In just the second year, the Paris-Roubaix Femmes is already one of the highlights of the women’s racing calendar. The legends of the Hell of the North has transferred across nicely to women’s pro cycling and was also pushed by growing cycling media coverage, promotion from the title sponsor Zwift and live television coverage.
The 2022 edition delivered dry weather as the motos and support and team cars stirred up dust on the 17 cobbled sections along the 125km course from Denain to Roubaix. Marianne Voss and Lisa Brennauer were both notable absentees from the 2022 Paris-Roubaix Femme, both had reported positive covid results.
While the crowds are no match for the mens Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, the turnout of spectators on the road-sides was strong, though notably with more male cycling fans rather than the mixed and family crowds who traditionally attend the mens race. In a positive move, the prize-money for the women’s race has increased seven-fold from €7,005 (2021) to a prize pool of €50,000 for 2022.
Starting with 4 laps around Denain, North-East of Paris, 139 riders represented 24 teams and the attacks start almost immediately. The bunch fell apart quickly after hitting the first cobble section and the dusty and rough stones saw slips, tumbles, punctures and crashes, but still a high tempo pace with 39kmh average. By the fourth cobbled section, the peloton had dwindled to 25 riders in the lead group and continued attacks, including from race-favourite Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx), were reeled-in.
Kopecky was joined by Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ) and cyclo-cross World Champion Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo) in a break-away about 52km ahead of the finish but were again caught by the peloton. Reigning road race world champion Elisa Balsamo suffered a puncture though after a bike change was then able to claw back to the front. She was however disqualified by the UCI commissaires for an ‘irregular return’ – which was a sticky bottle assistance from her team car helping her return to the group.
With about 34 km, Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), the current Italian Time Trial and Road Racing champion made a decisive move, attacking and maintaining a growing lead. She was chased by 8 riders; Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo), Chantal Van den Broek-Blaak (SD Worx), Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ), Emma Norsgaard (Movistar, Pfeiffer Georgi and Floortje Mackaij (Team DSM), Marta Cavalli and Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo).
Borghini, who finished 3rd in the 2021 edition, was able to hold and increase her gap despite a few nervous moments, slipping on the dust covered cobbled, to enter the iconic Roubaix velodrome and take a determined solo victory.
The second group was reduced to six riders for a sprint to the finish Lotte Kopecky took the line first for second place ahead of Lucinda Brand in third.
2021 Paris-Roubaix Femmes Rankings
- Elisa Longo Borghini TREK – SEGAFREDO 03h 10′ 54″
- Lotte Kopecky TEAM SD WORX + 00′ 23″
- Lucinda Brand TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 23″
- Elise Chabbey CANYON // SRAM RACING + 00′ 23″
- Marta Cavalli FDJ NOUVELLE – AQUITAINE FUTUROSCOPE + 00′ 23″
- Floortje Mackaij TEAM DSM + 00′ 23″
- Ellen Van Dijk TREK – SEGAFREDO + 00′ 23″
- Chantal Van Den Broek-Blaak TEAM SD WORX + 00′ 32″
- Pfeiffer Georgi TEAM DSM + 02′ 22″
- Sandra Alonso Dominguez CERATIZIT – WNT PRO CYCLING TEAM + 02′ 22″
Title Photo © A.S.O./Pauline Ballet
Content Photos Video © Bicycles.net.au
