thrives in classics-style racing<\/a>. She was second in Gent-Wevelgem in 2023, the same year she won the Tour de Gatineau, her lone pro road victory so far.<\/p>\nShe was third at IXINA Leeuw-Oetingen behind Lorena Wiebes this spring and was building steadily toward Roubaix.<\/p>\n
But everything was in doubt after an injury at Flanders. Jastrab was determined not to miss the prestigious race and started with KT tape on her legs, elbows, arms, and neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came into this race with more doubts than certainties following my injury at the Tour of Flanders; it wasn\u2019t an easy situation, but with the help of my teammates and the team, we set off determined to give it our all,\u201d she said. \u201cAs the kilometers went by, I could feel that my legs were really strong today, so I held on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jastrab was in the right place to make all the key splits in the Hell of the North. She said she needed to grab a bottle when one of the key moves went, but fought back to rejoin the front, eventually linking up with Belgian star and former winner Lotte Kopecky late in the race.<\/p>\n
The pair chased behind the winning trio before Jastrab took Kopecky to the line to secure fifth on the Roubaix velodrome.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in disbelief and overjoyed. I was there for the whole day,\u201d she said. \u201cI kept focusing because you really have to use some energy to go into the sectors in front, and I was saving a lot of energy, avoiding all mishaps. The equipment was amazing, too. I had no flats, no issues.\u201d<\/p>\n
Already building for LA 2028<\/h2>\nJastrab wants to race in Los Angeles 2028.<\/span> (Photo: im de Waele\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nShe\u2019s already a veteran in the punishing one-day, and her historic fifth came in her fifth crack at Roubaix. She\u2019s started every edition so far, except for 2024, with 39th as her previous best in 2022.<\/p>\n
The race was contested on the same day as the men\u2019s race, bringing the women\u2019s peloton onto the same packed roads and deeper crowds, but it also drew criticism after the women\u2019s race was not broadcast live in its entirety.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reminded myself to enjoy it because we were suffering, but it was also really exciting to see the crowds and stuff,\u201d she said. \u201cI know there\u2019s a lot of complaining about the live stream and I wish that you could have seen [more].<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I hope that in the future we can get the live stream and the crowds because it was an exciting race to be part of, and I hope it was fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jastrab aims to return to the Roubaix velodrome to make even more history in the future, and will be turning her focus back to the track as she builds toward a place on the USA Cycling team pursuit squad for Los Angeles 2028.<\/p>\n
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