'Fewer minutes but more eyeballs' – ASO race director defends reduction in women's Paris-Roubaix broadcast and his 'moron' comments on Rockets boss Bas Tietema

Thierry Gouvenou, race director of Paris-Roubaix, has defended the decision to reduce live broadcast coverage of the women’s Paris-Roubaix Femmes this year, despite criticism from the women’s peloton and advocacy groups. For the first time, the women’s race took place on the same day as the men’s event, but viewers were only able to watch the final 90 minutes of the women’s race, compared to three hours of coverage last year. The Cyclists’ Alliance expressed disappointment, arguing that reduced visibility undermines the progress and future of women’s cycling, especially for such a high-profile event. Gouvenou explained that the shorter broadcast was balanced by a larger potential audience, as the women’s race followed the men’s on a Sunday, traditionally attracting more viewers. He cited logistical challenges, including feedback from local authorities about the difficulty of closing roads in the Nord region over consecutive days, which influenced the decision to run both races on the same day. Gouvenou also referenced similar scheduling at other major races like the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, noting that many women riders prefer to race after the men rather than very early in the morning. Addressing the financial realities of women’s professional cycling, Gouvenou acknowledged ongoing challenges in securing sponsorship and funding, despite ASO’s significant investments. He pointed to the successful relaunch of the women’s Tour de France in 2022 and the inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes in 2021 as examples of progress, but admitted that parity remains elusive. The withdrawal of title sponsor Zwift from this year’s Paris-Roubaix Femmes has tightened budgets, reinforcing the need for patience as the sport continues to grow its audience and commercial appeal. Gouvenou also clarified controversial remarks he made about Bas Tietema, former pro cyclist and YouTuber, who was criticised for riding slowly during the 2022 men’s Paris-Roubaix and causing logistical issues. Gouvenou described Tietema’s approach as prioritising social media content over racing, which disrupted road reopening schedules and drew police attention. He emphasised the importance of respecting the race’s status as a Monument and insisted that riders should not “cruise around” without genuine competitive intent, highlighting the tension between traditional racing values and modern media-driven approaches. Looking ahead, the challenges highlighted by Gouvenou underline the complexities of balancing race logistics, media coverage, and financial sustainability in women’s cycling. While the move to run the women’s race on the same day as the men’s may increase exposure in the long term, the reduction in live broadcast time remains a contentious issue. Organisers and stakeholders will need to continue navigating these tensions to support the growth and visibility of women’s professional cycling in future editions.