Organizer ASO increased the total race distance of the 3rd Paris-Roubaix Fam Avec Zwift, but did not add the fantastic 5-star course, the Trouet d'Arenberg, as it was still "too dangerous" to include in the women's parcours due to its proximity to the start in Denain.

However, the ASO also noted that with careful rerouting and the addition of a pavé sector early in the race, the women could pass through the Trouet d'Arenberg in the future.

"The problem is that the girls will start in Denain. The distance from the start to the possible exit through the forest is too small. If they come here in the full peloton, it will be too dangerous," said organizer Frank Pelc of the ASO.

"If we want to pass through here in the future, we first need to divide the course in advance by inserting some cobblestone sections."

This year's Paris-Roubaix men's edition includes three five-star cobblestone sections (Trouet d'Alemberg, Mont-en-Pevere, and Carrefour de l'Arbre), with ratings determined based on length, cobblestone irregularities, and overall condition.

The Paris-Roubaix Femme route will again start in Denain, but the total distance has been increased from 124.7 km to 145.4 km and the starting point extended from Hornen to Wandigny, the first pavé section.

The route does not include the Trouet d'Arenberg, but it offers 29.2 km of pavé in 17 cobbled sectors, including the five-star sector Mont-en-Pevere and the Carrefour de l'Arbre.

The exclusion of the Trouet d'Arenberg from the women's race was particularly controversial at the first edition, held in October 2021. Some riders who competed in the first and second editions of the Paris-Roubaix Femme said they wished the organizers would include this iconic segment, while others pointed out that the route was challenging enough at the time, especially with its new introduction to the women's calendar.

The ASO suggested that Truje-Dalemberg could safely be included in the women's course with the possibility of changing the route in the future, such as adding a sector early in the race.

"It is the most difficult course. If you put it in at the very beginning of the race, you risk a complete collapse in the early stages.

"It's a very difficult course," course director Thierry Gouvenoux told Sporza (opens in new tab), "because it's a very difficult course.

"However, we do not rule out the possibility of passing through the Arenberg forest in the future. The women's race is only the third edition, but the men's race has already counted 120 editions. Women's cycling is evolving, but we must not rush and skip steps."

For more on the Women's World Tour, see Cycling News' definitive guide to 2023. We'll also have reports, results, galleries, news, and features after each race.