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Queen of the Cobbles

ROUBAIX, France (April 12, 2025) — The dust of northern France may never settle quite the same. On April 12th, 2025, in a solo surge of power and poetry, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot claimed a landmark victory at Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift, becoming the first French woman to conquer the storied cobblestones and cross the line alone […]

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3 weeks ago

April 13, 2025

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ROUBAIX, France (April 12, 2025) — The dust of northern France may never settle quite the same. On April 12th, 2025, in a solo surge of power and poetry, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot claimed a landmark victory at Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift, becoming the first French woman to conquer the storied cobblestones and cross the line alone inside the Roubaix velodrome. Cheered on by a thunderous crowd, she didn’t just win a race—she rewrote history on home soil.

In the dusty, deafening roar of the Velodrome André-Pétrieux, Ferrand-Prévot, wearing the colors of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, rode into the Roubaix velodrome solo, arms outstretched in triumph, the French tricolor fluttering in the crowd behind her.

This wasn’t just a win. It was a comeback, a statement, and a masterclass in determination and grit. Having returned to road racing in 2025 following her gold medal triumph in mountain biking at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Ferrand-Prévot proved she still had the fire, finesse, and fortitude that had made her a world champion in multiple disciplines.

The Hell of the North Beckons

The fifth edition of the Paris-Roubaix Femmes began under deceptively calm skies in Denain. 135 riders took to the start line after Sofie Van Rooijen (UAE Team ADQ) and Julie Hendrickx (Lotto Ladies) withdrew at the last minute. At precisely 1 p.m., the peloton rolled out for 148.5 km of punishing terrain, featuring 17 cobbled sectors identical to the 2024 route.

The race was aggressive from the outset. The first 20km were filled with attacks, attempts to forge a breakaway thwarted by the fierce pace. Finally, at km 33, Dutch rider Quinty Ton (Liv-AlUla-Jayco) and Poland’s Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal) escaped, carving out a 2’20” advantage after 50km. Their lead ballooned to nearly three minutes as they approached the first cobbled sector from Hornaing to Wandignies (km 66), the race’s brutal heartbeat.

A Race That Never Rests

Cobbled chaos erupted in the Warlaing to Brillon sector, as Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) launched a characteristically bold attack. The Dutch powerhouse was soon flying solo, hunting down the leading duo with relentless resolve. By the fifth sector (Orchies), she had reached the front, with only Ton remaining. Nerlo had dropped off, and the peloton loomed just seconds behind.

Sector 12 saw a major crash—Lily Williams, Linda Riedmann, and others hit the deck, shaking up the chasing group. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) took the moment to launch an attack, dragging teammate Lorena Wiebes with her. Marianne Vos bridged across, and a new elite group formed.

This lead group swelled to eight as Chloe Dygert, Alison Jackson, Romy Kasper, and Jelena Eric joined the fray. But it didn’t hold. By the time they exited Mons-en-Pévèle (Sector 11), only six remained. Kopecky’s relentless tempo caused more attrition, with Kasper and even the instigator Van Dijk unable to stay with the group.

Behind them, the peloton was regrouping. With 35km to go and eight cobbled sectors remaining, the front of the race grew to 20 riders. It was here that Pauline Ferrand-Prévot appeared, silent and dangerous. Her presence was a quiet threat, and when she attacked, it came like a storm.

Ferrand-Prévot Strikes

Emma Norsgaard (Lidl-Trek) was the first to make a daring move, attacking after Templeuve (Sector 8) with 32km to go. She eked out a 36-second gap before Ferrand-Prévot made her move. The French rider attacked with 25km remaining, right as the race plunged into Sector 6 (Bourghelles to Wannehain).

It was a classic Ferrand-Prévot attack—calculated, explosive, and perfectly timed. She quickly bridged to Norsgaard, then wasted no time pressing on alone. By Sector 5 (Camphin-en-Pévèle), she was off the front, a lone figure slicing through dust and cobbles.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (VISMA Lease-a-Bike). Photo © ASO/Thomas Malheux

With 10km to go, she was 25 seconds ahead of Norsgaard and a full minute ahead of the chasing group. From that moment, her victory looked inevitable. The cobbles of Carrefour de l’Arbre and the winding streets into Roubaix only seemed to sharpen her determination.

