Undecided until the end, the 3e edition of Paris-Roubaix Women with Zwift ended with a huge surprise. Leaving before the first cobblestones, a river breakaway, initially made up of 18 elements, resisted the return of the favorites to explain themselves in the sprint in the old André-Pétrieux velodrome. Victory in Paris-Roubaix Women 2023 went to Canadian Alison Jackson (EF Education-Tibco-SVB) ahead of Italian Katia Ragusa (Liv Racing TeqFind) and Belgian Marthe Truyen (Fenix-Deceuninck). The French Eugénie Duval (FDJ-Suez) and Marion Borras (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93) take the 4e et 5e squares. Big favorite Lotte Kopecky settled what was left of the field, just 12 seconds behind, to finally finish 7e.
The public was relatively sparse in front of the town hall of Denain, during the presentation of the teams of the 3rd Paris-Roubaix Women. 140 riders from 24 teams found themselves at the start of the queen of the classics, on a course that was obviously lighter than the men. On the program: 145.4 km with still 17 cobbled sections for a total of 29.2 km.
“Enthusiasm trumps everything else”
Marion Borras, Saint-Michel Auber93
The young women were smiling on the podium. The weather conditions promised to be rather favourable, which of course took away a real part of the stress from the competitors. Thus, the track girl from Saint-Michel Auber93, marion borras summed up his state of mind. ” There is a bit of everything. There is excitement, a little fear. It’s a mixed feeling. On the one hand, we can’t wait to leave. On the other hand, we apprehend a lot. We don’t really know how it will turn out. We are necessarily afraid of falls. But it’s such a great race and a myth that the excitement takes over everything else. »
The rebound of Audrey Cordon-Ragot
The French runners were particularly applauded, starting with the two regional Victory Berteau (Cofidis) and Alison Oats (Saint-Michel Auber). But the most anticipated competitor was Audrey Cordon-Ragot. The French champion lined up at the start in Denain; which seemed impossible a few days before. Failing to be paid, the Breton broke her contract with the Spanish team Zaaf. While she should in principle no longer have recourse before June 1, the American team Human Power Health recovered it. And Audrey benefited from an exemption from the UCI to participate in Paris-Roubaix 2023. However, a few weeks earlier, she seemed well positioned at Zaaft, when we met her at the start of the Samyn des Dames.
After this failed experience in Spain, the French champion did not hide her relief at the start in Denain. “It’s the hardest moment, also finding a lot of my former teammates. It’s a lot of emotion. But now I’m someone who knows how to put things in perspective. Once the start is given, things will be better. » Audrey was certainly referring to her stroke that occurred last year. A serious health problem that almost ended his career at the age of 33. “I was still able to train. But it’s mentally that I feel more on the wire, and that I’m really tired. But now, I will have a few days off after Roubaix. Tonight, I will be able to release everything. There for the moment I have to stay focused and concentrated. But there’s no reason for it to go wrong. »
Three French women in the foreground
Unfortunately, the champion of France, too fair, will finish 1’45 behind the leaders, in an anonymous 35th place. With the satisfaction of having nevertheless finished the race in a difficult context. This 3rd edition of Paris-Roubaix Women will give rise to a unique scenario. The Dutch Denmark Hengeveld20, set off alone just before the halfway mark, in sector no. 16 and held on alone for a while, before a large breakaway of 18 riders formed.
The French Eugenie Duval, Marie Morgane Le Deunff (Arkéa Samsic) and marion borras hook this breakaway, which will go to the end. The large public in Roubaix even begins to dream of a French victory, in particular thanks to the talents of Borras as a pistard. “But I’m not used to sprinting on a 500m track”, will confide the Frenchwoman after the arrival, on the lawn of the velodrome. ” I do not believe it. I tried to be as smart as possible. But there was the fall of SD Work which scared me. I didn’t want to take the handle too soon. But I did it a bit too soon.«
marion borras thus finishes 5th, but despite everything 2nd French. The experienced Eugenie Duval (FDJ-Suez) indeed blows him the 4th final place. The two tricolors fail at the foot of the podium, behind an unexpected trio.
