Paris-Roubaix is one of the most celebrated and historic road cycling races in the world. It is also one of the most difficult. The race starts just north of Paris and covers a distance of 116.4 kilometers. Most of the course is paved, though it has several sectors of cobbled roads. Riders regularly get covered in dust and mud.
This weekend, Paris-Roubaix is set to return. And, this year, there will be a women's race. For the first time, women will take to the legendary pave of northern France. There will be 22 teams competing for their first-ever laurels. They will battle against some of the world's top riders, including Ellen van Dijk and Elisa Longo Borghini.
While women's racing has been growing, there is still a long way to go. But the race at Paris-Roubaix will be one of the most important. It will be one of the last classics on the calendar in Northern Europe. In addition, it will be the 118th running of the men's race. That means prize parity, and a total of EUR91,000 in prize money.
Last year, Lizzie Deignan won the inaugural women's race at Paris-Roubaix. She is now expecting a second child. So, she is not expected to compete in the 2022 edition. However, she is still making preparations for the event. Considering her experience, it would be very hard for her to not be in shape.
Sonny Colbrelli won the men's race last year. He defeated Mathieu Van Der Poel in the final meters. Although Colbrelli is known for his form, he's recovering from an unstable cardiac arrhythmia. Another rider who could win Paris-Roubaix this year is Lotte Kopecky. Earlier this season, Kopecky won the Tour of Flanders.
If you're looking for an action-packed day of cycling, Paris-Roubaix is the place to be. It is not only a great event, but it also contributes to the UCI World Ranking. Several of the top male riders will be there, including Peter Sagan and Michael Matthews. You can catch the race on Eurosport.
Unlike previous women's races, the Paris-Roubaix Femmes is not a traditional bike race. Instead, it is a special event that features only a select number of peloton members. As a result, the racing is more tactical. One gear bikes are used, and there is no rest bite.
Paris-Roubaix is one of a handful of Spring Classics. Traditionally, the men's race was held in April, while the women's version was held in October. But the two are not scheduled to meet in 2020.
In October, the women's race was added to the Women's WorldTour calendar. The race has been nicknamed the Hell of the North. With 17 sectors of cobbled roads, the race was a challenge to ride. Despite the challenging conditions, the riders did well. Some of the top women included Kasia Niewiadomia, who finished in the top three of Strade Bianche four times. Others include Audrey Cordon-Ragot, Marta Bastianelli, and Chantal van den Broek-Blaak.
As of now, there are 132 female pioneers expected to compete in the Paris-Roubaix Femmes. These riders will start the race in Denain on Saturday. Each of them is a veteran of the Tour of Flanders or the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, or has recently won a major stage race.