Grace Brown: We don't need Arenberg to make Paris-Roubaix Femmes significant

Grace Brown and FDJ-SUEZ preview the course at Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2023
Grace Brown and FDJ-SUEZ preview the course at Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2023 (Image credit: FDJ-SUEZ)

There has been increasing discussion about why Trouée d'Arenberg has not been introduced to Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift, but Grace Brown says that the pavé sectors, as a collective, are more important to the route than just one - even one as iconic as the Arenberg.

Organisers ASO have indicated that it is still "too dangerous" to include the Arenberg Forest in the women's route due to its proximity to the start in Denain. However, with careful route changes and additional pavè sectors added earlier in the race, the women's event could cross the five-star sector in future editions.

Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.