'Now it feels like we had leftover crowds' – Taking the temperature of the new Paris-Roubaix Femmes format

The Paris-Roubaix Femmes race underwent a significant format change in 2024, moving to the same day as the men’s event. This shift, intended to boost visibility and align with the scheduling of other major races like the Tour of Flanders, has sparked considerable debate among fans, journalists, and riders alike. While the men’s race delivered a record-breaking pace, the women’s race suffered from drastically reduced live television coverage, limited to the time remaining after the men had finished. This decision has led to a palpable change in atmosphere at the event, with a sense that the women’s race was somewhat overshadowed despite the quality of the competition. The rationale behind the change largely centres on financial and logistical considerations. Organising Paris-Roubaix demands extensive resources, including police support, road closures, medical teams, and media facilities, all of which are costly to deploy twice over separate days. By condensing the races into a single day, organisers aim to reduce expenses and create a more sustainable event model. However, this cost-saving measure has come at the expense of the women’s race’s prominence, with less airtime and fewer opportunities for storytelling and in-depth coverage, which are vital for growing the sport’s profile. Sponsorship dynamics also appear to have influenced the new format. The absence of Zwift, which had been a high-profile partner and promoter of the women’s race in previous years, is notable. Zwift’s branding and marketing efforts had helped generate enthusiasm and visibility for the event, and its decision not to renew sponsorship may have contributed to the diminished standalone status of Paris-Roubaix Femmes. Despite Zwift’s ongoing involvement with other women’s teams and races, its withdrawal from this particular event has arguably weakened the race’s commercial and promotional impact. Despite the reduced coverage, the women’s race saw a significant increase in viewership, with TV audiences in France rising by 70% and surpassing one million viewers. Race director Thierry Gouvenou defended the scheduling change by highlighting the advantage of a larger combined audience on a Sunday, suggesting that more people ultimately watched the women’s race than before. Nevertheless, critics argue that the truncated broadcast and the need for fans to choose between simultaneous men’s and women’s coverage undermine the goal of equality and diminish the overall experience for spectators and participants. The changes to Paris-Roubaix Femmes raise important questions about the future of women’s cycling and the balance between commercial viability and sporting integrity. While the move to a shared race day may bring short-term gains in audience numbers, it risks marginalising the women’s event and limiting its growth potential. Many within the cycling community, including the Cyclists’ Alliance, have expressed concern that reduced coverage sends the wrong message about the value of women’s racing. Going forward, organisers and stakeholders will need to carefully consider how to support and showcase women’s events without compromising their visibility or status.