Laporte emotional after Van Aert's Roubaix victory: 'Just as happy as if I'd won it myself'

Wout van Aert has won that long-coveted cobbled Monument victory. The Belgian struck ruthlessly in the sprint on Sunday at Paris-Roubaix and powered to the second Monument win of his career. His team Visma | Lease a Bike, after years of bad luck, experienced an emotional day. IDL Pro Cycling caught up with Christophe Laporte afterwards, while team boss Grischa Niermann also had glowing words.

That Van Aert was able to win in the Hell of the North was partly thanks to Laporte. The Frenchman was well-positioned throughout the race and eventually finished fifth on the Vélodrome. After the finish, the experienced rider spoke to this site, among others, brimming with emotion.

"There is no rider who deserves to win Paris-Roubaix more than he does, so I am very happy," Laporte said immediately. "We rode a fantastic race and he truly deserves it. I am really so happy. He's a great guy. He's had so much bad luck, but today was his day. He wins Paris-Roubaix and that was the team's goal. I am really so pleased."

That triggered plenty of emotion. "It made me emotional, and he was very emotional too. He is a real friend of mine, and the fact that he wins today… I am just as happy as if I'd won it myself. That's also the reason I'm at this team," the Frenchman said, his two children in his arms.

Van Aert's years of bad luck at Paris-Roubaix led to moments of doubt, according to Laporte. "Of course. You might not say it out loud, but with all the misfortune he's had, you do wonder whether he'll ever manage to win it. He's pulled it off. He is mentally so strong."

"Nobody truly deserves it more than he does," the Frenchman repeated, before offering even more praise for his teammate. "I have learned a lot from him and his mentality. It is truly an achievement — for me and for the whole team.

Team boss Niermann was equally overjoyed on the Visma | Lease a Bike website. 'We are incredibly happy and everyone is so pleased for Wout. This victory means an enormous amount to him and the team. He has been so close so many times, but always came up against someone who was just a bit better. That he has now delivered, in what is perhaps the most beautiful one-day race on the calendar, is fantastic,' the German said.