A fresh setback for Christophe Laporte and Visma-Lease a Bike as the Frenchman withdraws from the Samyn Classic after a strong start.
Visma-Lease a Bike, with Wout van Aert back in contention for the Ename Samyn Classic, has another key rider forced out. Christophe Laporte will not line up for the cobbled Classic, with the team confirming on race morning that he is “not feeling 100% fit” after Opening Weekend.
Laporte had already shown solid form this season, including a stage win at the Vuelta a Andalucía, making his absence a notable blow for Visma-Lease a Bike at the 203.8 km Ename Samyn Classic.
A setback in Laporte’s bid to rebound from a difficult 2025 season
Since arriving at Visma-Lease a Bike in 2022, Laporte developed into one of the world’s leading Classics specialists. But 2025 was a nightmare, largely due to a prolonged battle with cytomegalovirus. The illness sidelined him from the Classics calendar and the Tour de France, and even when he returned late in the year, consistency remained elusive.
He resumed racing late in the season with eyes on rebuilding toward 2026. His Andalucía victory suggested he was regaining form, though a subsequent crash spoiled that momentum. He did rebound during Opening Weekend, delivering strong results over two days and giving Visma-Lease a Bike a timely boost heading into the spring stretch.
“I'm glad I could still contribute a solid result for the team today,” Laporte said after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. “After an unlucky year prior, it’s reassuring to show my capabilities again in races like this.”
The latest illness marks another hurdle for Laporte and a team already navigating a rough run of bad luck. Whether this is a temporary blip or a sign that Laporte’s peak form will be slower to return remains to be seen as the main Spring period approaches.
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