There is still a gap but it is no longer the huge gap of last year. The organizers of the second edition of Paris-Roubaix women, which will leave Denain this Saturday to reach the Roubaix velodrome, have announced a big increase in prize money for the runners. Last year, the winner, Elizabeth Deignan, received 1,535 euros against 30,000 for her male counterpart, the Italian Sonny Colbrelli. And the total bonuses were even more unfavorable to women: 7,005 euros against 91,000 euros for men.
Just after the race, aware of the impossibility of maintaining such a gap, ASO, the organizer, had promised to review its copy. “You have to be well aware that even if we try to develop women’s cycling internally, the first edition of Paris-Roubaix women caused us to lose several hundred thousand euros, explains Thierry Gouvenou, the director of Paris- Roubaix. Especially with the security costs much higher than what the sponsors give. But we have heard the criticisms nonetheless. »
This year, the difference between the two races is therefore greatly reduced. Saturday, the winner who will raise the pavement on the velodrome will thus leave with 20,000 euros instead of 1,535. And the total prize money paid to the best will also increase from 7,005 to 50,000 euros. “These rates are the same as those offered on the women’s Tour of Flanders or the women’s Amstel Gold Race, notes Thierry Gouvenou. And if the sponsors invest even more in women’s cycling, there is no reason that this should not increase further in the future. »
