Strong performance by AG Insurance - Soudal in Paris-Roubaix Femmes

Strong performance by AG Insurance - Soudal in Paris-Roubaix Femmes

AG Insurance - Soudal delivered a courageous and resilient performance at Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift, with Marthe Goossens sprinting to 13th place and Ilse Pluimers finishing 23rd after a demanding and chaotic edition of “The Hell of the North”.

As expected, the race exploded early on the cobbles, with the first sector coming already after 30 kilometers, immediately putting the peloton under pressure and creating a nervous and selective race.

“The Hell of the North lived up to its name again today,” said Marthe Goossens. “With the new course, the first cobbled sector came very early, so it was nervous from the start. Sector after sector, the group became smaller, and unfortunately we lost Letizia due to a puncture and Shari after a crash.”

Despite these setbacks, Goossens and Pluimers kept the team’s ambitions alive by making it into the front group, where they showed strong teamwork throughout the race.

“That meant Ilse and I were the only ones left from the team in the front group. We really supported each other and kept motivating one another during the hardest moments. We entered the velodrome with a big group sprinting for sixth place, and I eventually finished 13th. It was the Hell today, but a beautiful one,” Goossens added.

Pluimers also highlighted the importance of staying calm and working together on the demanding cobbled sectors: “In the first sectors I was a bit too far back, but I stayed calm and managed to move up more with every sector. In the end, Marthe and I made it into the front group, and it was really nice to be there together and work so well as a team.”

“Two sectors before Carrefour de l’Arbre, Marthe had to close a gap and we just lost contact, but thanks to a really strong collaboration we managed to come back. Marthe did a great sprint for 13th place. My sprint wasn’t great, but I really enjoyed the race,” Pluimers concluded.

The team’s race, however, was also marked by misfortune. Letizia Borghesi saw her chances disappear after suffering a puncture at a crucial moment, while Shari Bossuyt was involved in a crash and has been taken to hospital for further medical assessment. Further updates on her condition will follow in due course. 

Despite the setbacks, AG Insurance - Soudal leaves Paris-Roubaix with a strong collective performance and valuable confidence, once again showing resilience and team spirit on one of the toughest races of the season.