Thierry Gouvenoux, race director for Paris-Roubaix, faced criticism for reducing the broadcast coverage of this year’s women’s race, coinciding with the men’s event for the first time. While last year’s women’s race received three hours of coverage, this year only the final 90 minutes will be aired. The women’s peloton, represented by the Cyclists Alliance, condemned the decision, arguing it undermines visibility and the future of women’s cycling.
Gouvenoux defended the shortened coverage, claiming it would still reach a larger audience as fans would be engaged with the men’s race beforehand. He noted logistical challenges of holding two races on consecutive days and cited financial issues, including the loss of sponsorship from Zwift, as contributing factors. Gouvenoux emphasized the ongoing struggle for funding in women’s cycling, while expressing hope for its future growth.
Additionally, he addressed concerns regarding race logistics, particularly after incidents where slower riders delayed the reopening of roads. Gouvenoux asserted that competitive integrity should be prioritized over social media content creation. He remains optimistic about the progress of women’s cycling, though acknowledges that achieving parity remains a challenge.
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