It's a dream of every outsider, every dark horse, and every loyal domestique: getting into the early breakaway, having it stick, and taking all the glory for yourself. In a most unpredictable third edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift, Canadian Alison Jackson did just that.
Jackson inked her name into the history books with a tenacious and self-confident ride, parlaying the early attack into a sprint victory in the Roubaix velodrome.
The race organisation added an extra local circuit at the start, making it easier to form a breakaway, Jackson explained. "With a longer start, we have the time to set up the race before the cobbles, so it's not just determined on how one rides the cobbles and the good luck you get. You can play with the tactics more and we did that today."
An 18-rider group that formed well before the first section of cobbles were inexplicably given a lead of over five minutes.
By the final stretch of pavé, an elite chasing group with pre-race favourite Lotte Kopecky closed to within 10 seconds of the leaders – so close they could see them on a late, straight section of road in Roubaix.
A headwind, a huge tolerance for pain, and a zamboni-sized pile of determination from Jackson helped to keep the chasers at bay. With her victorious surge to the line, Jackson danced into the books as the first woman to win Paris-Roubaix in a sprint.
Pro cycling photographer Chris Auld was there to witness all the action. Enjoy his shots in full-width glory below.
Some riders like this Team Arkéa rider taped their hands rather than wear gloves.
Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) at the start of what would be an unlucky Paris-Roubaix
Alison Jackson all smiles and relaxed at the start of Paris-Roubaix
Some smiles seemed a bit forced with the ordeal still to come
This young fan had plenty of inspiration from the women's peloton at the start
A reminder on the top tube: "Embrace the chaos"
Another motivational reminder: "Keep Fighting!" along with important route information on a rider's stem
Lotte Kopecky's personalized bike computer at the start
Coryn Labecki focuses after signing on
Neutral support have detailed information about what gear the teams are using: gruppo, disc brake diameter, pedals, etc
Organisers added another lap at the start, making the early breakaway more possible
Jesse Vandenbulcke (Human Powered Health) powering the breakaway
The chasing group grew and shrank in the closing cobbled sectors
The breakaway rides through farm fields: Jackson's familiar territory
Daniek Hengeveld (Team DSM) makes an attack from the breakaway
Daniek Hengeveld (Team DSM) stayed away for over 30 kilometres
Daniek Hengeveld (Team DSM) finally succumbed to the Paris-Roubaix-induced fatigue
Pfeiffer Georgi (Team DSM) was particularly active in the chasing group
The race spread out all up and down the cobbles sectors
Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT) leads the breakaway with one lap to go
Marta Lach, Alison Jackson, Martha Truyen, Katia Ragusa and Eugenie Duval head into the final turns in the velodrome
Alison Jackson timed her sprint perfectly to win Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2023
Lotte Kopecky powers to the finish, 12 seconds shy of the winning breakaway
Every rider crossing the line showed the exhaustion of a brutal Paris-Roubaix
European Champion Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) crashed and finished with blood running down her knee, mixing with the dirt
Tears and hugs all around after Paris-Roubaix
Marianne Vos said "I never really saw the front of the race today" having punctured and been held up by a crash
Lorena Wiebes and Lotte Kopecky embrace after a difficult Paris-Roubaix
An elated Alison Jackson soaks in the applause on the podium
