Putting these frames to use in the RVV is taking them to their limit and maybe beyond. I do not think anybody would try to win the RVV on a touring bike with 37mm tires more than anybody would take an 18-wheeler to the Monaco Grand Prix. However I agree with you that open tires smaller than 23mm are no good. They have probably been riding these bikes for at least four months now and have logged most likely over 10,000 kilometers on the things. I'm not saying this is justification for a bicycle breaking, but it could easily be that they both just beat the living daylights out of their machines.
Professional cycling is also a wonderful testing ground for new materials and frame designs.
For all we know both of those bikes could be prototypes. If so, they definitely need to go back to the drawing board. It is risk many of the pros probably think is worth taking. As for the punctures. I would expect at least a couple punctures on the good ol' cobbles.