How Franziska Koch went from Demi Vollering's super-domestique to Paris-Roubaix winner

Franziska Koch, winner of Paris-Roubaix. A year ago, anyone suggesting that might have raised eyebrows. But if Marianne Vos is adamant that it was 'no surprise,' then who are we to doubt it? The 25-year-old German had impressed in recent weeks, mostly in service of FDJ United-SUEZ team leader Demi Vollering. At Roubaix, she shone on her own account.

Koch already had strong results before Paris-Roubaix. After helping Juliette Berthet to a top ten at the UAE Tour, she finished fifth at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, where Vollering won. When Vollering was distanced at Strade Bianche, Koch and Elise Chabbey rode the finale for FDJ United-Suez and the German took third. Chabbey won.

Koch then guided Chabbey to a In Flanders Fields top five. At Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour of Flanders, it was Vollering's show again — second and first respectively. But Vollering was not on the start list for Roubaix. That proved to be Koch's opportunity to chase a truly big result, after a stage win in the Boels Ladies Tour (2019) and two German road race titles (2024 and 2025).

"This is incredible. I've been dreaming of winning Paris-Roubaix for a long time and we've had such a good start to the season as a team. Demi won the Tour of Flanders last week and now the team believed in me. I have fantastic form and it is amazing that I've been able to finish it off," Koch said in the press conference to IDL Pro Cycling and others.

As 'one of the protected riders,' Koch was able to stay with Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of Visma | Lease a Bike in the finale. Two against one — so Koch had to come up with a plan. "I'm not a pure sprinter, but I do have a good punch after a hard race. I tried to shake them off in the finale, though I knew that would be difficult," she said

"I wanted to at least tire their legs out. That was the plan behind my late attack. That I then won the sprint against Marianne is incredible. I hoped for it, but I never expected it," Koch said. "I wasn't worried when I was up front with those two — just focused. Pauline was doing a lot of work to keep the pace high, so I didn't expect another punch from her. Getting away from Vos was not possible."

Koch said she has dreamed of winning Paris-Roubaix since the first edition. "A crazy race like this is ideal for me, because I'm good at positioning, I can handle the chaos, and I've done all the disciplines really. I even raced on the track as a young girl. That experience came in handy."

Yet Koch seems to have come from nowhere for many fans. Is it purely the move to FDJ United-Suez that has made her such a strong rider? "There's no single secret. I came to FDJ United-Suez and changed coaches in the process. The whole environment is new to me and I'm very happy here. A happy athlete is a good athlete, and the whole team is performing really well."

Will the Paris-Roubaix victory change her role within the French super-team? "I love winning, but I also love winning with the team. The team tactics will be different for every race and I commit to that. When you ride in a strong team, you have to play the game, and we benefit from that. We always stick to the plan."

Or as she put it in the end: "I love winning myself, but if I can help Demi win, I get a lot of satisfaction from that too." The team leader needn't worry — for now, at least.