Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2021: Everything you need to know about the inaugural cobbled Classic

It is almost time for one of the most historic moments in cycling as the women's professional peloton takes on the famous cobbled sectors of Paris-Roubaix Femmes - Here is everything you need to know about it.

The race is set to take place on Saturday, October 2 which is the day before the men's race. It's been a long wait for the women's side of the sport, but it is finally happening with some of the biggest names set to be taking to the start in Denain.

It would've been mayhem if the race was on the same day as the men's epic 257km Monument, so the day before is the perfect fit for a brutal weekend of cycling. 

With the likes of Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Vism), Lotte Kopecky (Liv Racing), Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) and Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) all set to ride.

Check below for all the route details, the start list and more: 

Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2021 route 

The first running of the women's race will only be over a relatively short 116.4km, almost 140km shorter than the men's race on the following day.

Starting in the town of Denain, which itself is known for the men's race of the GP Denain that ran recently, the race starts 127km north of the men's start town of Compiègne with the peloton facing 17 cobbled sectors instead of the men's 29.

This also means the race just misses out on taking on the cobbled hell of the Arenburg Trench, arguably the most iconic cobbled stretch in the men's race.

But after the start in Denain the race joins the men's route in Hornaing after 31km of riding all the way to the outdoor velodrome in Roubaix where the victor of the inaugural women's Paris-Roubaix will be crowned.

They do have to tackle the famous five star sectors of Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre as part of the 30km of cobbled riding.

Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2021 start list 

There will be 24 teams competing in the first edition of the race, with eight UCI WorldTeams on the start list, including Trek-Segafredo, Jumbo-Visma, and SD Worx.  

The start list is not yet full, but already includes a number of star names, including former world champions Deignan, Van Vleuten, Vos, and Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (SD Worx), as well as some serious contenders like Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM), and Lotte Kopecky (Liv Racing).

Here is the start list for the women’s Paris-Roubaix: 

Trek-Segafredo

Lizzie Deignan (GBr)
Ellen van Dijk (Ned)
Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) 
Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Fra)
Lauretta Hanson (Aus)
Trixi Worrack (Ger)

Team SD Worx

Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (Ned)
Amy Pieters (Ned)
Jolien D'Hoore (Bel)
Christine Majerus (Lux) 
Lonneke Uneken (Ned)
Elena Cecchini (Ita)

Alé-BTC-Ljubljana

Marlen Reusser (Sui)
Maaike Boogaard (Ned)
Marta Bastianelli (Ita)
Tatiana Guderzo (Ita)
Eugenia Bujak (Slo)
Anastasiia Chursina (Rus)

Lotto-Soudal Ladies 

Jesse Vandenbulke (Bel)
Alana Castrique (Bel)
Abby-Mae Parkinson (GBr)
Danique Braam (Ned)
Silke Smulders (Ned)
Elise Vander Sande (Bel)

Canyon-SRAM

Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol)
Alice Barnes (GBr)
Elise Chabbey (Sui)
Hannah Barnes (GBr)
Alena Amialiusik (Blr)
Tiffany Cromwell (Aus)

Movistar Team

Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) 
Emma Norsgaard (Den)
Leah Thomas (USA)
Aude Biannic (Fra)
Barbara Guarischi (Ita)
Sheyla Gutiérrez (Esp)

Team DSM

Lorena Wiebes (Ned)
Floortje Mackaij (Ned)
Susanne Andersen (Nor)
Pfeiffer Georgi (GBr)
Megan Jastrab (USA)
Franziska Koch (Ger)

Team Jumbo-Visma

Marianne Vos (Ned) 
Anna Henderson (GBr)
Riejanne Markus (Ned)
Jip van den Bos (Ned)
Romy Kasper (Ger)
Teuntje Beekhuis (Ned)

Arkéa Pro Cycling Team

Gladys Verhulst (Fra)
Pauline Allin (Fra)
Lucie Journier (Fra)
Marie-Morgane Le Deunff (Fra)
Greta Richioud (Fra)
Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra)

FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope

Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (Den)
Marta Cavalli (Ita)
Jade Wiel (Fra)
Maëlle Grossetête (Fra)
Marie Le Net (Fra)
Eugénie Duval (Fra)

Liv Racing 

Lotte Kopecky (Bel) 
Valerie Demey (Bel)
Alison Jackson (Can)
Sabrina Stultiens (Ned)
Jeanne Korevaar (Ned)
Evy Kuijpers (Ned)

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

Lisa Brennauer (Ger)
Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita)
Marta Lach (Pol)
Laura Asencio (Fra)
Sarah Rijkes (Aut)
Lea Lin Teutenberg (Ger)

Team BikExchange 

Teniel Campbell (TTo)
Jessica Allen (Aus)
Sarah Roy (Aus)
Janneke Ensing (Ned)
Georgia Williams (NZl)

Parkhotel Valkeburg

Femke Markus (Ned)
Leonie Bos (Ned)
Mischa Bredewold (Ned)
Lieke Nooijen (Ned)
Kirstie van Haaften (Ned)
Amber van der Hulst (Ned)

Team Tibco-SVB

Lauren Stephens (USA)
Kristen Faulkner (USA)
Tanja Erath (Ger)
Veronica Ewers (USA)
Nina Kessler (Ned)
Nicole Frain (Aus)

BePink

Henrietta Christie (NZl)
Camilla Alessio (Ita)
Lara Crestanello (Ita)
Nora Jenčušová (Svk)
Marketa Hájková (Cze)

Team Coop-Hitec Products

Mieke Kröger (Ger)
Martine Gjøs (Nor)
Pernile Feldmann (Nor)
Josie Nelson (GBr)
Ingvild Gaskjenn (Nor)
Emma Boogaard (Ned)

Doltcini-VanEyck-Proximus

Christina Schweinberger (Aut)
Kathrin Schweinberger (Aut)
Nicole Steigenga (Ned)
Victoire Berteau (Fra)
Mieke Docx (Bel)
Fien Van Eynde (Bel)

Drops-Le Col s/b Tempur

Marjolein Van 't Geloof (Ned)
Elizabeth Bennett (GBr)
Maike van der Duijn (Ned)
Sara Penton (Swe)
Emilie Moberg (Nor)
Maria Martins (Por)

NXTG Racing 

Britt Knaven (Bel)
Shari Bossuyt (Bel)
Charlotte Kool (Ned)
Mylene de Zoete (Ned)
Maud Rijnbeek (Ned)
Ilse Pluimers (Ned)

Valcar-Travel & Service

Elisa Balsamo (Ita)
Vittoria Guazzini (Ita)
Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita)
Chiara Consonni (Ita)
Elena Pirrone (Ita)
Margaux Vigie (Fra)

Stade Rochelais Cherente-Maritimes Women Cycling

Arianna Pruisscher (Ned)
Maeva Squiban (Fra)
Manon Souyris (Fra)
Marion Colard (Fra)
India Grangier (Fra)
Noemi Rüegg (Sui)

PARIS-ROUBAIX FEMMES: RECENT WINNERS

2021: Lizzie Deignan (GBr) Trek-Segafredo
2020: Cancelled due to Covid-19