Omega Pharma-Quick Step went into yesterday's Belgian road race championships as the team to beat but the team could only manage third with Tom Boonen in the final bunch sprint after having done what seemed to be a very irresolute race. Afterwards, both Boonen and Gert Steegmans criticized the team management, with the latter even suggesting that his team doesn't like him.

Being the strongest Belgian team, Omega Pharma-Quick Step was hoping to take back the Belgian Drikleur in yesterday's Belgian championships and had one of the largest contingents at their disposal. However, the team had to settle for third with Tom Boonen who was beaten by Jens Debusschere and Roy Jans in a bunch sprint.

The sprint came after a very dramatic finale where an 8-rider group had been clear for the final 60km. In that group, Omega Pharma-Quick Step had Julien Vermote and Gert Steegmans while Lotto Belisol were even better represented with Kris Boeckmans, Stig Broeckx and Kenny Dehaes. Sep Vanmarcke was the lone Belkin rider while Topsport had both Jelle Wallays and Stijn Steels in the move.

Despite the presence of sprinters Boeckmans and Dehaes, Omega Pharma-Quick Step seemed to be confidence in Steegmans' chances on the flat course and did nothing to chase down the break. With 6km to go, however, the team suddenly came to the fore and put in a massive effort that brought an end to the break inside the final kilometre.

The team tactic seemed to be very irresolute and it was strange to see how OPQS riders were working both in the break and the peloton in the finale. Afterwards, Boonen who is usually very loyal towards his team, vented his frustration and criticized the team management.

"Today the managment did a big mistake and therefore we also made a mistake," he told Sporza. "In the last two laps, we really knew nothing. The team should have been at the roadside with signs so that we knew whether we had to ride or not. 6km from the finish, we suddenly got the signal to close the gap to the escapees.

"In the sprint we went too far to the left. I shouted like crazy that they had to move to the right. The others were freewheeling on my wheel. At the time when Nikolas Maes had to launch his lead-out, they passed me. Then I had to start my sprint from their wheels.

"I could not pass them. The sprint was so fast that it was impossible to come back. The man who started on the front and was sufficiently strong, would always win."

"We did the perfect race and always had the right men in the breaks but you have to communicate in the final 3-4 laps. Either you give the break freedom or you chase them down byt we knew nothing and that is very frustrating. Gert was there so he was protected but suddenly we were asked to chase.

"Later we must have a serious discussion about this because this doesn't work. A championship race is hard enough, especially if you don't know what is happening in the front.

"It was the plan [to allow Steegmans to plays his cards]. We protected the break until we suddenly started to ride. Of course I am disappointed, especially by the way we lost. Amateurism doesn't belong to the championships."

For Steegmans, the frustration was even bigger. Earlier this year he missed out on selection for the classics and he was a surprise omission from the Tour de France roster as well. Now he starts to question his role in the team.

"Today I feel like they flicked me," he told Sporza. "They said that I could go in the attack if I was confident about the win. I felt confident, but then my team closed the gap. For a third place. Bravo. Sorry, I can't help it. It makes me furious."

"I wasn't allowed to do ride the Classics, not ride this and that. If one rode up front, then we had to play tactics and be certain of the win. Well, I was certain. Everything turned out perfectly and then the last lap you're there and I feel flicked. I'm really mad about it. Everybody saw what happened. This is really strong. Apparently they don't like me. I only rode for the team with our tactics."

Sports director Wilfried Peeters defended himself against the criticism.

"I've done everything to inform the riders during the race," he told Sporza. "But it was difficult to get the information to the front group because we were never allowed to pass the peloton. We had mechanics at the roadside but they had no signs with information to the riders like in the classics. That would probably have been better.

"I decided to no longer protect the break with Steegmans when Vanmarcke attacked. Together with Tom Steels who had seen a very good Kris Boeckmans, we decided to focus everything on Tom in a bunch sprint.

"We have a serious discussion after every race. I'm not worried for the time being. It's just a bad day beacuse in the Belgian championships only first place counts.

"We have tried to do our job. If there is no information available, then I can't pass it on to the riders. That's what happens when the UCI necessarily wants us to race without radios."