UCI Women’s WorldTour: Hell is the new paradise

Alison Jackson’s exuberant display of ecstasy after winning Paris-Roubaix Femmes is the latest illustration to date of the unique relationship the riders of the UCI Women’s WorldTour are building with the Hell of the North.

Roubaix’s André Pétrieux velodrome may be outdoor, open to the winds of the North at the end of a day in Hell, but it holds inside a unique atmosphere that nothing can blow away. Built in 1936, it has, since 1943, been the sanctuary that welcomes the riders who finish Paris-Roubaix. Accompanied by the clamour of the fans, they finish the race with a final lap and a half. And most of them tumble onto the grass inside the track, immediately crushed by the efforts of the day and submerged by endorphins.

Cycling fans know the tradition, they’ve loved it for decades. And they can now enjoy it with a new twist, as women storm the velodrome at the end of their own Paris-Roubaix Femmes, held for the third time last Sunday. It brought unprecedented scenes as Alison Jackson (EF Education-Tibco-SVB) celebrated victory after an extraordinary day in Hell.

“I gave everything until I crossed that line,” said the first Canadian winner in the history of Paris-Roubaix, men’s and women’s events combined. “All the enjoyment comes straight after.” Indeed, the slick dance moves she pulled as she dismounted her bike were an absolute pleasure to watch. Jackson went on to spread joy in the post-race interview, on the podium, in the iconic showers of Roubaix and at the press conference.

In more traditional fashion, runner-up Katia Ragusa (Liv Racing Teqfind) was pouring tears of joy amplified by her own disbelief, while Marthe Truyen (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step Team), 3rd on the podium, said it felt “like a victory”. Their teammates were their first cheerleaders, celebrating the heroines of the day with the deserved shouts and cheers. What a day… but that’s Roubaix!

“I would do that again right now!”

The stars of the UCI Women’s WorldTour only have three editions of the Hell of the North under their belt but they’ve already gone through the unique range of emotions a day on the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix can bring.

Two years ago, the grand premiere showed all the might of the Hell of the North, with wet and muddy conditions as the race was pushed to October due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There was excitement, thrills, fears… And it led to a glorious day, with one winner, Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo), and numerous heroines. Sixty-one riders finished the race. 44 reached the velodrome outside the time limit, and 24 had to abandon.

The faces in the velodrome told everything about the brutality of the race. They also showed the unique relationship between cyclists and their sport, especially in the Hell of the North. “Paris-Roubaix is chaos and you just have to embrace it,” said Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), after finishing 3rd in that first race. “Sure, I’ll be back! I would do that again right now!”

“Dantesque hell” and “paradise”

Indeed, she returned only a few months later, for the 2022 edition held in April. The sun was out, the cobbles were dry, and the racing was exhilarating again, with the Italian champion surging to a masterful victory.

“Elisa!”, her Sports Director Ina Yoko Teutenberg shouted on the team radio. The German manager was a serial winner herself at the turn of the 21st century. But her facial expression and voice cracked under the emotions: “This is so awesome Elisa…”

Hailed as the Greatest of All Time, Marianne Vos (Team Jumbo-Visma) can only concur that “Paris-Roubaix is a race that stands out in the calendar”. The Dutch icon watched the men many times. “When I did my first recon, it felt like I was in the race, even with nobody around, because I knew the sectors, the race points, from watching it on the television,” she says. Then, she reached the velodrome… “It’s such a special place.”

How special? Just ask Longo Borghini about her sensations when she entered the track knowing that victory was awaiting her: “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s like going through Dantesque hell, and then all of a sudden you’re in paradise, and you can really enjoy it. I still don’t really believe in it. You’re riding in this velodrome where the history of cycling has been made, and I’m just Elisa.”