Laporte finishes on the podium at Belgian semi-classic Binche–Chimay–Binche

# Laporte Claims Podium Finish at Binche–Chimay–Binche Semi-Classic

In a thrilling display at the Walloon semi-classic Binche–Chimay–Binche, Team Visma | Lease a Bike took part with a lean lineup of just five riders, including Christophe Laporte, who showcased his competitive spirit throughout the race. Joined by teammates Jed Smithson, Julien Vermote, Niklas Behrens, and Victor Campenaerts, the team was determined not to be passive in the peloton.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike played a pivotal role in thwarting any attempt for a breakaway to gain traction in the early stages of the race. Campenaerts, in particular, exhibited remarkable dedication in the final kilometers, pulling hard at the front to position Laporte for what would be a highly anticipated sprint finish. Despite Laporte’s strong sprint—where he demonstrated impressive form—he ultimately crossed the line in third place, just behind two faster riders.

“It was a really fast race,” noted sports director Maarten Wynants after the event. He elaborated that it took nearly eighty kilometers before a breakaway could even form but praised the strategic decisions made by the team. “We managed to anticipate things well by sending Victor and Niklas into some of the moves. At one point, we decided to fully commit to a sprint finish, and the team executed that plan perfectly. Christophe picked a good wheel in the finale but lost contact for just a moment — and with it, a bit of momentum. Third place is a solid result, though with a little more luck we might have achieved even more. All in all, it was a good day for us.”

The final results saw Jordi Meeus from Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe taking first place with a time of 4:13:47, followed closely by Nils Eekhoff of Team Picnic PostNL in second place, while Laporte snatched up third with no time deficit. Other notable finishes from Team Visma included Jed Smithson in 24th, Niklas Behrens in 34th, Julien Vermote in 41st, and Victor Campenaerts ending the race in 75th.

Overall, the event displayed not just the competitive talents of Team Visma | Lease a Bike but also their strategy and teamwork, setting a strong foundation for future races.