Paris-Roubaix is the biggest one-day race of the year, something you could just measure in the amount of social media content coming out of it. Of course, it helped that someone so enmeshed in the world of social media, Alison Jackson, won the women’s race on Saturday. There has been many a Tweets of the Week which has featured the Canadian’s kooky dancing from Instagram, and so it is fitting that she leads the agenda this week.
Another star rider who spends a lot of time online, Tadej Pogačar, took the time this week to respond to a quite mild bit of criticism on Twitter, which was interesting – just how much time does the UAE Team Emirates rider spend looking at Twitter? Is it as much as me? Probably not.
Back to Paris-Roubaix, though, and the two editions had everything: crashes, heartbreak, untimely punctures, surprise winners, and a bit of redemption to boot. If every bike race was as exciting as the Hell of the North, there would be a lot of people requiring lie downs.
Also this week, we have a tale of mysterious thievery at Itzulia, a chocolate trophy, and Greg van Avermaet looking delighted. What a week.
1. Hours before finishing the race, Floortje Mackaij was having fun at the start of Paris-Roubaix, thanks to her dog, Bella
Floortje Mackaij has her dog with her today. #ParisRoubaixFemmes pic.twitter.com/qLSo2QXeg2April 8, 2023
2. Sadly, she did not have a lot of fun on the pavé…
3. Audrey Cordon-Ragot signed for Human Powered Health, and she got a nice looking Felt, which ended up in a tree for some reason? I don’t know
What a majestic beast 🔥@CordonRagot’s @FeltBicycles AR is a work of art 🖼#HumanPoweredHealth | #FELTISFAST pic.twitter.com/ZqzXid3iRzApril 8, 2023
4. Messages on bikes seemed to be a theme of the Roubaix weekend, here’s what it said on the Liv of one of the Jayco AlUla riders
5. Meanwhile, Alison Jackson took inspiration from Top Gun
Top Gun 🤝 Alison Jackson pic.twitter.com/ZQ68v4rUgYApril 8, 2023
6. Speaking of Alison Jackson, has there ever been as fun a winner of a bike race? Maybe not
7. It was a good post-race shower for the Canadian, too
Best. Shower. Ever. New name plate going up soon 💕📸 @a_gruber pic.twitter.com/xUYyhWaHhKApril 8, 2023
8. Marta Lach of Ceratizit WNT looked a bit shell-shocked after her sixth placed ride
“Wait, what? You mean this wasn’t the sportive?!” – Professional cycling-tourist @martusialach after taking 6th at @RoubaixFemmes 2023.#ParisRoubaixFemmes…