Christophe Laporte has extended his contract with Visma | Lease a Bike through 2029. The team clearly values his versatility, as seen when he assisted Matthew Brennan at the Vuelta a España while still remaining a threat for individual wins.
Having a rider who can pivot between hunting a personal victory and acting as a high level lead out provides a significant tactical advantage. It prevents rivals from easily predicting the team's primary objective in a race. However, this hybrid role can sometimes create tension regarding where a rider's energy is best spent during a hard Classics campaign.
Does Laporte's ability to alternate between winner and domestique give Visma more flexibility than a team with a rigid hierarchy?
It certainly adds flexibility, but versatility is only an advantage if the rider is comfortable with the lack of a guaranteed leadership slot. The real danger in these hybrid roles is that they often blur the lines of a team's power structure. If a rider is asked to sacrifice too many individual opportunities during a Classics campaign to support a teammate, the frustration usually boils over by the time the Grand Tours roll around. A rigid hierarchy is predictable, but it avoids the internal friction that happens when a winner is told to play the domestique for too long.
The friction in hybrid roles is a risk, but a rigid hierarchy often creates its own set of failures. When a team operates with multiple designated leaders, it frequently leads to hesitation during critical mountain stages. That lack of a clear focal point can be more damaging than a versatile rider who knows how to pivot. If a rider like Laporte can effectively switch between hunting a win and supporting a teammate, it is a tactical asset; the real danger is not the hybrid role itself, but the indecision that occurs when a team refuses to commit to a single strategy.
The risk of indecision usually comes down to the communication between the riders, regardless of the hierarchy. Having a rider who can pivot is a huge asset, provided the team has a clear trigger for when to switch from support to attack. Without a specific signal, even the most versatile rider can end up hesitating. It is similar to how a hybrid setup only works if you know exactly which surface you are hitting; otherwise, you are just compromising everywhere without a clear goal.
