Paris-Roubaix Femmes - Live Coverage

Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of Paris-Roubaix Femmes.

The day has finally arrived! We are 45 minutes away from the start of the second edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift. The riders and teams are being invited one-by-one onto the pre-race presentation stage in Deinan, and waving to the crowds.

Notably absent from the favourites on the start line in Deinan is none other than Marianne Vos. 

Widely regarded as one of the greatest cyclists of all time, Vos finished a heart-wrenching second place to the inaugural winner Lizzie Deignan last year, but she returned to try and win the race today. Unfortunately, Jumbo-Visma confirmed that Vos tested positive for Covid-19 this morning cannot compete.

And so it's another heartbreak for Vos - and for her fans - who expressed her disappointment this morning saying, 

“The disappointment is enormous. I have been looking forward to this match. When I tested positive this morning, the world came crashing down for a moment. But I support the team's policy. You should not take any risks with your health. I'm going home, I'm taking a rest and I hope I continue to feel good.”

Read the full story here.

It is hard to believe that anything could top the history-making first-ever Paris-Roubaix Femmes last autumn, won in remarkable fashion by Deignan as she was crowned the inaugural champion.

The Hell of the North epitomises the magic of the Spring Classics because of its unruly pavé and unpredictable racing, so we expect nothing less than pure spectacle again for the second edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes today.

There are some welcomed changes to the event this year, and we can thank ASO for these:

First, after facing criticism for offering €91,000 for men vs €7,005 for women last year, ASO have bumped the women's prize purse up to $50,000 and the winner will take home €20,000, versus the pitiful €1,535 that Deignan won last year. Although her Trek-Segafredo team stepped in and bumped up her pay to equal that of the men's race winner.

Second, fans were quite upset by the limited live television coverage last year, and we all missed Deignan's winning move ahead of the first cobblestone sector, Hornaing à Wandignies. This year, however, ASO promise live television that begins before the first set of cobbles, at the 40km mark.

Third, the race last year started at 8:30 am CET! This year's race starts at a much more reasonable 12:30pm CET. 

Last but not least, the route is slightly longer at 124.7km thanks to an extra opening lap in Deinan. But otherwise the route is much the same, the women's peloton will tackle 17 sectors for 29.2km of cobbles. Two are rated five-star difficulty: Mons-en-Pévèle with 49km to go, and the Carrefour de l'Arbre with 17km to go en route to the velodrome in Roubaix. 

Here are the cobblestone sectors:

• 17 - Hornaing à Wandignies (km 42.3 - 3.7 km) ****
• 16 - Warlaing à Brillon (km 49.7 - 2.4 km) ***
• 15 - Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières (km 53.2 - 2.4 km) ****
• 14 - Beuvry-la-Forêt à Orchies (km 59.6 - 1.4 km) ***
• 13 - Orchies (km 64.6 - 1.7 km) ***
• 12 - Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée (km 70.7 - 2.7 km) ****
• 11 - Mons-en-Pévèle (km 76.2 - 3 km) *****
• 10 - Merignies à Avelin (km 82.2 - 0.7 km) **
• 9 - Pont-Thibault à Ennevelin (km 85.6 - 1.4 km) ***
• 8 - Templeuve - L'Epinette (km 91 - 0.2 km) *
• 8 - Templeuve - Moulin-de-Vertain (km 91.5 - 0.5 km) **
• 7 - Cysoing à Bourghelles (km 97.9 - 1.3 km) ***
• 6 - Bourghelles à Wannehain (km 100.4 - 1.1 km) ***
• 5 - Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 104.9 - 1.8 km) ****
• 4 - Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 107.6 - 2.1 km) *****
• 3 - Gruson (km 109.9 - 1.1 km) **
• 2 - Willems à Hem (km 116.6 - 1.4 km) ***
• 1 - Roubaix-Espace Charles Crupelandt (km 123.4 - 0.3 km) *

Cyclingnews' Daniel Ostanek is at the start in Deinan, and he has interviewed many of the favourites this morning.

Lotte Kopecky said, "It's a really nice race, a new race for women, but it already has its importance on the calendar for every team, and it's a nice day compared to last year. I have to say last week I was tired after the press attention and the emotions (of winning Tour of Flanders) so it was good to have a week to refill my energy."

