This week Zwift announced its support of Paris-Roubaix Femmes as presenting partner. Building on their Tour de France Femmes sponsorship (also a 4-year deal), Zwift’s support of arguably the most exciting and iconic one-day race on the Women’s Tour calendar puts their name on two of the biggest women’s road races happening for the next 4 years.
Known as the “Hell of the North”, this year’s Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift happens on April 16, 2022.
Zwift’s CEO and co-founder Eric Min said, “Alongside the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, this is a huge opportunity to shine a light on one of the most iconic and exciting races on the Tour and showcase the incredible quality and talent of the women’s peloton. The ‘Hell of the North’ is a highlight of the cycling calendar and I’m sure it will captivate audiences across the world and inspire women everywhere to begin their own cycling journey.”
It’s just the latest example of Zwift’s tireless work to corporately put women’s racing on an equal footing with men’s – specifically when it comes to prize money and media exposure. Past Zwift initiatives offering parity women include the recent UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, the Virtual Tour de France, Zwift Academy, and the Tour for All.
Kasia Niewiadoma, a pro rider with the CANYON//SRAM Racing UCI Women’s WorldTeam, said, “It’s fantastic to see a company like Zwift stepping in to make the investment our sport deserves, allowing us to now race some of the most iconic races in the world. Paris Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift is something truly special and is one race that will always live up to the expectation.”
Credibly incredible.
Yeah.
Does this mean we’re going to get some Flanderian cobbled routes on Zwift including some Ardenne climbs.
Fingers crossed 🤞 🙏🙏
Yes i was thinking the same thing.
Hope so
Adding on to the France world? I know they’re focused on building out Makuri, but I’d love to see more roads in France. Connecting Paris to the France world is probably not technically possible without screwing up the current Strava segments (current geotags are on the opposite sides of the world), but that would be super cool if they could make it all into one big world.
Imagine “road” wheelsets just robust enough to be faster on cobbles, but reasonable on asphalt. But then, Zwift might nerf them after we have bought them (yes, still miffed after the Chapter TOA affair). It would be sweet to have some “different” roads in France.