The third edition of Paris Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift was as exciting and unpredictable as anticipated after the race was won from a breakaway established in the opening kilometres.

The group of 18 riders, including Alice Towers for CANYON//SRAM Racing, built a lead of over 5:30 minutes as the peloton behind took a long time to commit to the chase. When it did, a series of crashes on various slick sectors caused havoc as the peloton slowly diminished to less than 20 riders. 

Tiffany Cromwell, Shari Bossuyt and Elise Chabbey were all involved in crashes, but it goes with the territory of the race aptly called the Hell of the North. At one point, it looked possible that the breakaway and first chase group would come together, but a pile-up put a stop too to that scenario. 

Elise crossed the line in 16th place, the best-placed rider for CANYON//SRAM Racing. Maike van der Duin finished 5 minutes behind the winner, Alison Jackson, but retains her lead in the Women’s World Tour youth classification. Alice had an impressive Paris Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift debut with a strong ride in the breakaway to later finish in 22nd place. 

Alice says, “I was nervous before the race. Everyone hypes it up to be the most savage race in the world. Being in the breakaway was good for me, especially as my first time racing Paris Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift. There was less of a fight entering each sector.”

There wasn’t great cooperation in the front group as many teams, including us, wanted it to come back. Towards the end, it was messy, with a lot of attacks. At the moment the last split happened, I wasn’t ready or in a good position which was disappointing, but I finished the race with nothing left.”

“I was happy with my performance. I’ve had my share of bad luck in the last races, so it’s nice to have a race where things went my way a bit more. I wasn’t involved in the carnage, but the terrain is relentless. It’s true that it’s the most savage race.” 

Teammate Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka also had her Hell of the North debut. 

“I wasn’t sure what it would be like. I think you can’t explain it until you ride it yourself. The hardest part was the fight for the top five positions into sector after sector. But then you have someone in front of you crash or make a mistake, even if you’re in the top five, then that can be your race over. It’s hard to come back again and again. I’m lucky that I didn’t have a crash, but anyway, you’re still affected by the ones happening around you. After not being 100% well for Flanders, I felt okay today and did my best.”

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