Kopecky and SD Worx have hopes of winning the race today, and you can read our full story here - "In Paris-Roubaix you can never give up," says Kopecky.

The women are lined up on the start line, ready to begin the second edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes!

And they are off!

Another pre-race favourite is Lorena Wiebes from Team DSM. She is one of the fastest sprinter in the women's peloton at the moment. It will be exciting to see what she can do at today's Paris-Roubaix Femmes.

In an exclusive Cyclingnews blog, World Champion Elisa Balsamo wrote about her recent 'golden week' of racing where she won Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Classic Brugge-De Panne and Gent-Wevelgem. Of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, she wrote:

"In all honesty, I don't feel ready to be competitive in the Enfer du Nord yet. In short, we still have to get to know each other better... Last year, was an extreme challenge, made more so by the weather conditions than by the cobblestones. I suffered pain in my hands for days, but this year I will be more prepared. My hope is that we can at least race in dry conditions. The rest, we'll only find out as we race."

Elisa Balsamo blog: Mission accomplished as Classics hunter

Cyclingnews' Daniel Ostanek spoke with Balsamo at the start in Deinan, too.

"I'm feeling good, and yes, I had a good start to he season. I am very happy and excited for the race today. It's a kind of love-hate I have for this race. Its historical and one of the most important, so it is going to be hectic. We have a strong team and will take the cobble sectors in front, and then we will see. There will be a lot of attacks. I'm a good sprinter so for a small bunch sprint, it would be ok. I don't know if I can win today. It will be difficult, a hard race, but of course, I will try."

Our favourite Canadian, Alison Jackson (Liv Racing Xstra), pulls out her best dance moves ahead of Paris-Roubaix Femmes. 

120km to go

We have a breakaway of five riders that has formed:

Leonie Bos (Parkhotel Valkenburg)
Amalie Lutro (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team)
Katie Clouse (Human Powered Health)
Tanja Erath (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB)
Gaia Masetti (AG Insurance - NXTG Team)

The race begins with four local circuits in Deinan before the peloton heads out toward the first cobble sector : Hornaing à Wandignies (km 42.3 - 3.7 km) ****

The breakaway of five riders have extended their lead out to over one minute.

We can't forget that Lizzie Deignan made her winning move just ahead of the Hornaing à Wandignies last year, when it was least expected. This time around, the bigger teams might be more prepared to manage the early breakaway.

Crash - 103km to go

We are hearing that there has been a crash in the main peloton that has brought down Marta Cavalli and Eugénie Duval (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futurscope), along with Abi Smith (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB).

We hope that no one is seriously injured.

Marta Cavalli is back up on her bike and in the peloton. She is one of the pre-race favourites after her after winning Amstel Gold Race last weekend.

Cyclingnews spoke with the Italian rider at the start, and here is what she had to say, 

"I believe more in my shape and skills, but I also know that I have been at this level for a few months, and [winning Amstel Gold Race] was just confirmation of where I am now. I like the cobbles. Last year I had a good race. With the team we decided to come back to have an other opportunity, the weather is different today, so we will see during the race. The first cobble sector will be a key point because the peloton will split. We have three long sectors in a row, after that it will be strength in the legs, big efforts and not a lot of tactics."

Cyclingnews' Laura Weislo highlighted 10 riders to watch for Paris-Roubaix Femmes. Unfortunately, Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) was not able to start due to a positive Covid-19 test, so here is our list of 9 riders to watch:

• Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx)
• Ellen van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo)
• Emma Norsgaard (Movistar)
• Marta Bastianelli (Team UAE ADQ)
• Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo)
• Marta Cavalli (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine-Futuroscope)
• Chantal Van den Broek-Blaak (SD Worx)
• Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo)
• Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM)

Julie de Wilde (Plantur-Pura) has also crashed ahead of the first cobble sector.

Paris-Roubaix Femmes Route

A reminder of the route - the route will not include the famed Trouée d'Arenberg of the men's race route, but the women race a slightly longer 124km, versus 115km in 2021, that included an additional opening lap in the start city of Denain. 

As for the pavé, the women's peloton will tackle 17 sectors for 29.2km of cobbles. Two are rated five-star difficulty: Mons-en-Pévèle with 49km to go, and the Carrefour de l'Arbre with 17km to go en route to the velodrome in Roubaix. 

Read our full Paris-Roubaix Femmes Preview.

