The BMC Racing Team will bring four riders to Milan-San Remo who have finished in the top 10 of the spring classic. But past podium finisher and world road champion Thor Hushovd will not start Saturday’s race due to illness.
Hushovd ‘Really Disappointed’
Third at this race in 2009 and 2005, Hushovd is sidelined with a fever. It follows a stomach sickness that affected him in the opening days of Paris-Nice. “Monday night I woke up with fever and was cold and sweating,” he said. “I have felt bad for two days now so there’s no chance to race on Saturday. I am really disappointed because it was obviously one of my first goals of the year.” BMC Racing Team Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said illnesses and injuries which have affected other riders (Philippe Gilbert had a fever this week and Greg Van Avermaet is recovering from sore heels) are part of cycling. “The decision to take them both out of Tirreno-Adriatico was a good one,” Lelangue said. “They are still not 100 percent. We are still pretty confident that we have a good team with good experience.”
Feeling No Pressure
Twice a podium finisher, including third place last year and in 2008, Gilbert said he is feeling better each day. “I have been riding easy in training and I hope to have a race that’s easier at first, maybe with a headwind or something,” he said. “I’ll try to be smart and ride in a good position. Milan-San Remo can be a very strange race where anything can happen. If it’s not for me in the final, maybe it will be Alessandro Ballan or Greg Van Avermaet or someone else on our team. I think we have a good team and we aren’t feeling pressure because we know we can be competitive.” Former world road champion Ballan, fourth here last year and fourth at Strade Bianche, believes his form is good. “I can do something good there,” Ballan said. “I worked hard in Tirreno-Adriatico, even if I didn’t make a result there and I am in optimal condition right now. I think we can be one of the teams that takes charge of the race.”
BMC Racing Team Milan-San Remo Roster (March 17):
Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Marcus Burghardt (GER), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), George Hincapie (USA), Taylor Phinney (USA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Michael Schär (SUI), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL).
