This year, Paris-Roubaix weekend is going to be different, because for the first time since the women’s race was launched six years ago, both the men’s and women’s races will be held on one day, on Sunday.
Previously, the women’s race enjoyed its very own day on Saturday, taking place after the Roubaix sportive, getting the cycling world’s full attention for a day, and kicking off a mega weekend for fans.
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Holding both races on the same day is not unusual, and indeed almost every other major Classic does so – barring Le Samyn and the Ronde van Brugge – so it’s a tried and tested formula, where Roubaix was previously the outlier. And there are reasons other than just money and logistics: joint race days often encourage higher viewing figures, bigger crowds, and a general crescendo of racing with two big events in one afternoon.
Pro: bigger roadside crowds
This may not have been the motivating factor for ASO to rearrange Paris-Roubaix weekend, but one obvious pro is that, if the same-day Tours of Flanders and other Flanders Classics are anything to go by, the women’s race will enjoy bigger roadside crowds. The truth is that women’s cycling is still less popular than men’s, and it’s a harder ask to expect fans to come out on a separate day, whereas on Sunday, many will hopefully stick around for the women’s race. Even for fans of both, one big day out or trip to the cobbles is going to make more…
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