Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2021: A day in cycling history

Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2021: A day in cycling history

This year's Paris-Roubaix Femmes will be remembered as one of the most iconic races in living memory. Here's a gallery of our favourite images from a historic day


There aren't many days in cycling that could earn the status of a true moment in history. Today Paris-Roubaix marked the first women's edition of the race, and one of the most impressive solo victories the race has ever witnessed.

A picture tells a thousand words, and so here are some images that capture the unique chaos of the first women's Paris-Roubaix.

From the first cobbled sector, 38km into the race, Lizzie Deignan made her winning move – riding 80km solo to victory. Live coverage wasn't recording at the time, but Rouleur happened to be standing at the exact spot it took place.

Behind, an agitated Vos was in the group, presumably assuming it was a passing move.

By the 78km mark, at the Mons-en-Pévèle 5* pave section, the race had been truly blown to pieces.

World Champion Elisa Balsamo made her first appearance in the rainbow jersey, and was within the first (fragmented) batch of riders.

See some of the world's best riders at Rouleur Live this November

A wet velodrome welcomed the riders, for the first time in history, to the finish of a women's Paris-Roubaix.

Related – Lizzie Deignan's radical Paris-Roubaix bike


READ MORE

Watts Occurring Tour de France stage four: DING DING! Pogacar vs MVDP: Round Two

Watts Occurring Tour de France stage four: DING DING! Pogacar vs MVDP: Round Two

Listen to episode three of Watts Occurring, with Luke Rowe and Tom Fordyce

Read more
Lessons with Bardet, the art of suffering and balancing pressure - How Oscar Onley is having the Tour de France of his life

Lessons with Bardet, the art of suffering and balancing pressure - How Oscar Onley is having the Tour de France of his life

The British rider had his best finish yet on stage four – he spoke to Rouleur ahead of the race about how he has prepared...

Read more
Jonas Vingegaard

Victory for Pogačar, but the signs for Jonas Vingegaard already look good at the Tour de France

On the first GC uphill battle of the Tour, Vingegaard’s form is clearly better than at the Dauphiné

Read more
Tadej Pogačar, Tour de France 2025

Six years and 100 victories: Tadej Pogačar is peerless

Tadej Pogačar took his 100th win in stage four of the 2025 Tour de France, further cementing his breathtaking dominance among the current crop of...

Read more
Remco Evenepoel

Tour de France 2025 stage five preview: The race of truth

A flat time trial could provide a big shake-up on the general classification

Read more
Mathieu van der Poel

Tour de France 2025 standings: the results after stage four

The latest results and standings from the Tour de France 2025

Read more

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE