s help. Jumbo-Visma’s team director, Merijn Zeeman, praised both riders, saying that Van Aert was an excellent teammate who put the team’s interests before his own, while Laporte deserved the win after working hard throughout the race.
Conclusion
Van Aert’s decision to give the victory to Laporte was the highlight of the race and emphasized the importance of teamwork and selflessness in cycling. It also demonstrated the values that are at the core of Jumbo-Visma’s team philosophy. Van Aert’s generosity will undoubtedly inspire many cycling enthusiasts to prioritize teamwork ahead of individual accolades.
#selflessness #teamwork #cycling #Gent-Wevelgem #sportsmanship
Summary: Wout Van Aert selflessly gave his victory to Jordi Laporte in the Gent-Wevelgem cycle race after the Jumbo-Visma team won the team time trial. Van Aert’s gesture highlighted the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship in cycling and showed the values that underpin the Jumbo-Visma team philosophy. #NEWS