The anticipation, tension and nerves were palpable ahead of the historical first-ever Paris-Roubaix Femmes in 2021 as 129 riders ventured into relatively-unknown racing territory over the unforgiving cobbles that make the Hell of the North the iconic Monument that it is today.
The race is 127 years steeped into the tradition of men’s professional racing, and while the women’s peloton had previewed and ridden the pavé sectors, it was only three years ago that they were invited by organisers ASO to line up and compete in the race of their own on the professional circuit.
Defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini met with the press ahead of Saturday’s event, and part of that discussion was about how experienced and targeted women’s teams are now in their approach to Paris-Roubaix Femmes since the peloton first charged over the pavè three years ago.
Longo Borghini believed that the peloton lining up at the third edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes in Denian on Saturday has subtly changed compared to the inaugural event. Part of that, she said, is because teams and riders are now gearing their race calendars, training, tactics and equipment specific to the event itself.
“Generally, there will be more riders focusing on Roubaix now [than in 2021], instead of just going there to race, it’s such a special race and you need to be prepared for it,” Longo Borghini said.
She also acknowledged that Paris-Roubaix has become an event that has allowed riders to specialise in their craft of racing over cobbles and to show how strong they are specifically across the pavé under the elements ranging from mud and rain to dust.
“You need to be a good Classics rider and sometimes there are riders that are really good just for Roubaix. It’s a different race than all the others and some riders can’t express themselves really well in other races, and maybe they can be really good [in Paris-Roubaix].”
Trek-Segafredo won the first two back-to-back editions. First, it was Lizzie Deignan attacking early to win a rain-soaked inaugural edition and then Longo Borghini attacking over the Templeuve cobblestone sector with 34 kilometres to go and claiming victory at the dry second edition last year.
Longo Borghini is still experiencing some feelings of fatigue since her recovery from COVID-19 but said that she is looking forward to lining up wearing bib no. 1 in Denain, even if she doesn’t consider herself the favourite this year.
“It means a lot to me [to line up as the defending champion]….
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