Ferrand-Prévot never faltered. Her cadence remained strong, her focus unwavering. Her mountain biking background gave her a unique edge—balancing power and precision across the broken, uneven stones. With every cobbled kilometer behind her, the cheers from roadside fans grew louder. By the time she reached the final sector, she was met with a wall of sound.

Tactical Analysis: Timing, Terrain, and Tenacity

Ferrand-Prévot’s decisive attack didn’t just happen—it was built on a foundation of careful tactical thinking. Her positioning throughout the cobbled sectors was meticulous; never too exposed, yet always close enough to respond. Unlike some of her rivals who burned matches early, Ferrand-Prévot remained economical until the critical moment.

Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime). Photo © ASO/Thomas Malheux

By launching her move just before Sector 6, she took advantage of a natural selection point on the course—riders were already fatigued from earlier attacks and crashes, and the cobbled terrain amplified any weakness. Her solo pursuit of Norsgaard was a statement of strength, but it also forced the chasers to gamble: who would sacrifice their legs to bring her back?

The dynamics of the chase were revealing. Once Ferrand-Prévot was clear, the cooperation behind her rapidly disintegrated. Teams like SD Worx-Protime and EF Education-Oatly each had multiple riders in the group but conflicting priorities. Kopecky was marked closely, reluctant to tow rivals; Wiebes was saving her sprint; Jackson and Borghesi hesitated to take long pulls without assurance. Lidl-Trek, having already launched Van Dijk and Norsgaard, had no remaining firepower to commit.

Marianne Vos (VISMA Lease-a-Bike). Photo © ASO/Thomas Malheux

In the critical stretch from Camphin-en-Pévèle to Carrefour de l’Arbre, hesitation turned into fragmentation. Riders attempted solo bridges, but none had Ferrand-Prévot’s momentum or technical fluency. Kopecky made a half-hearted dig, quickly marked by Vos. The rest watched, waited, and second-guessed.

Ferrand-Prévot, meanwhile, was executing a negative split—a rare tactic in such a brutal race—riding faster in the final sectors than earlier in the day. That acceleration not only demoralized the chasers but made cooperation nearly irrelevant. It was a classic case of attack timing meeting indecision—a race won not only by strength, but by psychological edge.

A Nation’s Roar

The final cobbled sector, Roubaix (Espace Charles Crupelandt), offered no resistance. Ferrand-Prévot, grimacing but composed, flew through it, riding solo into the iconic velodrome. The crowd exploded. She allowed herself a smile, a wave, then raised both arms as she crossed the line. Behind her, Letizia Borghesi (EF Education-Oatly) arrived 58 seconds later to claim second. Wiebes outsprinted Vos and Jackson to round out the podium, 1’01” behind.

It was a triumphant moment not just for Ferrand-Prévot, but for a nation that had long yearned to see a homegrown talent triumph at this legendary race. Fans wept, cheered, and celebrated. In a sport of suffering, her joy was contagious.

Post-Race Emotions and Reflections

For Ferrand-Prévot, this win was personal, unexpected, and emotional.

“This was my first time at Paris-Roubaix Femmes, and maybe my last one! I had a crash before Mons-en-Pévèle and had to chase, but once I was back, I just went full gas. I’ve been sick the last two days so I wasn’t even sure this morning whether to participate at Paris-Roubaix. But I said OK we’ll just go and I’ll do my best for Marianne. Finally, I took the start and it’s amazing. My boyfriend [Dylan van Baarle] won three years ago and now I won. It’s quite incredible!”

“When I attacked, I was mostly thinking about helping Marianne, to make the others work behind. We really wanted to try to drop Lorena Wiebes (the best sprinter). They started looking at each other behind, and it worked to my advantage, so it was good.”

“I just attacked on a paved section. Marianne had told me to attack on a cobbled part, but I felt that we were already riding fast, and I wasn’t making any difference. I knew that after each cobbled section, everyone would need a little time to recover. And then I saw that it was now or never to go for it. Behind, it took some time for them to react. And after that, by the time they organized… Sometimes with the women, it’s a bit complicated, so you have to take advantage of it.”

Her words reflected the unpredictable nature of racing, and the underlying resilience of a rider who has fought through injuries, illnesses, and the weight of expectation to reach the top once again.

