S14 Ep22: Arrivée: Paris-Roubaix Femmes

The Cycling Podcast's Arrivé episode from April 12, 2026, delivers a detailed and emotional breakdown of the women's Paris-Roubaix race, which was moved to Sunday for the first time, resulting in significantly reduced broadcast coverage. Host Rose and guest Denny Gray reflect on the race's dramatic narrative, centered on Francie Cock’s breakthrough victory — her first major classic win — after a relentless series of attacks that saw her outlast defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Pravot and legend Marianne Vos. Despite Vos’s emotional motivation following her father’s recent passing and Ferrand-Pravot’s tireless support, Cock’s superior legs and tactical resilience proved decisive, especially in the velodrome sprint where she used track-style positioning to deny Vos a win. The episode also critiques the race’s scheduling shift, arguing it diminished the women’s event’s prestige by relegating it to a secondary role after the men’s race, with poor TV coverage and post-race attention. SD Works’ tactical missteps, including failing to properly chase the breakaway, are also examined, as is the curious positioning of Lotta Capecki. Overall, the episode celebrates Cock’s triumph while lamenting the broader structural challenges facing women’s cycling in terms of visibility and respect.