Wheel Talk Newsletter: Just like that, Paris-Roubaix Femmes might be my favorite race

Gruber Images

It feels like every year that Paris-Roubaix Femmes delivers some incredible feat of cycling that it takes me weeks to recover from, but being on the ground and in the velodrome this weekend, watching Franziska Koch, Marianne Vos, and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot riding those fateful final metres, was a memory that I will hold onto the rest of my life. I've never been one to seek out a bike race on the ground; I'd much rather watch all the action from the couch or on the trainer, so I can pick apart the tactics. But there is nothing like watching the finish of Paris-Roubaix Femmes in the velodrome.

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First things first: Can we just relive this moment for a second?

A few years ago, Pfeiffer Georgi's reaction to learning she'd finished third at Paris-Roubaix Femmes was one of the best moments of the year. It's a race that is nearly impossible to win because of all the different factors, from form to luck, so it makes sense that the reactions from some of former winners or podium finishers have become internet famous. Think Alison Jackson's post-victory dance. For 10 minutes after Franziska Koch won on Sunday, the meme farm was working overtime.

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Franziska Koch immediately after she won.

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Koch rides over to the team, where her partner is waiting.

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This went on for a while and it was incredible.

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Trying to take it all in.

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And my favorite moment, an embrace between former teammates, both top 5 at Paris-Roubaix Femmes, just happy for themselves and each other.

During all of this, Stephen Delcourt, Team Manager for FDJ United-Suez, was trying to hold himself together. When he signed Demi Vollering, no doubt he knew there were some incredible victories on the horizon, but I don't know if he could even dream his team would win three of the biggest one day races in the spring with three different riders (Elise Chabbey at Strade Bianche, Vollering at the Tour of Flanders, and then Koch at Paris-Roubaix).

Delcourt could be seen on the edge of every shot, and he momentarily got a chance to talk to Koch before Megan Jastrab of UAE Team ADQ came over to give Koch a hug. Of course, he had his moment off camera, I'm sure. But what a special win for Delcourt as well. He deserves all the kudos for building the team up from basically a French development squad into what it is today.

That is Delcourt in the foreground

Delcourt joined the management side of cycling in 2017 with the men's FDJ team. By 2018, he was working for FDH Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope as a team representative. It wasn't until 2020 that he became the GM, and it's easy to see how his influence has catapulted the team into a top outfit from there. In 2020 they added Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig and Brodie Chapman to the team. The following year, they picked up Marta Cavalli. Next, it was Grace Brown in 2022. Each new addition brought more to the table, not only the results they started to slowly collect, but also the expertise. Along with every new addition also came a new set of goals. Of course, when the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift was announced, that became the big target.

Evolution of a powerhouse: FDJ United-Suez is more than just Demi VolleringThe French team has been good for Vollering. And Vollering has been good for them.Escape CollectiveMatt de Neef

So, FDJ United-Suez may be the dominant team right now, but they weren't always. Imagine for a second how Delcourt must feel, standing in the Roubaix velodrome, watching one of his riders outsprint the greatest of all time.

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Racing continues...

At De Brabantse Pijl on Friday, April 17th, and the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, April 19th.

The Brabantse Pijl isn't a WorldTour race, but a lot of riders who skipped Paris-Roubaix Femmes and are eyeing the Ardennes come to the UCI 1.Pro to shake out the legs and have some fun in the bunch. Elisa Longo Borghini has won the race the last two years, and Silvia Perisco before her, but past winners also include Demi Vollering and Grace Brown. In 2021, there was a very memorable finish when Vollering celebrated too early and Ruth Winder bike-threw her way to victory.

The 2025 edition

The Amstel Gold race is the first of the Ardennes Classics, which means the Spring Classics are almost over ... sob.

It's a fun one because it can be won in so many different ways. Unlike La Fléche Wallonne, the next Ardennes Classic, Amstel Gold Race isn't quite as selective. It can be won from a reduced bunch in a sprint (just don't celebrate too early, Lorena Wiebes, or Marianne Vos will sneak in and steal it from you), but it has been won by a breakaway or a solo rider in the past as well.

Personally, I am a big fan of the Amstel Gold Race. I think it's underrated. Last year, the race went to the early breakaway, specifically Mischa Bredewold, but it wasn't exactly a breakaway of unknowns. The move included Ellen van Dijk, Puck Pieterse, and Juliette Labous. The year before, it was an insane day of kind of bike racing.

Trying to make sense of the women’s Amstel Gold RaceNeutralization, near breakaway success, a game of chicken, and an early celebration added up to one heck of a bike race.Escape CollectiveAbby Mickey

Brabantse Pijl

When : Friday, April 17th at 11:25

Where : Lennik to Overijse (125.7 km)

Live coverage : 🇦🇺 SBS @ 20:45 AEST, 🇪🇺 HBOMax @ 12:45 CEST, 🇬🇧HBOMax @ 11:45 BST, 🇺🇸🇨🇦 FloBikes @ 3:45 PDT

The favourites

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Karlijn Swinkels, Franziska Koch ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Anna van der Breggen, Silvia Persico ⭐️⭐️⭐️: Magdeleine Vallières, Niamh Fisher-Black ⭐️⭐️: Fleur Moors, Mackenzie Coupland, Eleonora Gasparrini ⭐️: Mischa Bredewold, Célia Gery

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