You’re not missing anything. Pozzato has acknowledged in a post race interview that he was not feeling good, so he decided to mark Boonen at all costs and maybe steal it at the end.

Had Pozzato been “on,” he might well have followed DeVolder like he did Boonen in the E3 and left QS looking like idiots for holding back Chavanel for nationalist reasons.

The acclamations of tactical genius for QS are overrated. The Boonen bias got them beat at E3 and endangered the win in the Ronde.

BUT…what were Katusha and Pozzato thinking.

OK, you mark Boonen and let Chavanel go because you figure Chavanel is really just trying to break up the race as a set up for Boonen, but then when Devolder went, does it still make sense to mark Boonen? You’ve got Chavanel out and the defending champ up the road, too.

At that point, even if you think Boonen is still their man, don’t you have to mark the Devolder break?

Either their tactics were way too rigid or Pozzato wasn’t really that strong on the day. Am I missing something?

Indeed, the one spot where Quick Step faltered this spring was letting Boonen carry Pipo to the line in the E3.

So, if you are looking for a price on Sunday, Chavanel (20-1) on the theory that QS hold all the cards and the tactics might swing Tom or Devolder's way. Also it doesn't hurt that Sylvain is French and has worked hard to give Stijn, and Van Impe their wins, and Tom is chance, in the Flanders.

Another stab at an OK price would be to take Flecha on the theory that he can simply ride away solo over the final pave sectors and that no amount of team work matter (or even be possible) at that point.

Finally, I honestly do not see Team Columbia having the guns to repeat Ghent-Wevelgem, and Hincapie and Cannonball Cavendish are going to be over bet and under priced anyhow.

Devolder’s attack had two likely results:
1. He wins.
2. He sets up Boonen for a huge counter attack.

Result 2 is problematic because nobody knows how strong Pozzato is.

I’m sure everyone wearing blue and white was perfectly happy with result #1.