Franziska Koch denies Marianne Vos to win Paris-Roubaix Femmes in velodrome sprint

Franziska Koch delivered a stunning performance to claim victory in the 2026 Paris-Roubaix Femmes, narrowly outsprinting Marianne Vos in the iconic Roubaix velodrome. The 25-year-old German rider from FDJ United-Suez held off Vos by just half a wheel after an aggressive race where she frequently attempted to shake off her rivals. Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot completed the podium in third place, while previous winner Lotte Kopecky finished fourth, highlighting a fiercely contested race among the sport’s elite. The race unfolded over 143 kilometres from Denain to Roubaix, with early breakaway attempts quickly reeled in by a strong peloton led by Visma-Lease a Bike and SD Worx-Protime. Around 50 kilometres from the finish, Koch launched a decisive attack on the Mons-en-Pévèle cobbled sector, forming a leading quartet with Vos, Ferrand-Prévot, and Blanka Vas. Despite several tactical moves and further accelerations, the group remained intact until the final kilometres, setting the stage for a dramatic sprint finish in the velodrome. Koch’s victory marks the biggest win of her career, building on an impressive spring season that saw top-ten finishes in several classics and a podium at Strade Bianche. Since joining FDJ United-Suez from Picnic PostNL, she has emerged as a formidable contender in the women’s peloton. For Vos, the defeat will be particularly disappointing as Paris-Roubaix remains the only major race missing from her illustrious palmarès, having finished second and fourth multiple times in previous editions. Ferrand-Prévot’s third place adds to a consistent run of form, following her recent second place at the Tour of Flanders, though she has yet to secure a victory since last summer’s Tour de France Femmes. The race also highlighted Visma’s inability to capitalise fully on their numerical advantage despite controlling much of the race. Looking ahead, Koch’s breakthrough win at one of cycling’s most legendary one-day races could signal a new chapter in her career, while Vos and Ferrand-Prévot will be eager to regroup and target upcoming spring classics.