THE TEAM READY FOR MORE AT PARIS-ROUBAIX FEMMES

The race dubbed ‘The Hell of the North’, with five editions already in the history books for the femmes, could be set for its most wicked running yet.

Characterised by relentless exposure to rough, untamed cobbles, three new sectors have been added to this year’s Paris-Roubaix Femmes parcours, bringing an extra 4.5km of bone-rattling punishment.

The most significant addition is the four-star, 2.5km Haveluy à Wallers sector at kilometre 52, featuring a sharp 90-degree bend midway through. This sector heavily influences the lead-in to the Arenberg, a notorious forested stretch that so often detonates the men’s race. While the women’s race does not yet tackle this hallowed ‘trench’, it feels closer than ever, both literally and figuratively.

Instead, the women converge with the men’s course for the final 17 sectors, unchanged from last spring, featuring four four-star sectors alongside infamous five-star names such as Carrefour de l’Arbre and Mons-en-Pévèle. All up, there’s now a tidy total of 20 sectors across the ruthless 143km gauntlet. 

Consistency in a course, already renowned for its unforgiving terrain and pavé, doesn’t guarantee predictable racing. Weather conditions often play the biggest role in shaping a Paris-Roubaix outcome; even a subtle shift from very-dry to dry can dramatically alter the race. Adding another layer of intrigue, the women’s race will, for the first time, take place on the same day as the men’s. How a full men’s peloton and convoy already hammering these capricious roads will affect the race remains an unknown.

The team bracing themselves and their hands for this Sunday (April 12), when both bar and tyre grip will be everything, are Zoe Bäckstedt, Chiara Consonni, Tiffany Cromwell, Chloé Dygert, Rosa Klöser and Maria Martins.

Chiara is one of the few riders who hasn’t missed a femmes edition; it’s a race she’s held a deep affinity with ever since it was added to the women’s calendar.

“I think (!) I enjoy the cobbles and just all the race. It’s one of the hardest races in the calendar, but I also like that it isn’t just racing – you need to be lucky. And also, we finish in a velodrome, so that’s also why I really like it.”

The Italian has achieved two top 10s, including in 2025, and knows what a successful Roubaix would look like.

“I think first, to be there at the end, and maybe to bring back home one stone,” speaking of the cobbles awarded on the podium. “But yeah, I think we are a really good team and we have a lot of options. But first, we need to be there and then go all out in the velodrome!”

Another rider with dreams of achieving glory around the famous velodrome, following in her family’s Roubaix-winning tyre-tracks, is Zoe. She arrives on a high, having reached new career milestones last week; a first WorldTour one-day top 5 at Wednesday’s Dwars door Vlaanderen, followed by a coming-of-age performance with 5th at the prestigious Ronde van Vlaanderen.

“They’ve given me a lot of confidence!” Zoe said of her Vlaanderen rides. “Obviously, the Flanders and Roubaix courses are two very different things, but it’s given me good insights into where my form is at.”

She’s also confident in the team around her.

“Chiara has an amazing sprint and a strong history of track racing, so she knows her way around the velodrome! Of course, you have to go in with multiple plans in-case something happens, and we do have some big cards to play this weekend.”

A 15th place from last year serves as Zoe’s benchmark.

“I’d love to better my result from last year, but you can’t go in with too many expectations as it’s such an unpredictable race. I always race the best when I’m there to have fun and to show myself, so I’m ready to race my heart out!”

HOW TO FOLLOW

Paris-Roubaix Femmes | 1.WWT | Sunday, April 12 | 142.9km | 689m elevation | Start 14:35 CET – fastest finish 18:00.

Live coverage can be found from 16:00 CET on TNT Sports, Eurosport, Max, FloBikes, Sporza/ VRT, SBS Sport and other regional broadcasters. Stay updated on X with #ParisRoubaix and #ParisRoubaixFemmes, and follow CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto’s social channels for team updates.