On the 149-kilometre route from Denain to Roubaix, there was a sprint to the finish by a leading group of six riders. Pfeiffer Georgi (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) opened the sprint in the Roubaix velodrome and overtook Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek), who was riding in the wind. However, the Brit was overtaken shortly afterwards by Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) and Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike). For a short time, it looked as if the two riders would decide the victory between them. On the final straight, however, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx - Protime) literally exploded, overtaking her rivals and securing victory by a bike length ahead of Balsamo.
Group of six decides victory among themselves
On cobbled sector 5, a five-man lead group formed 19 kilometres before the finish around Amber Kraak (FDJ-Suez), Marianne Vos, Ellen van Dijk, Elisa Balsamo and Lotte Kopecky. A short time later, Pfeiffer Georgi also made it into the leading group. The group harmonised well, with van Dijk and Kraak in particular repeatedly pushing the pace. Although a strong chasing group formed behind them around Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx - Protime), they had no chance of catching the leaders in the end. Kopecky then had the freshest legs in the final sprint and won the "Queen of the Classics".
This victory was my goal this season. The team gave me a lot of confidence. I could feel how much they believed in me. They did a great job. - Lotte Kopecky in an interview with the winner
Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2024: Results - the top 10
- Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx - Protime) 3:47:13
- Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) +0:00
- Pfeiffer Georgi (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +0:00
- Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:00
- Amber Kraak (FDJ-Suez) +0:00
- Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) +0:06
- Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx - Protime) +0:28
- Victoire Berteau (Cofidis) +0:28
- Marie Le Net (FDJ-Suez) +0:28
- Kimberley Le Court (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) +0:28
How Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2024 went
The start to the "Hell of the North" was bumpy - there were repeated crashes. Last year's winner Alison Jackson also fell, but was able to continue afterwards. After around 20 kilometres, Victoire Joncheray (Team Komugi - Grand Est) was able to break away from the peloton and try her luck as a soloist. In the meantime, the Frenchwoman had a lead of almost two minutes. However, her escape was over before the first pavé sector.
Peloton thins out early
The pace in the race was high right from the start, so that the peloton thinned out more and more on the first cobbled sections. Many riders paid tribute to the high initial speeds and had to let go. It was the favourites for the stage win around Kopecky and van Dijk who attacked and thus kept the speeds high.
With 50 kilometres to go, a breakaway group formed around Kopecky, Vos, Georgi and Christina Schweinberger (Fenix-Deceuninck), who were able to pull away from their rivals. A short time later, however, the four leaders were caught on the following pavé sector. There were now around 25 riders in the leading group - the riders also had to contend with crosswinds, meaning that only a few riders were able to ride at the front.
Wiel's attack is countered by Kopecky & Co
At sector 8, the French rider Jade Wiel (FDJ-Suez) broke away and quickly extended her lead to 20 seconds. The Frenchwoman rode ahead for ten kilometres, but was then caught 18 kilometres before the finish.
The five-rider lead group then formed around Kopecky, Vos, van Dijk, Balsamo and Kraak. Georgi joined them a little later, so that the six riders were able to decide the victory among themselves. The final sprint was won by Lotte Kopecky, who won the "Hell of the North" for the first time.
