Paris–Roubaix Femmes
Race details
DateEarly April
RegionNorthern France
Nickname(s)
  • The Hell of the North
  • Queen of the Classics
  • L'enfer du Nord
DisciplineRoad
CompetitionUCI Women's World Tour
TypeOne-day
OrganiserAmaury Sport Organisation
Race directorJean-François Pescheux
Web sitewww.paris-roubaix-femmes.fr
History
First edition2021 (2021)
Editions3 (as of 2023)
First winner Lizzie Deignan (GBR)
Most recent Alison Jackson (CAN)

Paris–Roubaix Femmes is a one day women's bicycle race on cobbled roads (or pavé) in northern France, held annually in early April. It is part of the UCI Women's World Tour. The equivalent men's race is a cycling monument, and after the Tour of Flanders and Liège–Bastogne–Liège, is the third to stage a women's edition.

History

Paris–Roubaix is one of cycling's oldest races, and was first held in 1896. The announcement of the inaugural women's edition of Paris–Roubaix came as a surprise addition to the revised 2020 UCI Women's World Tour calendar.[1] The race was scheduled for 25 October 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

The first edition of Paris–Roubaix Femmes took place in 2021,[3] with Lizzie Deignan winning following a 80km solo attack described by commentators as one of the greatest Roubaix rides of all time.[4][5][6]

Course

Pavé at the Carrefour de l'Arbre

The race is famous for its rough terrain, mud and cobblestones (pavé) - and has been nicknamed l'enfer du Nord, or Hell of the North.[7] The Paris–Roubaix Femmes course uses the same roads and cobbled sectors as the men's race - albeit over a shorter distance (around 120 to 140km) - before finishing in the Roubaix Velodrome.[8] Editions of the race have so far started in Denain,[3][8] with 17 sectors of pavé including the famed Carrefour de l'Arbre and the Mons-en-Pévèle - both ranked at "five stars" in difficulty.[8]

In 2023, organisers noted they consider it "too dangerous" to include the five star cobbled sector Trouée d'Arenberg due to its proximity to the start in Denain,[9] but they also noted that they "do not rule out that we will pass through ... in the future".[10]

Winners & Records

Year Rider Team
2020 Race cancelled due to COVID-19
2021 United Kingdom Lizzie Deignan Trek-Segafredo
2022 Italy Elisa Longo Borghini Trek-Segafredo
2023 Canada Alison Jackson EF Education–Tibco–SVB

References

  1. ↑ Kristin, Frattini. "Paris-Roubaix a surprise addition to revised Women's WorldTour". CyclingNews. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "Paris-Roubaix: Cycling classic cancelled due to coronavirus". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Official website of the Paris-Roubaix Femmes". Paris-Roubaix Femmes. A.S.O. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  4. ↑ "Lizzie Deignan masters cobbles for glory in first staging of Paris-Roubaix Femmes". the Guardian. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. ↑ Knöfler, Lukas (2 October 2021). "Lizzie Deignan solos for 82km to win inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  6. ↑ Puddicombe, Stephen (31 December 2021). "What were the best one-day races of 2021?". cyclingweekly.com. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "Spring Classics: How to win cycling's hardest one-day races". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 Jary, Rachel (30 September 2021). "Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2021 – Route, predictions and contenders". Rouleur. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  9. ↑ Frattini, Kirsten (5 April 2023). "Five-star Arenberg 'too dangerous' due to proximity to start at Paris-Roubaix Femmes, says ASO". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 5 April 2023. Organisers ASO have increased the total race distance for the third edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift but have not added the mythical five-star Trouée d'Arenberg, saying that it is still "too dangerous" to include it in the women's parcours due to its proximity to the start in Denain.
  10. ↑ Frattini, Kirsten (5 April 2023). "Five-star Arenberg 'too dangerous' due to proximity to start at Paris-Roubaix Femmes, says ASO". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 5 April 2023. 'I do not rule out that we will pass through the Arenberg Forest in the future' states course director on possible route changes
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