Letizia Borghesi reflected on a gritty and determined performance at the race, marked by early adversity and a strong comeback.

“I had a flat tyre so I had to chase… I think I came back after four sectors or something like that,” she explained. Rejoining the front group wasn’t easy, with the pace high and rivals unwilling to let anything slip. Once back, Borghesi launched several attacks of her own, describing the group as “racing really aggressively” while SD Worx tried to control the action. Though she couldn’t follow Pauline Ferrand-Prevot’s decisive move, Borghesi expressed pride in both her own performance and that of her EF Education-Oatly team.

Looking back on her season so far, Borghesi noted major progress and growing confidence. “These are my favourite races… and this year I reached a level that I didn’t have in the past,” she said. From strong rides at Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo to solid performances at Flanders and Roubaix, she sees this spring as a breakthrough.

“I improved year after year, without forcing, leaving myself time for my body to grow,” she added, proud of her steady development. With a solid foundation, she believes her team is now a real contender among the sport’s elite. “We know that we can really fight with the biggest teams,” she said. “It’s crazy the level that we reached this year.”

Lorena Wiebes, despite missing the win, was philosophical, as she reflected on a tough race with a mix of disappointment and pride, acknowledging the challenges she and her SD Worx-Protime teammate Lotte Kopecky faced.

“At the end of the race, out of nowhere, I cramped a bit in my legs when they attacked in the last four kilometres,” she said, explaining how the final moments played out. With only two teammates in the front group, reacting to every attack was nearly impossible.

“Sometimes you have to gamble,” she admitted, especially when racing against strong riders like Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Ellen van Dijk. Wiebes clarified there was no miscommunication within her team, saying, “I didn’t say to Lotte at all to not attack. I only said to her, not to attack when I’m leading at the front. So that’s a big difference.”

Despite not taking the win, Wiebes expressed pride in the team’s effort and consistency throughout the spring campaign. “We were fighting for it all the time… It’s easy when you win all the races, but you cannot always win,” she said, showing both realism and resilience. While the immediate result brought “mixed feelings,” she acknowledged the bigger picture: “I think I can be really happy with what we achieved, and it’s still not over yet because the Ardennes classics are coming up.” Though the night might bring less sleep than a victory would, she believes pride will follow soon enough.

A Monumental Moment for Women’s Cycling

Ferrand-Prévot’s victory is a watershed moment for women’s cycling in France. Paris-Roubaix, once considered too brutal for women, now sees French women conquering its most legendary stretches. From the mud of Hornaing to the polished concrete of Roubaix, her triumph will resonate for years.

This edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes showcased the grit, strategy, and drama that makes this race one of the most revered on the calendar. From early breakaways and mechanicals to crashes, bold solo efforts, and the final glory lap in the velodrome, it had everything.

It also underlined the evolution of the women’s peloton. No longer merely mirroring the men’s races, events like Paris-Roubaix Femmes have taken on a life of their own. They are marked by high-level tactics, compelling rivalries, and ever-deepening rosters of talent.

Ferrand-Prévot’s win was a symbol of persistence and adaptability. A rider who has conquered cross-country mountain biking, cyclocross, and road racing, she stands as a beacon for versatility and resilience in modern cycling. Her win was not just for France—it was for the sport itself.

Legacy and the Road Ahead

The legacy of this win goes far beyond Roubaix. It underscores the impact of investing in women’s cycling, building deeper teams, offering more race days, and giving riders the platform to shine. In Ferrand-Prévot, we see the reward of decades of dedication—not just hers, but the efforts of an entire sport pushing toward parity.

Young riders, especially in France, now have a new role model—one who blends talent with tenacity. Her win may inspire the next generation to dream of Roubaix not just as a legend, but as an attainable goal.

With the Ardennes Classics on the horizon and the Tour de France Femmes later in the year, Ferrand-Prévot’s performance is likely to galvanize her team and inspire a new generation of French cyclists. The peloton has taken note. The Queen of Roubaix wears tricolor.

