Christophe Laporte's victory in Ghent-Wevelgem was an intoxicating dream come true, but his Jumbo-Visma team and Wout Van Aert's red carpet took him well out of the running for his first Classic.

Their 1-2 finish in Sunday's rain-soaked 260km race was a stunning display of deja vu: 367 days earlier, they had crossed the finish line arm-in-arm in the same manner at the E3 Saxo Classic, and earlier last season they had finished in a trio with Primosz Roglic.

Laporte described his Paris-Nice win as a "gift" and reached for his thank-you card again at Wevelgem.

"He was stronger than me today," Laporte admitted, having lost Van Aert's wheel on the final climb of the Kemmelberg before connecting for the 32km journey.

"It was Wout who asked me if I wanted to win with 10km to go. 'Of course you know my answer.'

The two entered Wevelgem and Van Aert interrupted the choreographed celebration to confirm that the winner was Laporte when his wheel accidentally went forward.

"He gave me a gift," VanArt said. 'He's a great champion and I'm very proud to have run with him. We've been teammates for over a year now and we've done some great things together."

"He's a great champion and I'm very proud to have run with him.

LaPorte repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Van Aert, but he also said: "I owe a lot to the team.

Indeed, Laporte's career soared after his decision to leave Cofidis at the end of 2021 and join the top group of the World Tour. Soon there was Paris-Nice and E3, and in the 2022 campaign he won a stage in the Tour de France and finished second in the world championships. Despite a poor showing at E3 on Friday, his second season with the Dutch team looks to be more of the same.

Laporte did not come out of nowhere, and while he is certainly the star of Cofidis' step up to the World Tour level in 2020, there is a big difference between the races Laporte has won on the lower-level French circuit and the results he is bringing these days.

"I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to win the team.

"I made a big career choice to change teams.

"I don't think I wasted my time at Cofidis. My eight years at Cofidis were great. I learned a lot. I learned how to be a professional rider. To be in a team like Jumbo Visma, I needed to be one of the riders who had a certain stature, who, in reverse comma, could be counted on in the finals. It was the right moment for me to leave. In any case I have no regrets. I am very happy

"It was my dream to win a classic, like winning a stage of the Tour de France. I am also grateful to my family who sacrifices so much for me. I have two small sons, and it's not always easy for my wife and me, but it's great when the sacrifice pays off. But it's great when sacrifice pays off."

Jumbo Visma, led by Laporte, saw Dylan Van Barre take a solo win in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, another 1-2 finish for Tige Benoot and Nathan Van Hooydonk in the Cune Brussel Cune, and Friday's E3 Van Aert beat Mathieu Van Der Pol and Tadej Pogachar.

"If I wasn't on this team, it would have definitely left a scar," Laporte said after this latest display of dominance.

"We have an exceptional group. The team has really succeeded in creating a group with these individuals. The understanding is perfect. We are ready to see our teammates win and we are motivated ourselves. That is our strength and we are taking advantage of it.

Laporte called Van Aert a "big leader," even if he and the above riders could win the Tour de Flanders or Paris-Roubaix the next two Sundays. He confirmed that Laporte, who "wasn't feeling 100%" in E3 on Friday, is in very good form and acknowledged that the team as a whole is clearly in good shape,

but concluded, "We have achieved our goals so far, but the two big races are still to come."