Many cycling fans may have loved the idea of Wout van Aert gifting Gent-Wevelgem victory to his Jumbo Visma team mate, Christophe Laporte, but three of the Gods of Belgian cycling were less impressed.
Eddy Merckx, Johan Museeuw and Tom Boonen said they wouldn't have done what Van Aert did. Boonen said while it was commendable to help a team mate win a major race, waiting on them after a climb and then gifting them the victory at the finish was a step too far.
The criticism from the trio is typical of the pressure on Van Aert at present in Belgium. He was clearly answering back when he turned to the camera after winning E3 Saxo Classic last Friday and spoke a couple of phrases asserting that he didn't need to live up to anyone's expectations.
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During Gent-Wevelgem yesterday the Jumbo Visma duo of Van Aert and Laporte rode clear with 50km remaining after attacking on the Kemmelberg. However, on the third and final passage of the climb, Van Aert was clearly strongest; pulling ahead of Laporte and then waiting for him.
They rode the remainder of the race in two-up TT mode and at the finish celebrated side by side. Van Aert gave Laporte a gentle push just before the line to make sure he crossed it first. The team 1-2 yesterday continued their dominance of the spring, so far, and followed just 48 hours after Van Aert had won E3 Saxo Classic.
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Merckx said while it was Van Aert's decision to gift Laporte the victory, and one he was free to make, he would not have done the same thing.
“Wout van Aert was by far the best, you saw that on the Kemmel,” he told Sporza. He could have written history by winning E3 Saxo Classic, Wevelgem and Tour of Flanders.”
Boonen struck a similar tone, saying Van Aert "is going to regret it". He added: “I understand. I have also helped teammates to win, but never in such a situation. You help teammates to let them fight for the win. This again looked good for the team's marketing, but I don't know if I would have done it."
Museeuw, another Belgian king of the classics in his day, also believed Van Aert would likely come to regret gifting Laporte such a big victory.
“In 15 years Wout might think back to this moment and be angry with himself,” he told VTM News. “He may not quite realise what he gave away. The victory is gone. I wouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t have. I also don’t see Pogačar doing this.”
