A fast start made it difficult to get away in the early phase of the race. After an hour, four riders got a one-and-a-half-minute lead. Just after the Côte de la Haute-Levée, the breakaway group was caught. Subsequently, eight riders got away on the Col du Rosier. As some favourites were among them, the peloton kept the pace high.

On the Côte de la Redoute, Van Vleuten accelerated and the peloton broke into pieces. Koster initially returned to the elite group, but when Van Vleuten accelerated once again, it proved to be too much. Koster and Henderson attempted to return to the front, but it was to no avail.

"It was a difficult race”, Koster said. "There were several breakaway groups. Last year I gave too much at the beginning of the Redoute, so maybe I was a little too careful today. We came back in front, but we were not strong enough. After that, it was nice to play the game of a final sprint, even though it wasn't for the win. Anna did a strong lead-out and I had another sprint in my legs. It is great that we could show ourselves. It gives us confidence for the future."