2025 Paris-Roubaix Race Report: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won Paris-Roubaix Femmes. The French rider caught the escaped Emma Norsgaard in the finale, then dropped the Dane with just under 20 kilometres to go. She then soloed to victory, her first win for Visma | Lease a Bike. Letizia Borghesi (EF Education-Oatly) was second and Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) was fourth. Fourth and fifth was Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) and previous Roubaix winner, Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatly).
The women’s Paris-Roubaix started in Denain. There was a 148.5 kilometres to the velodrome in Roubaix, over a total of 17 cobbled sections. No Forest of Wallers, but Mons-en-Pévèle and the Carrefour de l’Arbre. Lotte Kopecky was the top favourite, but last year’s winner would have to beat Marianne Vos and her own teammate Lorena Wiebes, and quite a few others.
And it’s go!
Many riders wanted to be in the ‘break of the day’, but only two riders who were allowed to get away. Quinty Ton (Liv AlUla Jayco) was joined by Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal), who was second in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. They had a lead of almost 3 minutes on the peloton, which was controlled mainly from Human Powered Health. On the first cobble sections it was Lidl-Trek who came to the front.
Another win for World champion, Lotte Kopecky Lotte (SD Worx-Protime)?
Among the Lidl-Trek riders was Ellen van Dijk. She attacked with just over 70 kilometres to go and took a nice gap. This started the action, because a few minutes later it was all go behind. The peloton split into several groups. The second group returned to the first, but many riders had missed the move. Van Dijk continued to ride ahead of the peloton. She joined the two leaders, and then dropped first Nerlo and then Ton.
Dry and dusty
The attack forced Visma | Lease a Bike and SD Worx-Protime onto the defensive. But the two Dutch teams kept Van Dijk within range. When turning onto section 12, the four-star Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée, the difference was about 15 seconds. At this point there was a crash in the middle of the thinned out peloton. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was one of the riders who came down. The French rider was able to continue, but it was an unpleasant moment to crash, as Kopecky was pulling at the front.
Maria Martins (Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto) crashed into a field
The World champion rode with only her teammate Lorena Wiebes on her wheel to Van Dijk. Marianne Vos managed to blast from the back to the front of the race. Chloé Dygert, Jelena Erić, Romy Kasper and former Roubaix winner Alison Jackson were also able to join. At least for a while. Because they then hit the five-star section of Mons-en-Pévèle.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) followed by Zoe Backstedt (Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto)
On this section, Van Dijk and Kasper were among those who had to let go, but back on the asphalt Kopecky gave it her all. Now only Vos held her wheel. Dygert made a supreme effort to return. She rejoined, together with Erić, Jackson and Wiebes. It then went quiet, and the group with Ferrand-Prévot threatened to come back. But on the next section Kopecky increased the pace again.
Lotte Kopecky, Jelena Eric (Movistar) and Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) in the chase group
Several riders were in trouble, Wiebes in particular. The European champion could only return because the pace dropped again after the section. That also ensured that Ferrand-Prévot could return. There was now a group of 21 riders, with only Kopecky and Wiebes from SD Worx-Protime. A barrage of attacks followed. Kopecky controlled, but she could not react to everything. Emma Norsgaard escaped.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot solo
The Dane of Lidl-Trek, who had Elisa Balsamo behind her, quickly gained half a minute. A nice gap, but a counter-attack came from the peloton. On an asphalt section it was Ferrand-Prévot who attacked. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider quickly closed the gap to Norsgaard. Together they started the four-star Camphin-en-Pévèle, 20 kilometres from the finish, where Ferrand-Prévot immediately put her fellow escapee under pressure.
On the velodrome with a minute to spare
The French rider gave it her all, and Norsgaard was dropped. The difference with the other favourites continued to increase. At the start of the Carrefour de l’Arbre, the last really tough section, Ferrand-Prévot already had 45 seconds on the Kopecky group. In that group, Erić initially led the chase, later Kopecky did the work for Wiebes. The World champion, who had Marianne Vos on her wheel, would not be able to close the gap. The difference remained about 1 minute. With that lead, Ferrand-Prévot rode into the velodrome of Roubaix, where she could celebrate. She took her first victory for Visma | Lease a Bike.
A big win for Pauline Ferrand-Prévot
Behind Ferrand-Prévot there was still a battle for the podium. With less than 4 kilometres to go, Elise Chabbey attacked, after which the exhausted Kopecky let go. Vos responded immediately, after which the group came together again. Just before the velodrome, Letizia Borghesi escaped. The Italian of EF Education-Oatly soloed to second place. Behind her there was a sprint for third place, Wiebes was faster than Vos.
# All the news from Roubaix in EUROTRASH Monday. #
Paris-Roubaix – Women Result:
1. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Fra) Visma | Lease a Bike in 3:40:07
2. Letizia Borghesi (Ita) EF Education-Oatly at 0:58
3. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) SD Worx-Protime at 1:01
4. Marianne Vos (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike
5. Alison Jackson (Can) EF Education-Oatly
6. Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Uno-X Mobility
7. Elise Chabbey (Sui) FDJ-SUEZ at 1:04
8. Chloe Dygert (USA) Canyon//SRAM Racing zondacrypto at 1:06
9. Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 1:21
10. Chiara Consonni (Ita) Canyon//SRAM Racing zondacrypto.
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