For the first time since its inception in 2021, the women’s edition of Paris-Roubaix will be held on the same day as the men’s event. The shift to Sunday represents a fundamental change in the race’s architecture, with organizers ASO scheduling the women’s finish in the Roubaix velodrome approximately two hours after the men’s race concludes.
The decision has sparked an intense debate within the peloton and among fans regarding whether the women’s Paris-Roubaix move to Sunday is a step backwards. While the move aims to capitalize on a larger, consolidated television audience, it has simultaneously triggered concerns over reduced visibility and increased logistical strain on professional teams.
Race director Franck Perque has defended the scheduling, noting that peak viewership had already reached around two million viewers. By placing the women’s race after the men’s, with a projected finish around 18:20, Perque expects those numbers to grow as spectators remain tuned in for the duration of the day.
However, the promise of higher viewership comes with a significant caveat: the actual amount of live broadcast time. In previous years, the women’s race enjoyed comprehensive coverage. This year, reports indicate that only the final 90 minutes of the contest will be watchable, a sharp decline that has drawn criticism from athletes and advocacy groups alike.
The Visibility Gap and the ’90-Minute’ Problem
The reduction in television coverage is the primary flashpoint of the controversy. For a race defined by the brutal, unpredictable nature of the cobbled sectors, losing the early and middle stages of the broadcast means missing the very moments where the race is often won or lost.
Carmen Little, directeur sportif for EF Education Oatly, acknowledged the logic behind the viewership numbers but highlighted the sporting cost. Small noted that while the final is exciting, the race is dynamic from the moment the riders hit the cobbles, and having less than 90 minutes of coverage limits the story the world gets to see.
This sentiment was echoed by the Cycling Alliance, which argued that visibility is being pulled back just as the sport’s momentum is building. The organization emphasized that progress in women’s cycling is not guaranteed and must be actively protected.
The 2025 edition underscored why full coverage matters. That race saw defending champion Lotte Kopecky dominate for much of the day before fading in the closing kilometers, allowing Pauline Ferrand-Prévot to kick clear and secure the victory. Ferrand-Prévot later translated that momentum into a win at the Tour de France Femmes.
Electric Crowds vs. Increased Hazards
Despite the broadcast concerns, there is a tangible upside to the Sunday move: the atmosphere. Riders expect the presence of the men’s crowds to create a “super-electric” environment. Lucie Fityus of Picnic Post NL described the psychological boost that comes from a roaring crowd, recalling a similar feeling during the climb of the Kwaremont at the Tour of Flanders.
However, this increased popularity brings new risks. Tiffany Cromwell of Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto, a veteran of four of the last five editions, warned that the roads may become more hectic. With spectators staying all day, there is a higher likelihood of intoxicated fans or crowded road shoulders, increasing the risk of crashes.
The physical state of the course also becomes a factor. As the final race of four on Sunday—following the juniors, under-23s, and men—the women will face the most degraded roads. Cromwell pointed out that rain would exacerbate this, as the cobbles will have been churned into deep mud by the preceding groups, removing the “clean lines” available to earlier riders.
Logistical Strain and Team Resources
Beyond the riders, the Sunday move creates a tactical nightmare for team directors. Paris-Roubaix is a race of attrition where punctures and crashes are inevitable, making the rapid deployment of support cars essential. When the men’s and women’s races overlap on a single day, teams that share resources are stretched dangerously thin.
Small noted that while some organizations are well-structured, many teams lack the manpower to effectively cover every cobbled sector for two separate elite races. This resource gap could inadvertently influence the outcome of the race, as riders from smaller teams may face longer waits for mechanical assistance.
the truncated TV coverage hampers the ability of directors to manage the race from the car. Callum Ferguson, DS and coach for Picnic PostNL, explained that in a race where Radio Tour information can be sparse, the ability to see a rider’s position on a TV monitor is a vital tool for tactical decision-making.
Looking Toward a Sustainable Model
As the sport evolves, the challenge for ASO is to balance the commercial drive for higher viewership with the sporting needs of the athletes. Some, like Lucie Fityus, suggest a middle ground: removing the under-23 races from the Sunday schedule to allow for better spacing between the men’s and women’s events. This would potentially allow for broader TV coverage of both races without compromising the “Sunday spectacle.”
The success of this experiment will likely be judged by the data following the event. ASO will weigh the increase in peak TV numbers against the feedback from teams and the Cycling Alliance. Whether What we have is a strategic growth move or a step backward depends largely on whether the increased audience translates into more sustainable support and visibility for the women’s peloton in the long term.
The next critical checkpoint will be the post-race analysis and the subsequent announcement of the 2027 calendar, where riders and teams will likely push for refinements to the broadcast and logistical framework.
We seek to hear from you. Does the move to Sunday prioritize numbers over the sport’s integrity? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
