ASO explains why women's and men's Paris-Roubaix races are on same day in 2026

The women’s and men’s editions of Paris-Roubaix will be held on the same day in 2026 due to security and budgetary reasons, according to race director Thierry Gouvenou.

Since the inaugural edition in 2021, Paris-Roubaix Femmes had been held on the day preceding the men’s race, but in 2026, they will both take place on Sunday, April 12.

“Above all, there is the provision of security,” Gouvenou told DirectVelo. “The system only needs to be set up once, on the same day. This is much less restrictive for the police. There are also budgetary reasons.”

Gouvenou also acknowledged to DirectVelo that it had not been straightforward to close roads in the hinterland of Lille for two consecutive days, though he added that holding both elite races on the same day would create logistical difficulties for ASO. “More vehicles and manpower will be required,” he said.

Paris-Roubaix will thus mirror the Tour of Flanders, where the men’s and women’s races both take place on the same day, with the women’s race finishing after the men’s race. Gouvenou suggested the new configuration would increase the visibility of the women’s race, though he acknowledged that the standalone editions had drawn sizeable crowds to the pavé.

“It already wasn’t bad on the Saturday, but now people will watch the men and then the women’s race,” he said.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won Paris-Roubaix Femmes last April, becoming the first elite French rider to win on the Roubaix Velodrome since Frédéric Guesdon won the men’s race in 1997.

Mathieu van der Poel won the men’s race after seeing off world champion Tadej Pogačar in a gripping duel. Pogačar is expected to return to the Hell of the North in 2026, where he would appear the man most likely to prevent Van der Poel from winning a fourth Paris-Roubaix in succession.