Cobblestone favourites: Ferrand-Prévot starts at Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2026

The 2025 Tour winner changed her programme at short notice. Her second place in the Tour of Flanders and the prospect of a historic double victory in the André-Pétrieux velodrome convinced Ferrand-Prévot to take on the cobbles once again before the Ardennes Classics. Last year, she won the race with a solo victory.

Three winners meet each other

Alison Jackson rides for St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 and won 2023 with a solo attack. The Canadian finished fifth last year. Lotte Kopecky won in 2024 in the rainbow jersey for Team SD Worx - Protime. The Belgian is considered one of the strongest riders on the cobbles. Since the first race in 2021, which was won by Elizabeth Deignan, Paris-Roubaix Femmes Hauts-de-France has crowned a new winner every year.

Historic dimension for Ferrand-Prévot

The Frenchwoman is aiming for a feat last achieved by Eddy Merckx in 1973: to win the cobbled classic as the reigning Tour winner. Tadej Pogacar is pursuing the same goal in the men's race. Ferrand-Prévot is riding for Team Visma-Lease a Bike alongside Marianne Vos. The Dutchwoman finished second in 2021 and brings her experience to the team.

Strong field of favourites

Elisa Longo Borghini withdrew her entry a few days before the race. All the other podium riders from previous years will be at the start. Letizia Borghesi (AG Insurance-Soudal), Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx - Protime), Elisa Balsamo and Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek) are among the contenders. Pfeiffer Georgi (Team Picnic PostNL), Katia Ragusa (Human Powered Health) and Marthe Truyen (Fenix-Premier Tech) complete the group of favourites.

Young British women on the rise

Zoe Bäckstedt starts for Canyon//Sram zondacrypto. The 21-year-old finished 15th at her debut last year. She finished fifth in the Tour of Flanders, just behind Kopecky. Cat Ferguson rides for Movistar Team and is even younger than Bäckstedt. Élise Chabbey leads the FDJ United-Suez team, which has been performing strongly since the start of the season.

Start list by country

Liv-AlUla-Jayco will start from Australia with Jeanne Korevaar and Ruby Roseman-Gannon. The Belgian teams are AG Insurance - Soudal Team with Letizia Borghesi and Shari Bossuyt, Fenix - Premier Tech with Charlotte Kool, Millie Couzens and Marthe Truyen as well as Lotto Intermarché Ladies with Katrijn De Clercq and Linda Riedmann. France is sending Cofidis Women Team with Amalie Dideriksen, FDJ United - Suez with Élise Chabbey, Franziska Koch and Célia Gery, Ma Petite Entreprise with Alison Avoine, Mayenne Monbana My Pie with Fiona Mangan and St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93 with Alison Jackson.

The German teams Canyon//Sram zondacrypto and Lidl - Trek are sending strong line-ups. Canyon is relying on Zoe Bäckstedt, Chiara Consonni and Chloé Dygert. Lidl - Trek nominates Elisa Balsamo, Emma Norsgaard and Lucinda Brand. From the Netherlands come Team Picnic PostNL with Pfeiffer Georgi, Team SD Worx - Protime with Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes, Team Visma-Lease a Bike with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Marianne Vos and Lieke Nooijen and VolkerWessels Cycling Team with Sophie von Berswordt and Lonneke Uneken. Uno-X Mobility from Norway will start with Susanne Andersen.

Spain sends Laboral Kutxa - Fundacion Euskadi with Marjolein van't Geloof and Arianna Fidanza as well as Movistar Team with Cat Ferguson. UAE Team ADQ is sending Lara Gillespie into the race. The US teams EF Education - Oatley with Nina Berton and Human Powered Health with Katia Ragusa and Kathrin Schweinberger complete the starting field.