For the second year in a row, Andre Petrieux of the Vélodrome was the sole winner of the Paris-Roubaix Femme, and for the second year in a row the winner hailed the race as a new step forward for women's cycling.

The last time Lizzie Deignan won, she later praised the team for "pushing the envelope" in equalizing the prize money for men and women. On Saturday, Elisa Longo Borghini noted that the press attention to the second competition was another step forward.

After her race-winning 32-km solo run, Longo Borghini told the assembled press that the attention to women's cycling was increasingly focused.

"I'm sure it's the next step," she said, noting that only the world championships have received as much attention as this second edition of Paris-Roubaix fam.

"I think there's more and more media attention on women's cycling, and I think that's something we deserve.

"The Tour de France Femme is going to be a really big event for women's cycling and I'm really looking forward to it. I always try to say that the Tour is something that will come back." We don't need to forget the history. There have been so many women running in the past and I'm grateful to them."

Longo Borghini crossed the finish line alone after making the winning move on the tenth cobbled section of the day, the Temple Loop, about three-quarters of the way into the race. He jumped out just after a dangerous move involving Lotte Kopecky (SD Works), Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ), and teammate Lucinda Brand, and finished alone after fending off Emma Norsgaard (Movistar).

Despite the pace making and SD Walks' attack, Longo Borghini maintained a slight advantage all the way to Roubaix.

"I'm a very stubborn person," he said. 'I was kind of pissed off because the spring wasn't ideal. In Italian they say I'm a "wooden boy."

"Yes, my tough head brought me here. But in the end it's not just that, it's the great work of my teammates and staff, who are not always in the highlights, and the good morale my family and boyfriend give me."

Suffering from a sinus infection, last week I had the Amstel Gold Race and Brabantspaille After skipping the race and enduring a tough spring, Longoborghini said her victory was not part of her pre-race plan.

"It was pure gut feeling," she said. 'I saw that the breakaway group had been caught, so I decided to go to the front, put Lucinda in the best position, and let the SD Walks chase me down. From then on it was a full run.

"The weather was completely different [from last year]. The road surfaces and cobblestones were particularly gritty. When it's dry, people get too bold. That's why I like to ride alone. It's different, but not safer. This is Roubaix.