2023 Paris-Roubaix Femmes Race Preview
The details of this year's 2023 Paris-Roubaix Femmes are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The cobblestones of northern France are ready to claim their next victim, and the third edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes promises to deliver the same brutal, unpredictable spectacle that has already made this race one of the most anticipated days on the women's calendar.
Lizzie Deignan won the inaugural edition in 2021, crossing the velodrome finish line alone after a breathtaking solo effort, while Elisa Longo Borghini took the honours in 2022 in similarly commanding fashion. Both performances underlined that success in this race demands not just power and technical skill over the pavé, but also tactical intelligence and the nerve to commit at exactly the right moment.
The defending champion Longo Borghini arrives as one of the favourites once more. The Italian has shown she thrives in these punishing northern classics conditions and will have strong support from her Trek-Segafredo teammates. However, the field assembled to challenge her is formidable.
Annemiek van Vleuten, the dominant force in women's cycling for so long, will be targeting a monument that has so far eluded her. The Movistar rider has spoken openly about her desire to add Roubaix to her palmares, and her raw power over the cobbled sectors could make her extremely difficult to beat if she arrives at the velodrome in a leading group or alone.
SD Worx present perhaps the deepest roster in the race, with Demi Vollering in outstanding form and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and Marlen Reusser offering additional threats. The Dutch squad will likely try to control proceedings while keeping their options open for multiple leaders.
Marianne Vos, competing for Jumbo-Visma, is a rider who seemingly defies the logic of any race she enters. Though the cobbles do not suit her as naturally as some rivals, her race reading and finishing speed can never be discounted.
The weather will play its customary role in shaping the narrative. A wet and muddy edition transforms everything, amplifying the danger, slowing the peloton and making mechanical incidents far more likely. A dry race tends to favour the explosive, powerful riders who can simply hammer over the stones.
The Carrefour de l'Arbre sector, arriving late in the race with its vicious surface, has historically been the moment when races are won and lost. Those who survive it with their legs and bike intact will head toward Roubaix knowing the prize is within reach.
Expect chaos, crashes, punctures and moments of pure heroism. That is precisely what makes this race unmissable.
Get our full coverage of the Paris-Roubaix Femmes and every race we cover with our mobile app! The apps have over 100 additional exclusive features, including our award-winning Time Machine feature that lets you pause/rewind/replay the entire app to sync with delayed race video, integrated Fantasy Cycling, push notifications, an integrated news feed, live GPS tracking, world-class commentary, and our animated interactive maps and profiles.
