Team Giant-Alpecin heads to the first 'monument' of the season with a team focused around a very motivated John Degenkolb (GER) who is looking to make up for missing out on a shot at victory at this race in 2014.

The race route is back to its normal parcours, with no planned additional climb, meaning that the key points of the race will once again fall on the Cipressa and the Poggio.

Degenkolb will be joined by Nikias Arndt (GER), road captain Roy Curvers (NED), Tom Dumoulin (NED), Chad Haga (USA), who starts his first monument, his final lead-out man Koen de Kort (NED), Albert Timmer (NED) and Zico Waeytens (BEL).

"We have had some bad luck in preparation to this first monument with crashes and sickness but we will still come here with a strong line up ready to go for our goal - to get a strong result with John," explained coach Marc Reef.

"The support includes Chad who will line up for his first ever monument and is very excited to give his all for the team. With a good team performance, we should be able to make an impact on this race."