A fresh setback for Christophe Laporte and Visma-Lease a Bike as the Frenchman withdraws from the Samyn Classic after showing solid form.
Visma-Lease a Bike (https://www.cyclingnews.com/road/teams/uci-worldtour/2026/visma-lease-a-bike/) may have Wout van Aert back in action after illness for the Ename Samyn Classic on Tuesday, but another key rider from the Dutch squad has been forced to pull out.
Christophe Laporte will not race in the cobbled Classic, with the team reporting on race morning that he is “not feeling 100% fit” after Opening Weekend.
Having already claimed a stage win at the Vuelta a Andalucía to start his season, Laporte has shown strong form over the past month. His absence will be a significant blow for Visma-Lease a Bike in the 203.8km Ename Samyn Classic (https://www.cyclingnews.com/ename-samyn-classic/).
A setback in Laporte’s re-emergence after a difficult 2025
Laporte, who had developed into one of the world’s top Classics riders since joining Visma-Lease a Bike in 2022, endured a brutal 2025 season largely wiped out by a lengthy cytomegalovirus infection. The virus, which can cause fatigue and be hard to shake off, forced him to miss the Classics and the Tour de France.
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He returned to racing late in the year, aiming to rebuild toward his previous level in 2026.
A Andalucía victory suggested he was on track, but a crash later during the same race interrupted that momentum. He bounced back to perform well across both days of Opening Weekend, giving Visma a much-needed boost ahead of the core Spring period.
“I’m pleased that I was still able to deliver a strong result for the team today,” Laporte said after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. “After an unlucky season last year, it’s nice to prove myself again in races like this.”
The current illness marks another hurdle for Laporte and a team that has already endured a run of bad luck. Analysts and fans are watching to see whether this is a temporary blip or if Laporte’s fitness and form will become a broader concern for the spring campaign.
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