EF Education Oatly went into Paris Roubaix Femmes avec Swift on Saturday full of enthusiasm and motivated to finish well in the velodrome. But their performance was beyond expectations and there were moments of comparison to Alison Jackson’s winning ride in the race.
As the race progressed the team were well represented at the front, with Jackson again demonstrating her prowess in this brutal race. She was always involved in the action and teammate Letizia Borghesi rode strongly in the lead group alongside her.
As the race reached its conclusion and the chasing group behind eventual winner Pauline Ferrand Prevot of Team Visma Lease a Bike drew closer to Roubaix, Borghesi attacked out of the group. She time trialled solo to the velodrome to finish second. A few seconds later, Alison Jackson thundered around the boards to finish fifth on the line.
Letizia was ecstatic with her breakout ride.
“This was the big goal for me this winter,” she said. “I always thought I had the skills to do it. It was hard and I had to chase, but now here at the end, it’s amazing. Finally, I see myself where I thought I could be this year. It is just incredible. The team did an amazing race. I had a flat in the beginning. It was so hard to come back. And then, in the second half, we had Alison. At the end, I still had energy and wanted to attack in the finale and try to take a big podium.”
Second place at the Hell of the North was Letizia’s prize for her courage. Alison could not be prouder of her teammate. After a monster effort to match the favorites’ attacks over the hardest cobbled sectors, Jackson joined Letizia in the front group and the two worked together to stay out of the crosswinds and hit the final sectors of stones at the front of the pack.
Former winner, Canadian Jackson was so impressed with the team and her teammate: “The whole team is really stoked with Letizia’s second place,” Alison said. “It was a really good play from the whole team. In the finale, Letizia and I just had to play the game. I think we really worked together well and communicated well, looking for the opportunity. Leti really wanted it and went for the counter attack at one kilometer to go. I just sat in behind the chase, cheering her on, as she went solo into the velodrome. And then I came into the velodrome with a rear flat, but I still wanted to go for the sprint, because there was still a podium place available. We were really happy with this team performance. It really takes a team and that’s what we showed out there today. Happy days!”
