Winning the Queen of the Classics is a lifetime dream for an entire category of riders called "Flandriens" as well as for great champions who attribute particular prestige to the Paris-Roubaix Hauts-de-France. But beyond the 95 different winners (5 for women), the history of the event is also marked by top-tier riders who repeatedly stumble on this objective, achieve podium finishes, lose consecration due to a mishap, a puncture at the wrong moment. What did Adrie van der Poel need to win in the 1980s at the velodrome where his son triumphed in three consecutive editions? And Juan Antonio Flecha who came close multiple times to the feat on the cobblestones of the North? And Marianne Vos who has won everywhere? Do the memories of the podium have a bitter taste only for Zdenek Stybar, Steve Bauer or Lorena Wiebes? Questions and answers in a series of six interviews, produced in collaboration with ASO, that will accompany us until the appointment on April 12.

It is easier to list the few races that Marianne Vos has not yet won than to go through her palmares. Road, track, cyclocross, gravel... From the Mur de Huy to Italian climbs, on all terrains and especially on the roads of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the Dutch star has won almost everywhere. In a few days she will face the Hell of the North again (a moment of uncertainty is necessary, given that she missed the last classics to be close to her father Henk, ed.), whose unique challenges seem tailor-made for this exceptional champion, endowed both physically and technically and mentally. From the first edition – muddy and epic – Vos impressed, but was stopped by the great performance of Lizzie Deignan. Since then, the Dutch rider has been a constant presence in the top positions of the Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift, which last year saw her teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prévot triumph. Leading by example from the front row, Vos was delighted, but also wants to lift her trophy on the cobblestones at the André-Pétrieux velodrome.

2021: SECOND IN AN EPIC DAY
A true pioneer, Elizabeth Deignan will forever remain the first winner of the women's Paris-Roubaix – and how! "It was a truly courageous move," says Marianne Vos, second behind the British rider, who attacked even before the first cobbled sector and triumphed solo at Roubaix, in the heart of autumn (the race had been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic) and in extreme weather conditions. "She took a good lead and at some point I realized that if we didn't try everything, we wouldn't see her again. So I decided to try to see how far I could go."

Vos displayed her experience and talent on the cobblestones of Camphin-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l'Arbre, impressing observers with her fluid lines on wet cobblestones. But Deignan was too far ahead (1'17" at the finish) and Vos had to settle for a well-deserved second place. "In the final I knew I wasn't making up enough time, but I have very clear memories of the entire day: chasing Elizabeth, battling with the other chasers and arriving at Roubaix. Entering the velodrome is truly special. There's so much history in that place... It was a truly unique day."

LONGO BORGHINI, KOPECKY, WIEBES... THERE'S ALWAYS A RIVAL
Vos achieved her best result at Roubaix in 2021, but perhaps came even closer to victory in 2024. "That year we fought for success in a sprint at the velodrome and Lotte Kopecky won – she recalls, after also being beaten by Elisa Balsamo and Pfeiffer Georgi. I finished fourth, I can't say I was close to victory, but actually I came closer than in 2021, because then Lizzie had a really too big lead."

"I felt good on the cobblestones every year," says the cyclist who has never finished outside the top 10 at Paris-Roubaix and has seen a different champion win each time. "There's always a different scenario and different cyclists with different qualities. This is part of the beauty of the race. But in the top 10 there are also recurring names."

She cites two winners of the Hell of the North – Kopecky and Elisa Longo Borghini – before identifying a potential future winner: "And then there's Lorena Wiebes, who finished on the podium, third, last year. She's definitely a potential winner. And I've only named three... There are many contenders, and I like that: it will be another great battle."

FERRAND-PRÉVOT: A SHARED VICTORY
An exceptional champion, Vos also embodies the collective values of Visma-Lease a Bike, with whom she signed a lifetime contract, and which conquered the Hell of the North thanks to Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, winner last year after attacking at Carrefour de l'Arbre. "We wanted to win the race as a team and had defined several tactics to achieve this objective – Vos recalls. We wanted Pauline to attack. She was really strong and chose the perfect moment."

Behind her, Vos played the team game impeccably: "It was really nice to try to control the group of chasers while watching Pauline increase her lead. When I entered the velodrome, I felt two emotions. My race wasn't over yet, but I already knew the result was within reach."

She still had to sprint (finishing fourth, behind Letizia Borghesi and Wiebes) before celebrating Ferrand-Prévot's victory: "I wanted to join her, but she was surrounded by media. So I stepped aside to reach my teammates and watch the awards ceremony. It was an incredible performance by Pauline, and it was really nice to celebrate together after we prepared and delivered a great team effort."

STILL SEARCHING FOR VICTORY
"You know it will hurt, that it will be hard, but I still like coming back every year," smiles Vos, already focused on April 12, 2026. This time, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won't be at the start, but the approach remains the same: "Once again, we will prepare as best we can, we will be ready with the equipment, we will review the finale, rediscover the lines on the cobblestones and do everything to be in peak form throughout the race, aiming for victory."

"Of course, winning such an important race, one of the greatest, would mean a lot to me – continues the cyclist with hundreds of victories to her name – but I don't think it would change my career or my life. It's a cycling race and I want to win the most important races: that's our objective." A triumph at Roubaix would undoubtedly occupy a special place in her trophy cabinet: "I have the small trophy on the cobblestones for my second place, but the big one is something else entirely!"

THE PROFILE
Born May 13, 1987 in 's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands)
Teams: DSB Bank (2006–2009), Nederland Bloeit (2010–2011), Rabo Women (2012–2016), WM3 (2017), WaowDeals (2018), CCC-Liv (2019–2020), Visma–Lease a Bike (from 2021)
Major victories: Olympic champion on track (2008) and road (2012) / World road champion (2006, 2012, 2013) / World cyclocross champion (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022) / Flèche Wallonne Feminine (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013) / 3 stages of Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (2022, 2025)
Paris-Roubaix results: 2021: 2nd / 2023: 10th / 2024: 4th / 2025: 4th
Distinctive feature: Legends recognize legends. During her first reconnaissance of the Hell of the North cobblestones, childhood memories came flooding back: watching the race from start to finish on television. Upon arriving at the velodrome, she wanted to immerse herself even more in the legend, heading towards the historic Roubaix showers. She doesn't yet have the plaque reserved for winners, but she already feels a bit at home there.

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