Canadian Cyclist - Cycling 4 Women
Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage
Cycling 4 Women



 

October 2/21 13:31 pm - Deignan Wins Inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes


Posted by Editoress on 10/2/21
 

Elizabeth Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) delivered a supreme performance on a historic day, soloing to a maiden triumph in the André Pétrieux velodrome in the first edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes. The British star went for the very early move and covered the 29.2km of cobbles on her own, alone at the front! A winner of Monuments like Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Ronde van Vlaanderen, world champion in 2015, also a winner of major one-day-races like La Course by Le Tour, the Trofeo Alfredo Binda and Strade Bianche Donne, Deignan survived all the traps of a muddy Hell of the North to take victory ahead of the Dutch icon Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma Women Cycling Team) and her Italian teammate Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo).

 

Photo

Photo

Photo

Photos: Fabien Boukla

 

Photo Gallery

A star-studded field of 129 participants took to the course in the early afternoon, with the recent world champions Elisa Balsamo (Valcar-Travel & Service) and many other contenders for the first ever edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes. It wasn't raining at the beginning, but a strong wind blew from the south, pushing the riders along the first three sectors before the race turned west around km 50.

Reusser and Niewiadoma go down, Deignan goes early
After a few breakaway attempts on the local circuit in Denain, the early attackers were caught ahead of the first cobbles of the day. An early crash lead to the withdrawal of Marlen Reusser (Ale' BTC Ljubljana) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing), two of the heroes of the recent world championships in Flanders.

As the field reached the first cobbles, from Hornaing to Wandignies (km 33.9), Elizabeth Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) went on a very early move, and nobody follows her. The Brit star, a world champion in 2015 and a winner of most of the greatest races on the women's calendar, said she had been to the Hell of the North "as a fan", and she made the most of this maiden participation at the front of the race, opening a gap of 2 minutes on the first sectors of the day.

The race explodes in Mons-en-Pévèle
Movistar, SD Worx and Jumbo-Visma were among the teams most involved in the chase. Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) attacked on the cobbles leading to Bersée (55km to go), and the bunch exploded in Mons-en-Pévèle, the first 5-star sector of the day.

With the wet and muddy conditions, Elisa Balsamo was among the riders who went down, with just 13 riders remaining in contention behind Deignan, including Lisa Brennauer (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team) and Emma Norsgaard (Movistar) who took long turns at the front.

Deignan holds off Vos
The gap is down to 2:15 when Deignan hit one of the most demanding sections of the day: Camphin-en-Pévèle (4 stars) and then Carrefour de l'Arbre (5 stars). The British champ survived a near-miss on the cobbles. Ellen van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo), Christine Majerus (SD Worx), Aude Biannic (Movistar) and Sarah Roy (Team BikeExchange) were not so lucky, going down as they tried to follow an acceleration by Marianne Vos.

The Dutch icon had a gap of 1:55 to bridge in 17km. As she exited the Carrefour de l'Arbre, with 15km to go, she had already cut Deignan''s lead to 1:15. But the Brit had enough energy left in the tank to ride to Roubaix on her own and triumph with a gap of 1:17 on Vos. Elisa Longo Borghini put another Trek-Segafredo rider on the podium (1:47) as she narrowly fended off Lisa Brennauer (+1:51).

"At the start of the day, our two leaders were Ellen van Dijk and Elisa Longo Borghini and I was meant to be one of the last helpers. I knew positioning would be essential, and they had some problem ahead of the first cobbles. I was in the front and I took that speed onto the cobbles because I really had to sprint to be there. I looked behind me at the end of the cobbles and I had a gap. So I thought as long as I'm up front, they have to chase me. I rode at 75% until I had 1 minute and then I commit 100%. But I wasn't thinking about victory until the end. We had such a strong team and as long as I was in front, it was an insurance policy. But it definitely wasn't the plan. In men's cycling, it's classed as a Monument. We are getting more and more opportunities, and to be the first winner on such a race definitely has to be up there [among my greatest wins]. It was completely surreal [when I entered the velodrome]. This morning, I was here as a teammate, I never dreamed of winning myself, so to find myself alone after such an effort, it was an incredible moment. I really savoured that final lap. We are part of history now, there's no going back."

 

Photo

Lone Canadian entry, Canadian National Champion, Alison Jackson (Liv Racing) finished 24th at 6:20 back.

 

 

