ASO defends shorter Paris-Roubaix Femmes broadcast amid Bas Tietema controversy
ASO race director Thierry Gouvenou defended trimming Paris-Roubaix Femmes coverage to about 90 minutes on the same day as the men, arguing a larger Sunday audience offsets fewer minutes and citing Nord region logistics; he said the women’s race was scheduled after the men to align with other classics and addressed funding challenges in women’s cycling, noting sponsorship withdrawals like Zwift. Gouvenou also referenced a 2022 incident where Bas Tietema’s social-media content disrupted road closures, calling him a moron, but insisted there is no personal rift and that sport comes first while acknowledging the ongoing budget realities for women’s racing.