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Cardinal Captures Eight MPSF Conference Honors – Stanford Cardinal

STANFORD, Calif. — No. 2 Stanford captured a conference-leading eight Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) conference honors in its inaugural season, the league announced Thursday. The Cardinal led all conference opponents with four All-MPSF First Team selections, a new program record for first-team all-conference honorees. Stanford led all programs with a record-setting four All-MPSF First Team […]

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May 2, 2025

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STANFORD, Calif. — No. 2 Stanford captured a conference-leading eight Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) conference honors in its inaugural season, the league announced Thursday.

The Cardinal led all conference opponents with four All-MPSF First Team selections, a new program record for first-team all-conference honorees. Stanford led all programs with a record-setting four All-MPSF First Team selections, complemented by two Second Team and two Freshman Team nods, recognizing six standout athletes.

Stanford’s eight total honors paced the league, ahead of UCLA (6), USC (5), California (4), and Grand Canyon (2).

Stanford MPSF All-Conference Honorees

Kelly Belardi • All-MPSF Second Team
Belardi earns her second career all-conference honor after being named to the All-Pac-12 Freshman Team in 2023. As one half of the MPSF Tournament Most Valuable Pair, Belardi partnered with Charlotta Bell to deliver a clutch three-set comeback on court three that secured Stanford’s first-ever conference title. She leads the team in wins with a 30-7 overall record, including a perfect 3-0 mark on court two (with Charlotta Bell and Babi Gubbins) and a 27-7 record on court three (with Avery Jackson, Bell, and Chloe Hoffman).

Charlotta Bell • All-MPSF Second Team • All-MPSF Freshman Team
Bell becomes just the fifth player in program history to earn both all-conference and freshman honors in her debut season. The Orinda, Calif. native compiled a 28-8 overall record in 2025 across four courts, including a 15-3 showing on court three with Belardi. Her 28 wins rank tied for the fourth-most in a single season in Stanford history.

Avery Jackson • All-MPSF First Team • All-MPSF Freshman TeamJackson joins Bell as only the sixth Cardinal to earn all-conference and freshman team honors in her first year. The AVCA Second Team All-American posted a 23-8 record, highlighted by 9-2 marks on both courts two and three with partners Brooke Rockwell and Kelly Belardi. She also recorded a 5-3 record on court one alongside Rockwell.

Brooke Rockwell • All-MPSF First Team
A two-time AVCA All-American, Rockwell earned her second straight all-conference first team selection. Partnered primarily with Jackson, Rockwell tallied a 14-6 record against top competition, including wins over pairs from USC, UCLA, Cal Poly, and Florida State. She finished the season 21-11, bringing her career win total to 47 through two standout campaigns.

Ruby Sorra • All-MPSF First Team
Sorra continued her ascension as one of the program’s elite, collecting her second consecutive all-conference honor. The 2025 AVCA First Team All-American went 25-10 on the year, primarily alongside Taylor Wilson. Their 18 wins as a duo this season elevated them to the winningest pair in program history with 43 victories over two seasons. As Stanford’s No. 1 pair, they notched signature wins over USC, Cal Poly, and Long Beach State.

Taylor Wilson • All-MPSF First Team
As captain of the 2025 squad, she etched her name into the program’s record books as part of Stanford’s winningest pair in history, totaling 43 victories alongside partner Ruby Sorra over two seasons as a duo. Her 86 career wins rank tied-for-third all-time at Stanford, solidifying her legacy as one of the program’s most impactful players. Under Wilson’s leadership, the Cardinal heads to its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance with her in the lineup—and fifth straight overall.

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Jeff Bard now has permanent housing after waiting 15 years, a reality echoed across Santa Barbara County, where 11,000 people are on the waitlist for Section 8 vouchers, which is now closed due to a lack of funding. County officials say rising rents have created a $7 million shortfall, forcing them to issue vouchers only to emergency cases like domestic violence survivors, veterans, or foster youth. In neighboring San Luis Obispo County, the Housing Authority also can’t issue new vouchers despite federal funding remaining flat, as rising rents drive up costs. Both counties say the shortage of vouchers is straining resources for low-income residents and partner agencies trying to combat homelessness.

