Canadian cyclist Alison Jackson wins Paris-Roubaix Femmes with late velodrome sprint

Alison Jackson won the Paris-Roubaix Femmes on Saturday after helping a long breakaway survive over the cobbles of the one-day classic, then holding off Katia Ragusa and Marthe Truyven in a sprint finish at Roubaix's velodrome.

34-year-old returned to EF Education-TIBCO-SVB team this year

A female cyclist wearing a pink shirt and helmet and black pants throws up her arms and reacts in celebration as she crosses the finish line first in a race.
Alison Jackson of Canada throws up her arms as she crosses the finish line first at the women's Paris Roubaix 145 kilometer one-day-race on Saturday in Roubaix, France. (Michel Spingler/The Associated Press)

Alison Jackson won the Paris-Roubaix Femmes on Saturday after helping a long breakaway survive over the cobbles of the one-day classic, then holding off Katia Ragusa and Marthe Truyven in a sprint finish at Roubaix's velodrome.

The 34-year-old Canadian rider, who returned to the EF Education-TIBCO-SVB team this year, threw up her arms as she crossed the finish line. After dropping to the ground in exhaustion, Jackson got back up and broke into a dance on the infield.

"When we did the pre-ride and rode around this velodrome, I just dreamed of winning," Jackson said, "but a lot of times, those dreams just stay dreams. It's unreal to make it happen in real life. I have few words."

Most of the big hitters in the women's race missed out on the early 18-rider breakaway, including Lotte Kopecky and Elisa Longo Borghini. The breakaway mostly managed to navigate the slippery cobbled sectors without any problem, and they were able to maintain about a 10-second gap on the peloton as the six leaders reached the velodrome for a final lap.

A female cyclist is seen on top of the podium with her right fist up in the air and holding a trophy with her left hand.
34-year-old Alison Jackson holds the women's Paris Roubaix trophy at the velodrome in Roubaix, France, on Saturday. (Michel Spingler/The Associated Press)

Jackson moved up the track and used a big sprint to reach the finish line first.

Kopecky finished seventh when she outsprinted the remnants of the peloton, which included three-time world champion and former Olympic champ Marianne Voss. Borghini, the bronze medalist at the Tokyo Games, was a few seconds behind them.

Dylan van Baarle is back to defend his title in the men's race on Sunday, though Milan-San Remo winner Mathieu van der Poel and Olympic silver medalist Wout van Aert are the favorites along with Mads Pedersen and Filippo Ganna.

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