The third edition of the Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta was ridden over 87km, with 15 laps on a 5.8km route around the iconic Plaza Cibeles with 100 riders from 18 women's world tour teams lined up for the start.
The race got cracking from the gun as team Cylance tried to control the bunch while Chloe Hosking (Alé-Cipollini), one of the favourites, suffered a puncture on the fifth lap.
The main breakaway of the day was formed after 31km, with a group of 15 riders. Among them, Lucinda Brand (Sunweb), Thalite de Jong (Lares-Waowdeals) and Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle-High5).
But they were too much of a threat to let go and were reeled in with 48km to go. However, the attacks kept coming, with Bronzini remaining among the most aggressive riders.
Irena Ossola (SAS-Macogep) managed to break away on her own 34km away from the finish but she was reeled in with 29km to go.
The tight race situation saw Rachele Barbieri (Cylance) dominate the intermediate sprints. Her teammate Malgorzata Jasinska went for the last move of the day and enjoyed a 10-second lead over the peloton with 10km to go.
She was joined by three riders for the last lap but they were caught with 3km to go before D'hoore finished off the race in a sprint.
“In the beginning of the race I had Julie [Leth], who stayed with me,” D’hoore said. “We stayed at the back of the bunch, and we could save a lot of energy. Julie kept one pace and didn’t brake or accelerate too much, so I could really save a lot of energy. Then towards the end of the race, I tried to move up a bit.
“The other girls tried to go in breakaways, so I didn’t really have to do anything. Then on the last lap Emilia [Fahlin] stayed with me, and then she brought me into a perfect position.
“Sunweb and Cipollini had full lead out train, and I was sitting behind Sunweb, on Coryn’s wheel. There was a gap just after the last corner, but I think it was still 350 or 400 to go, so it was too far to go.
"So I stayed in Coryn’s wheel, and then Roxane went on the left, and then I got a bit boxed in I guess. But then there was a gap with maybe 200 to go, I think, but still it was fine.”