San Luis Obispo County is moving forward with a safety improvement project for Los Osos Valley Road, a key corridor connecting Los Osos to San Luis Obispo and Montaña de Oro State Park. The Los Osos Valley Road Corridor Concept Plan has been in development for over a year, with more than 4,000 public comments shaping a draft design focused on addressing speeding, improving bike and pedestrian safety, and adding sidewalks. Proposed changes include a roundabout at Foothill Boulevard and both dedicated and painted bike lanes. The Los Osos Community Advisory Council has requested more time to review the draft before it goes to the County Board of Supervisors. Funding is expected to come from a combination of state and federal grants.

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Dan Ploog Named Eighth Head Coach in Azusa Pacific Women’s Basketball History

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AZUSA, Calif. — Dan Ploog has been named the new head coach of Azusa Pacific Women’s Basketball this afternoon. Ploog, who has spent the past 18 seasons on staff under former head coach T.J. Hardeman becomes just the eighth head coach in program history.

“Dan has been an integral part of our women’s basketball success for nearly two decades, and we are excited to see him step into this new role,” said Azusa Pacific Director of Athletics Gary Pine. “His commitment to our mission, his understanding of what it takes to compete at a championship level, his high energy and engagement, and his deep love for our student-athletes make him the ideal person to lead our program into the future.”

During Ploog’s tenure as an assistant, APU has been a fixture on the national stage, reaching the postseason 12 times across the NAIA and NCAA Division II levels. The Cougars captured the 2011 NAIA national title, finished as the NAIA runner-up in 2010, and reached the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2019 and 2021. It was also twice the No. 1 seed in the NCAA West Region Tournament (2016, 2018) during his time on staff.

“After leading the APU Women’s Basketball program for the last 18 years it excites me to know God has raised up Dan to be His next leader for the program. Dan has coached with me every year I have been here and I look forward to seeing him lead the program into new territory,” said former head coach T.J. Hardeman.

Before his coaching career, Ploog enjoyed a decorated collegiate playing career at Biola University, where he was a three-year starter and known as one of the toughest defenders in the Golden State Athletic Conference. He helped lead the Eagles to four straight NAIA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four berth in 2000. He set a school record for career games played (136, since broken) and averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds over his final three seasons.

“Azusa Pacific has been my home for the past 18 years, and it is truly an honor to lead this program,” Ploog said. “I am grateful for the foundation that Coach Hardeman built and the opportunity to continue investing in our incredible student-athletes both on and off the court.”

A graduate of La Habra High School in 1995, Ploog was a standout athlete in both basketball and water polo, earning prep All-American honors in the pool before choosing to pursue basketball at the collegiate level.

Ploog earned his bachelor’s degree in sports physiology from Biola in 2000. He and his wife Heidi, a former Biola basketball standout and the daughter of T.J.

Hardeman have been married for 24 years and live in Fullerton with their four sons: Vander, Hudson, Logan, and Lincoln.

Ploog succeeds T.J. Hardeman, who concluded a decorated 18-year tenure that featured over 429 career wins and a 2011 NAIA National Championship.

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Her father, Ruvell Martin, was a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers from 2005 to 2008. The team later hired him as an assistant coach for 2020 and 2021.

During that time, his daughter Kennedy attended and played volleyball at De Pere High School and Appleton North High School.

She moved to South Carolina for her senior year after already committing to Florida as a junior.

Now, Sheffield has a second chance to bring her back to the state and fill a major hole in his lineup left by the ACL injury suffered by transfer Grace Lopez last month.

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May 2, 2025

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BVB5/1/2025 3:52 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Cal’s Top 2 Pairs Make Inaugural List

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This is just the second time in Cal history that four Bears have made the all-conference list and the second time that there have been multiple first-team selections.

Sherman and Donley have played every match together as the Bears’ No. 1 pair and have enjoyed a historic season with a 27-7 overall record. As a pair they broke the all-time court-one wins record of 21 and did so in a single season. Their 27 wins ties the program’s single-season pairs record set by Grace Campbell and Maddie Micheletti in 2018.

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Caffo and Fisher have played primarily in the second spot of the lineup this season. Caffo heads into the final weekend of her career with a 20-8 overall record and an 18-8 mark on court two, while Fisher is 24-8 this year with a 21-8 court-two record. Both Bears hit major career milestones this year with Caffo reaching 75 wins and Fisher hitting 50.

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This is the third straight year that Caffo has made an all-conference list and the first selection of Fisher’s career.