“Not all eyes were on one of the biggest women’s races of the year” – Did Paris-Roubaix show we’re still a long way off equality in cycling?

Last weekend brought us one of the most unforgettable Paris-Roubaix doubleheaders in recent memory. Mathieu van der Poel extended his legacy with a third consecutive triumph on the iconic cobbles, defeating Tadej Pogacar in a historic men’s race. A day earlier, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot delivered a masterclass to win the women’s edition, with one of the biggest wins of her glittering career.

But despite the quality of racing, especially in the women’s event, questions remain over how these two races are treated, and more importantly, how they’re seen.

Writing for Cycling Weekly, journalist Adam Becket attended the fifth edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes and raised serious concerns over the disparity in visibility, scheduling, and attention that still exists between the women’s and men’s races. In a sport that continues to champion its progress on gender equality, the weekend served as a reminder that structural imbalances remain.

“At 4pm French time on Saturday afternoon, all eyes should have been on Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift, as the race reached its crescendo point.”

And yet, not all eyes were.

“Not all eyes were on one of the biggest women’s races of the year, however. 150km to the south, the star riders for Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix were filing off stage in Compiègne, as part of a team presentation for the men’s race.

“As one of the biggest events in women’s cycling was taking place - owned and operated by the same race organisers, ASO - a promotional event for the men’s race was taking away attention, distracting some. It meant the male riders couldn’t watch much of the race, but also gave an opportunity for fans, journalists, casual observers, to completely miss the women’s event. It seems ludicrous.”

It’s hard to disagree with Becket’s assessment. In a sport where every inch of coverage can shift perception, attention, and funding, overlapping events rob women’s cycling of a platform it’s worked hard to earn. No rider, man or woman, should be scheduled into an event that pulls the spotlight from a Monument’s decisive moments.

“This is not to blame individuals; but why were people given a reason to miss the end of the women’s race? There might be mileage in a Tadej Pogačar interview, always, but could that not have happened at a time other than Saturday afternoon, while Paris-Roubaix Femmes was happening?”

The problem is not isolated to one race or one press conference, it's about planning and priorities. When event organisers knowingly overlap major moments from the women's calendar with logistics or promotional events for the men, it sends a message, however unintentional, about hierarchy. And even among the media, that message seems to echo.

“I came away from Paris-Roubaix Femmes enlivened by the brilliant action and racing, but on reflection, a little disheartened by the feeling that it was second tier compared to the men’s race the next day. Why was the press room - still male dominated, it should be said - a third emptier on Saturday compared to Sunday? Change is needed - everyone should be watching the femmes.”

This observation, perhaps more than any, cuts to the heart of the issue. It’s not a question of whether the women’s race was exciting, it was. It’s whether the infrastructure around the event, from coverage to crowd engagement to media prioritisation, is doing justice to that excitement.

Becket's reflection is not an attack, but a plea. A call for cycling to treat its women’s races not as warm-ups or side-shows but as the main events they are. In truth, Paris-Roubaix Femmes doesn’t need anything added to be taken seriously, it already delivers world-class racing on its own. What it needs is room to shine without distraction.

That starts with smart scheduling, and it continues with balanced media attention. And it ends when every fan, journalist, and organiser approaches both editions with equal anticipation and respect.