Parijs-Roubaix Femmes - Preview

Saterday, April 8th: Denain - Roubaix (145,5 km)

Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift is one of the newest and most exciting additions to the professional cycling calendar. With only two editions held so far, this race has quickly become a must-watch event for fans of the sport. In 2023, the race promises to be even more thrilling with an extended course that will see the riders tackle a total distance of 145.4 km.

This year's race has been extended with an extra-long loop to the south of Denain, adding more distance and encouraging more attacks before the cobblestones arrive. The race will feature 29.2 km of cobbled sectors, with two decisive moments coming in Mons-en-Pévèle and the Carrefour de l'Arbre. These two sectors have proven to be decisive in previous editions, with the winner always being alone at the front.

The course changes for 2023 will see the women merge onto the men's course to tackle the same succession of cobbled sectors. This alteration may make itself felt at a later point in the race, but the multiple changes of direction in the preliminary phase could trigger a brawl among the favourites. The no-holds-barred contest will continue for another 82.4 km, including the famous cobbled sectors.

The Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift race is a showcase of the best of professional cycling. It provides a platform for female cyclists to showcase their talent, and with the extended course this year, it promises to be an even more exciting race. The course changes will challenge the riders, and the weather conditions will add an extra element of difficulty. All eyes will be on the Mons-en-Pévèle and the Carrefour de l'Arbre sectors, and it remains to be seen if anyone can buck the trend of the winner always being alone at the front. Overall, the 2023 Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift race promises to be a thrilling and unforgettable event for all cycling fans.

The weather conditions for this year's race include a gentle NNE wind, largely against the riders heading back to Roubaix. This should make for a slightly slower, tougher race than a tailwind. Although the mud from the 2021 edition won't be returning this year, some rain in the days before the race is expected.

📺 Sporza (3:15 PM), Eurosport 2 (3:00 PM)
⏰ 13:35 PM
🏁 5:35 PM
⛅️ Cloudy, wind force 2, 13 degrees Celsius.

Previous Editions

The Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift race was first held in 2021 after being postponed due to the pandemic. The inaugural edition saw Lizzie Deignan take a long-range move to secure a lead position on the cobbled sectors, which she held on to successfully to win the race in very wet and muddy conditions. The following year, Elisa Longo Borghini, Deignan's teammate, won in a dry conditions after attacking from a small group.

Most successful riders on the startlist