Backstedt and Flecha took very strong pulls trying to break things apart and couldn't. Hincapie did all the work necessary while not trying to do too much....trying to be a smart rider for Laggard...and still couldn't match Boonen who was very strong today. Backstedt paid the price for his effort when he was caught behind Lars when he totally blew up...Maggie didn't have enough left to get back on. If that was Hincapie some would say he was lacking judgement...now some will say he didn't try to get away hard enough...I say he rode one hell of a race and got beat by the ONLY rider better for the day. I hope to see Boonen hammering day in and day out in the TDF. Perhaps he will be the one to decimate the peloton on La Mongie like Georgie did last year...leaving only three riders who could hang on.
He may not have the best record and may lack slightly in killer instinct but is more than a good domestique...way way more.