Greig Leach

By the time the large early breakaway reached the first of 17 sections of cobbles they were already setting a new fastest time in the women’s Paris Roubaix. Marion Borras (St. Michel-Mavic-Aauber93) and Lisa Van Helvoirt (Parkhotel-Valkenburg) were on the tail end of the group of 18 women who had build up over a five minute lead on the chasing peloton. While it is very rare that a break away stays away all of the way to the end of a race, this gap was going to make it a tough day out for those behind. Of course, “the Hell of the North” has a way of turning the racing upside down in the blink of an eye.