To everyone’s surprise, the Canadian Alison Jackson (EF Education) wins ahead of the Italian Katia Rakusa (LIV Racing) and the unexpected Belgian Marthe Truyen (Fenix-Deceuninck). A podium that would have been worth a huge climb before the start. The great favorite Lotte Kopecky (SD Work) is content with 7th place, despite a good comeback from the chasing group.
The discreet Northerners on their cobblestones
We also note the 8th place of the Englishwoman Pfeiffer Georgi, winner of the Grand Prix de Fourmies 2021; the 9th of the Italian Clare Consonni (UAE Team), winner at Isbergues last year. And the 10th from the Dutch Marianne Vos (Jumbo Visma) the other big favourite. The Italian Elisha Long Borghini (Trek Segafredo) is also trapped after a fall and finishes 21st at 23 seconds. It is the rout of the Netherlands considered the impregnable bastion of women’s cycling.
Among the regionals, a little disappointment for Victory Berteau. The Lambrésienne arrives 1’45 behind to fail in 29th place. The Avesnoise Alison Oats reaches the end in Roubaix on time, but far, 95th at 15’17. The Northerner was almost in tears after the race. “It’s frustrating because I was well placed on the first loop. And then there was a fall right in front of me and there was nothing I could do. Afterwards, Roxane (Fournier) is caught in a crash and I’m waiting for her because she’s one of our leaders. I pull it up. Further on it bursts. Then me too after Mons-en-Pévèle. Our cars were super far away. It’s frustrating because I’ve been struggling for the past few weeks with my studies. But I did everything to be ready. I was and…” Alison, too moved, will not finish her sentence.
Like all competitors, Alison Oats went to the end of herself to finish this Paris-Roubaix Women 2023, far behind Jackson. Of the 140 starters, 104 riders are ranked. 20 arrived at the velodrome outside the deadline. 16 dropped out. Figures that only partially demonstrate the incredible toughness of the race.
The reactions
Alison Jackson (1st of Paris-Roubaix Women 2023): “I always say that I love bike racing but winning is a very special pleasure. And on this great race, we wrote history. As a Canadian, it is quite monumental to mark the history of cycling in my country in this way. This is the biggest victory of my career… I grew up on a farm. One of the things I had to do was pick up the stones in the fields. I can bring another pebble home! »
Katia Ragusa (2ème): » The breakaway was really big, there were 18 of us, that was good. We got a big lead and it went well! For the sprint, I hesitated to anticipate at the entrance to the velodrome. But it was going too fast, it was not possible for me to leave. So I moved to the front, in 3rd position. Then I gave away all I had left. »
Marthe Truyen (3ème): ”Third, for me, it’s like a victory. It’s a great emotion. Before the race, I thought a top 20 would be really good. I finished 3rd, so it’s great. I had never ridden in a velodrome! Maybe I could have done better… I wasn’t supposed to come, I had covid after Samyn. I had a fever, but not too badly, and had to wait six days without riding… I’m Belgian, most people must think that my favorite race is the Tour of Flanders. But it is indeed Paris-Roubaix! »
Ranking of Paris-Roubaix Women 2023
1 – JACKSON Alison (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) Les 145.4 km in 3h42’56
2 – RAGUSA Katia (Liv Racing TeqFind) m.t
3 – TRUYEN Marthe (Fenix-Deceuninck) mt
4 – DUVAL Eugenie (FDJ – SUEZ) mt
5 – BORRAS Marion (St Michel – Mavic – Auber93 WE) m.t
6 – LACH Marta (CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling) + 0:03
7 – KOPECKY Lotte (Team SD Worx) + 0:12
8 – GEORGI Pfeiffer (Team DSM) m.t
9 – CONSONNI Chiara (UAE Team ADQ) mt
10 – VOS Marianne (Team Jumbo-Visma) mt
