D’Hoore on track for Doha after La Vuelta victory
DOHA: With less than one month to go until the historic UCI Road World Championships in Doha, the Vuelta a Espana has given a taste of the exciting competition to expect in Qatar from the world’s best cyclists.
The Vuelta a Espana arrived in Madrid on Sunday in a great finale that shook the capital of the country the same way it had shaken all the other Spanish cities over the previous weeks with thrilling cycling.
In the male version of La Vuelta, Nairo Quintana netted an awesome victory over great rival and three time Tour de France winner Chris Froome. The Colombian won the race by proving his supremacy over the rest of the contenders in several mountain stages.
Meanwhile, the female edition of La Vuelta was held as a one-day race in Madrid. Belgium’s Julien d’Hoore seized the victory with an exceptional sprint after enjoying a great lead-out by her Wiggle-High5 teammates. It was a great way to confirm her candidacy for the rainbow jersey on 15 October in the Women’s Road Race of the UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016, which will also be decided with a mass sprint.
Right after her victory, her best result of the season along with the bronze medal in the Omnium track event of the Rio Olympics, D’Hoore confirmed her hopes of victory at the UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016: “This was my big last test before the Doha Worlds. I really hope to do well in Qatar.”
Second to the finish line was Chloe Hosking. The Aussie rider spent a huge amount of energy helping her teammate D’Hoore, yet she was able to hold her wheel and obtain a podium placing. Hosking is Australia’s main female rider for Doha 2016, and she has already met success on Qatari soil by winning two stages of the Ladies Tour of Qatar.
The UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016 is the climax of the road cycling season, and will be held between 9 and 16 October. Twelve titles of UCI World Champion will be awarded across the event, with each of the 12 races finishing at Qatar’s flagship development, The Pearl.