Results from the first Paris-Roubaix Femmes in France

Denain to Roubaix, 116.4km
1 Elizabeth Deignan (GBr) Trek-Segafredo 2:56:07
2 Marianne Vos (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team at 1:17
3 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 1:47
4 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team 1:51
5 Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Ale' BTC Ljubljana 2:10
6 Emma Cecilie Norsgaard (Den) Movistar Team Women
7 Franziska Koch (Ger) Team DSM
8 Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
9 Marta Cavalli (Ita) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
10 Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (Ned) Team SD Worx all s.t.
11 Christine Majerus (Lux) Team SD Worx 3:03
12 Leah Thomas (USA) Movistar Team Women
13 Maria Apolonia Van 'T Geloof (Ned) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur both s.t.
14 Amy Pieters (Ned) Team SD Worx 4:26
15 Lotte Kopecky (Bel) Liv Racing 4:33
16 Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope s.t.
17 Teuntje Beekhuis (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 4:36
18 Romy Kasper (Ger) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 4:41
19 Maria Martins (Por) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur 5:55
20 Lucie Jounier (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team s.t.
21 Aude Biannic (Fra) Movistar Team Women 6:04
22 Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team 6:20
23 Sarah Roy (Aus) Team BikeExchange
24 Alison Jackson (Can) Liv Racing both s.t.
25 Elena Cecchini (Ita) Team SD Worx 6:24
26 Alice Barnes (GBr) Canyon//SRAM Racing s.t.
27 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 6:28
28 Anna Henderson (GBr) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 6:37
29 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon//SRAM Racing 7:59
30 Chiara Consonni (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 8:27
31 Maud Rijnbeek (Ned) NXTG Racing s.t.
32 Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 8:32
33 Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team DSM 8:35
34 Riejanne Markus (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 8:57
35 Amber van der Hulst (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 9:04
36 Marta Lach (Pol) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team s.t.
37 Shari Bossuyt (Bel) NXTG Racing 9:08
38 Marie Le Net (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 9:25
39 Femke Markus (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 9:43
40 Danique Braam (Ned) Lotto Soudal Ladies 9:53
41 Jade Wiel (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 9:55
42 Jesse Vandenbulcke (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
43 Eugenia Bujak (Slo) Ale' BTC Ljubljana
44 Nina Kessler (Ned) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank all s.t.
45 Silke Smulders (Ned) Lotto Soudal Ladies 9:59
46 Sheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Esp) Movistar Team Women 11:32
47 Sara Penton (Swe) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur 11:38
48 Nicole Steigenga (Ned) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team 11:39
49 Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Movistar Team Women 11:41
50 Elise Chabbey (Sui) Canyon//SRAM Racing
51 Margaux Vigie (Fra) Valcar-Travel & Service
52 Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Trek-Segafredo all s.t.
53 Lonneke Uneken (Ned) Team SD Worx 12:00
54 Mylene de Zoete (Ned) NXTG Racing
55 Gladys Verhulst (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
56 Valerie Demey (Bel) Liv Racing
57 Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
58 Pfeiffer Georgi (GBr) Team DSM all s.t.
59 Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon//SRAM Racing 13:30
60 Maëlle Grossetete (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 13:35
61 Abby-Mae Parkinson (GBr) Lotto Soudal Ladies 13:49
OTL Mischa Bredewold (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
OTL Tanja Erath (Ger) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
OTL Alana Castrique (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
OTL Nicole Frain (Aus) Team Tibco - Silicon Valley Bank
OTL Jip van den Bos (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
OTL Sarah Rijkes (Aut) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
OTL Kathrin Schweinberger (Aut) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
OTL Teniel Campbell (TTo) Team BikeExchange
OTL Jessica Allen (Aus) Team BikeExchange
OTL Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Ale' BTC Ljubljana
OTL Mieke Kröger (Ger) Team Coop Hitec Products
OTL Arianna Pruisscher (Ned) Stade Rochelais Charente- Maritime Women Cycling
OTL India Grangier (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
OTL Jolien D'Hoore (Bel) Team SD Worx
OTL Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Liv Racing
OTL Pauline Allin (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
OTL Veronica Ewers (USA) Team Tibco - Silicon Valley Bank
OTL Trixi Worrack (Ger) Trek-Segafredo
OTL Mieke Docx (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
OTL Kirstie van Haaften (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
OTL Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Liv Racing
OTL Lieke Nooijen (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
OTL Fien van Eynde (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
OTL Maaike Boogaard (Ned) Ale' BTC Ljubljana
OTL Christina Schweinberger (Aut) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
OTL Josie Nelson (GBr) Team Coop-Hitec Products
OTL Charlotte Kool (Ned) NXTG Racing
OTL Ilse Pluimers (Ned) NXTG Racing
OTL Elizabeth Bennett (GBr) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
OTL Britt Knaven (Bel) NXTG Racing
OTL Camilla Alessio (Ita) BePink
OTL Nora Jencusová (Svk) BePink
OTL Elise van der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
OTL Lara Crestanello (Ita) BePink
OTL Evy Kuijpers (Ned) Liv Racing
OTL Amalie Lutro (Nor) Team Coop Hitec Products
OTL Pernille Larsen Feldmann (Nor) Team Coop Hitec Products
OTL Marie Morgane Le Deunff (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
OTL Minke Bakker (Ned) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
OTL Maeva Squiban (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
OTL Lauren Stephens (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
OTL Marketa Hájková (Cze) BePink
OTL Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
OTL Manon Souyris (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
DNF Marlen Reusser (Sui) Ale' BTC Ljubljana
DNF Emilie Moberg (Nor) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
DNF Maike Van der Duin (Ned) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
DNF Henrietta Christie (NZl) BePink
DNF Noemi Rüegg (Sui) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
DNF Marion Colard (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente- Maritime Women Cycling
DNF Emma Boogaard (Ned) Team Coop Hitec Products
DNF Nora Tveit (Nor) Team Coop Hitec Products
DNF Greta Richioud (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
DNF Megan Jastrab (USA) Team DSM
DNF Lorena Wiebes (Ned) Team DSM
DNF Kristen Faulkner (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
DNF Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon//SRAM Racing
DNF Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Canyon//SRAM Racing
DNF Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
DNF Leonie Bos (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
DNF Georgia Williams (NZl) Team BikeExchange
DNF Janneke Ensing (Ned) Team BikeExchange
DNF Susanne Andersen (Nor) Team DSM
DNF Lara Vieceli (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
DNF Laura Asencio (Fra) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
DNF Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Movistar Team Women
DNF Elena Pirrone (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
DNF Vittoria Guazzini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service

 

 


Related Photo Galleries


Return to Cycling 4 Women homepage | Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top
 | 
 Privacy Policy | Contact | Subscribe to RSS Feed  | Logout
 © Copyright 1998-2024 Canadian Cyclist. All rights reserved.