• 17 - Hornaing à Wandignies (km 42.3 - 3.7 km) ****
• 16 - Warlaing à Brillon (km 49.7 - 2.4 km) ***
• 15 - Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières (km 53.2 - 2.4 km) ****
• 14 - Beuvry-la-Forêt à Orchies (km 59.6 - 1.4 km) ***
• 13 - Orchies (km 64.6 - 1.7 km) ***
• 12 - Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée (km 70.7 - 2.7 km) ****
• 11 - Mons-en-Pévèle (km 76.2 - 3 km) *****
• 10 - Merignies à Avelin (km 82.2 - 0.7 km) **
• 9 - Pont-Thibault à Ennevelin (km 85.6 - 1.4 km) ***
• 8 - Templeuve - L'Epinette (km 91 - 0.2 km) *
• 8 - Templeuve - Moulin-de-Vertain (km 91.5 - 0.5 km) **
• 7 - Cysoing à Bourghelles (km 97.9 - 1.3 km) ***
• 6 - Bourghelles à Wannehain (km 100.4 - 1.1 km) ***
• 5 - Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 104.9 - 1.8 km) ****
• 4 - Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 107.6 - 2.1 km) *****
• 3 - Gruson (km 109.9 - 1.1 km) **
• 2 - Willems à Hem (km 116.6 - 1.4 km) ***
• 1 - Roubaix-Espace Charles Crupelandt (km 123.4 - 0.3 km) *

The five riders in the breakaway have increased their lead to 1:30 minutes:

Leonie Bos (Parkhotel Valkenburg)
Amalie Lutro (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team)
Katie Clouse (Human Powered Health)
Tanja Erath (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB)
Gaia Masetti (AG Insurance - NXTG Team)

Sector 17 - Hornaing à Wandignies (3.7 km) **** 82km to go

The breakaway has hit the first pavé sector as the race sees 82km to go. Conditions are drastically different compared to last year's wet, mud-fest. 

The dry and sunny conditions mean that the dust is flying as the race crosses Hornaing à Wandignies, the longest sector of pavé in the women's race.

Lutro, Erath and Masetti have pushed on ahead as Bos and Clouse have lost contact over the cobbles.

Cavalli's predictions were correct, the peloton behind is being led over the cobbles by Trek-Segafredo, and many gaps and splits have opened up as riders struggle to hold on to the fast pace.

The main field, which has been reduced drastically, is about to catch Bos and Clouse.

Time trial World Champion Ellen van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo) is using her flat-out power to reduce the gap to the breakaway. She has also single-handedly reduced the main field to some 40 riders. 

Behind, there are several large groups chasing desperately to try and get back into the race before it's too late.

The three breakaway riders are back on the tarmac holding a one minute lead:

Amalie Lutro (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team)
Tanja Erath (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB)
Gaia Masetti (AG Insurance - NXTG Team)

Sector 16 - Warlaing à Brillon (2.4 km) *** 75km to go

Here we go! Lutro, Erath and Masetti are on the next sector of pavé, but Van Dijk, chasing behind, has slashed their gap to just 35 seconds

Van Dijk crashed in the race last year and suffered a serious concussion. She said that she was nervous and had anxiety ahead of the race this year:

"I have some anxiety in me from last year. It's been a rough three months to get back to normal - I had a really heavy concussion and it's something that I don't want to have again, of course. We'll see how it goes on Saturday. I think the form is there but it's not only about that. I just need to be in the front and then everything will be OK."

Read our the full story here.

Sector 15 - Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières (2.4 km) **** - 72km to go

Masetti has a flat tire! Lutro and Erath push on with out her.

Van Dijk also has a flat tire and pulls over to the side of the cobbles to request a whee change. It might take a while for her team car to reach her.

Crash

Emma Norsgaard (Movistar), Elise Chabbey and Alice Barnes (Canyon-SRAM Racing) have gone down on the cobbles.

Back on the pavement, Van Dijk is now getting a wheel change.

Cyclingnews' Editor Peter Stuart is following Paris-Roubaix Femmes today, and watching from the side of the cobblestone sectors. Here is a selection of images from the race.

Image 1 of 3

Sector 14 - Beuvry-la-Forêt à Orchies (1.4 km) *** - 60km to go

The cobble sectors are coming up back-to-back very fast. 

Erath is now the lone breakaway rider as she distances Lutro over the pavé.

