Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) had made Milan-Sanremo his big early-season target but the former French champion hasn't been selected for the event. Instead, he will line up on home soil in the GP Cholet, a decision that clearly doesn't please the fast finisher.

As a fast finisher who climbs solidly, Nacer Bouhanni is an obvious candidate for Milan-Sanremo victory. Hence, it was no surprise when the former French champion announced that La Primavera would be his first big goal of the season.

Bouhanni showed good form in the recent Paris-Nice where he won the opening stage and spent two days in the leader's jersey. A crash on stage one, however, forced him to abandon as he said that he didn't want his knee pain to endanger his Sanremo participation.

The knee pain is now gone but that doesn't mean that Bouhanni will be at the start line in Milan. In fact, he won't as his team has omitted him from their 8-rider selection.

With fellow sprinter Arnaud Demare also on the team, it was always going to be a delicate affair to please both riders. Demare showed great form in Tirreno-Adriatico where he got close to two stage wins against the best sprinters in the world and he was an excellent 12th in the final time trial.

The team has decided to put all their eggs in the Demare basket and so Bouhanni will have to console himself with the fact that he gets a chance to win the GP Cholet on Sunday instead.  That decision, however, clearly doesn't please the ambitious former French champion.

"I have not been selected by my team for Milan-Sanremo which was my first big goal of the season. I will do GP Cholet," he wrote on Twitter.

Demare will be supported by his usual lead-out men Mickael Delage and William Bonnet while classics specialists  David Boucher, Johan Le Bon, Yoann Offredo and Matthieu Ladagnous will offer plenty of firepower in the finale.

Winner of the final stage and third overall in Paris-Nice Arthur Vichot will make use of his excellent condition to cover late attacks on the Poggio and Cipressa climbs.