Paris–Roubaix Femmes

Paris–Roubaix Femmes is a one day women's bicycle race on cobbled roads (or pavé) in northern France, held annually in early April. It is part of the UCI Women's World Tour. The equivalent men's race is a cycling monument, and after the Tour of Flanders and Liège–Bastogne–Liège, is the third to stage a women's edition.

History
Paris–Roubaix is one of cycling's oldest races, and was first held in 1896. Paris–Roubaix is famous for rough terrain, mud and cobblestones, or pavé (setts) – the race has been nicknamed l'enfer du Nord, or ''Hell of the North. '' Punctures and other mechanical problems are common and often influence the result.

In the early 2000s, French cyclist Marion Clignet recalled asking if the organisers of Paris–Roubaix would organise a women's edition of the race, with Jean-Marie Leblanc (who worked for the organisers) replying that they would not.

In the late 2010s, the women's peloton pushed again for the race, with Iris Slappendel stating that "we would love to have a Paris–Roubaix". In 2018, Union Cycliste Internationale president David Lappartient pushed for the race, stating "I dream of a Paris–Roubaix Feminine" in an interview with L'Équipe.

The announcement of the inaugural women's edition of Paris–Roubaix came as a surprise addition to the revised 2020 UCI Women's World Tour calendar. The race was scheduled for 25 October 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first edition of Paris–Roubaix Femmes took place in 2021, with Lizzie Deignan winning following a 80km solo attack described by commentators as one of the greatest Roubaix rides of all time. Paris–Roubaix Femmes is held on a Saturday in early April, with the men's race held the day after.

Course
The Paris–Roubaix Femmes course uses the same roads and cobbled sectors as the men's race – albeit over a shorter distance (around 120 to 150km) – before finishing in the Roubaix Velodrome. Editions of the race have so far started in Denain, with 17 sectors of pavé including the famed Carrefour de l'Arbre and the Mons-en-Pévèle – both ranked at "five stars" in difficulty. The course is maintained by Les Amis de Paris–Roubaix, a group of fans of the race formed in 1983. The forçats du pavé seek to keep the course safe for riders while maintaining its difficulty.

Organisers noted they consider it "too dangerous" to include the five star cobbled sector Trouée d'Arenberg due to its proximity to the start in Denain, but they also noted that they "do not rule out that we will pass through ... in the future".