Erath has been caught as the peloton barrel down the pavement and into the next sector at Orchies (km 64.6 - 1.7 km)

Sector 13 - Orchies (1.7 km) *** - 59km to go

SD Worx has hit the front along the Orchies as Chantal van den Broek-Blaak pushes a massive gear over the cobbles. She look incredibly comfortable along this section of the route, followed by her teammate Christine Majerus, as the rest of the peloton are lined out behind with gaps opening everywhere.

Back on the pavement, but it's a bad-luck sort of day for Marta Cavalli who needs a bike change.

Canyon-SRAM's Shari Bossuyt has ridden off the side of the road, while Alison Jackson (Liv Racing Xstra) has crashed. 

We hope that they are both OK.

Italian Champion Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) is leading the field that looks to be about 40 riders.

Other riders who are at the front off the reduced field are van den Broek-Blaak (SD Worx), Teniel Campbell (BikeExchange), and Romy Kasper (Jumbo-Visma).

Sector 12 - Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée (2.7 km) **** - 54km to go

The field is on the cobbles again and we see Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) looking very comfortable behind her teammates.

Former cyclo-cross World Champion Sanne Cant (Plantur Pura) has a flat tire.

And Kopecky launches a huge attack! 

Kopecky, who won Strade Bianche and Tour of Flanders, has a gap on the field, and the only rider capable of following her is former World Champion Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ).

Bastianelli takes a corner wide and Kopecky briefly rides off the side of the road, but she saved it and is back on the Italian's wheel.

The peloton is completely shattered behind the two leaders.

Coryn Labecki (Jumbo-Visma) has a flat tire.

The race is briefly back on the pavement. 

Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo) bridges across and joins Bastianelli and Kopecky at the front of the race.

Sector 11 - Mons-en-Pévèle (3 km) ***** - 48km to go

The three dangerous riders; Kopecky, Bastianelli and Brand hold a very small gap as the race reaches the five-star sector Mons-en-Pévèle.

World Champion Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) has a flat tire.

Van Dijk is no longer at the front of the race but here is an image of her blowing the peloton to pieces earlier in the race

Bastianelli is so powerful over the cobbles, she is pulling Brand and Kopecky through the last few hundred metres of the Mons-en-Pévèle, often riding the faster line along the dirt at the sides of the roads.

In case you missed it, there is a dangerous breakaway that has emerged and they have 20 seconds on the reduced field:

Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx)
Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ)
Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo)

Lucinda Brand opted to skip the first-ever Paris-Roubaix Femmes to focus on cyclo-cross last fall but she watched the race live on television as her teammate Deignan secured a history-making victory and was crowned the Queen of the Classics.

There were two key points she took away from watching that remarkable performance in which she believed would help in her as she lined up to race her first Paris-Roubaix this morning - "stay in front and don’t look back."

“I have been looking forward to Paris-Roubaix and we tried to make a really good programme towards this race, for me. I’m also a bit nervous because almost the whole bunch knows what is coming, and I don’t, so it puts me in a different position of course.”

Sector 10 - Merignies à Avelin (0.7 km) ** - 42km to go

The trio are holding 20 seconds as they cross the very short Merignies à Avelin sector. Behind Canyon-SRAM and Movistar, are pulling the field.

Sector 9 - Pont-Thibault à Ennevelin (1.4 km) *** - 39km to go

After a short reprieve of pavement, Bastianelli, Brand and Kopecky are back on the cobbles but they have lost valuable seconds and only have 12 seconds in hand.

Balsamo has lost a lot of ground and is taking an opportunity to get a water bottle from the team car.

The gap to the breakaway has further dropped to 8 seconds and if they looked back over their shoulders they could see the field right behind.

Canyon-SRAM's Elise Chabbey counter attacks and tries to bridge across to Brand, Kopecky and Bastianelli.

Sector 8 - Templeuve - L'Epinette (0.2 km) * - 34km to go

The breakaway is caught and Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafedo) attacks.

Longo Borghini is off the cobbles and back onto the tarmac, stretching her lead out to 15 seconds.

The Italian Champion is in a time-trial-like position, pushing a big gear, and gaining time with every pedal stroke.

Her gap is up to 25 seconds. 

Breaking News

Race jury has disqualified World Champion Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo). Organisers confirm.

Sector 7 - Cysoing à Bourghelles (1.3 km) *** - 25km to go

Longo Borghini has 6 seconds on a small chase group.

The Italian finished third place last year and will know this final very well.

Sector 5 - Camphin-en-Pévèle (1.8 km) **** - 20km to go

Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) solo.

A chase group briefly formed that included Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (Team SD Worx), Pfeiffer Georgi and Floortje Mackaij (Team DSM), Marta Cavalli and Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) and Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo).

Longo Borghini is flying over the cobbles, over-cooking a corner and briefly riding off the side into the dirt before saving herself, and carrying on her efforts to win the race.

Sector 4 - Carrefour de l'Arbre (2.1 km) ***** - 17km to go

Longo Borghini hits the last five-star sector Carrefour de l'Arbre with 26 seconds. Behind her SD Worx's van den Broek-Blaak and Kopecky are pulling the chase group.

The chase group now includes:

Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx)
Marta Cavalli (FDJ)
Ellen van Dijk and Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafedo)

Sector 3 - Gruson (1.1 km) - 14km to go

Sector 3 - Gruson (km 109.9 - 1.1 km) ** - 14km to go

Longo Borghini has increased her lead by another 5 seconds, now 30 seconds ahead of chase group.

Her two teammates behind - Van Dijk and Brand - are not pulling in the chase group, as all the responsibility will fall on Kopecky and Cavalli to close the gap.

Sector 2 - Willems à Hem (1.4 km) *** - 8km to go

Only two cobble sectors to go and Longo Borghini looks to have this race in hand with a gap of 38 seconds!

Behind, the chase group swells to include Van den Broek-Blaak (SD Worx), Elise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM), and Floortje Mackaij (Team DSM) - along with Kopecky, Cavalli, Van Dijk and Brand.

The 

Longo Borghini might be channeling advice from her teammate Lizzie Deignan, who won last year, and who said before the race,

"You can't ride over cobbles slowly. It's easier just to go fast. You have to expect the uncontrollable. You can't expect to go into the race and be able to control all of the scenarios, and the conditions. Roubaix is about accepting the chaos and going with it."

6km to go, and Longo Borghini is on the tarmac with just one last cobble sector remaining - Roubaix-Espace Charles Crupelandt - before entering the velodrome in Roubaix.

The chase group behind almost looks to have given up as they approach the final of the race. Van den Broek-Blaak is towing the group with Kopecky on her wheel. 

The gap to Longo Borghini is growing to 40 seconds.

It also confirmed that World Champion Elisa Balsamo was disqualified from Paris-Roubaix Femmes for taking an illegal tow from her Trek-Segafredo team car as she chased back on after a puncture. Full story below.

Elisa Balsamo disqualified from Paris-Roubaix for sticky bottle

Sector 1 - Roubaix-Espace Charles Crupelandt (0.3 km) * - 1.2km to go

Longo Borghini rolls over the cobbles confident that she will win the second edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes.

She enters the velodrome and crosses the finish line, hearing the bell ringing, signifying one lap of the velodrome.

Elisa Longo Borghini is the winner of Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2022

The chase group enter the velodrome and a sprint for second place will take place.

Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) secures second place after winning the chase-group sprint ahead of Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo) in third.

For a second year in a row, Trek-Segafreo secure 1st and 3rd at Paris-Roubaix.

Longo Borghini can hardly believe that she has won Paris-Roubaix. She is seated on the ground in the velodrome with her head in her hands.

Elisa Longo Borghini

"It's an unbelievable feeling, to be fair, it's been a very tough spring for me. I had sinusitis for a month and I could not really perform the way I wanted. I knew I was worth more than what I was performing. 

"It was a little bit frustrating, so it was a bit of a hard time. I need to thank, first of all, my family, my boyfriend, my mom, my dad, my nieces, who are always keeping my morale up. 

Secondly, I want to thank Trek-Segafredo because they had faith in me even if I didn't perform the way that I was supposed to. They brought me to this race and I didn't think I was ready, I didn't think that I wanted to do it. They kept saying, 'we know you are ready and capable of doing this.' I have to say that they were right."

Here are the top three on the podium.

Read the full race report, results and gallery: Longo Borghini secures solo victory at Paris-Roubaix Femmes

Thank you for following our live coverage of Paris-Roubaix Femmes. Join us again for live coverage of La Flèche Wallonne Féminine on April 20 and Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes on April 24.