This Sunday sees the first 'monument' of the cycling season, with the near 300km epic that is Milan-Sanremo.

Team Giant-Alpecin comes to the race with a strong line-up including John Degenkolb (GER) who missed out on a shot at victory in 2104 due to an untimely puncture late in the day. Due to illness late this week, Nikias Arndt (GER) has been replaced by Bert de Backer (BEL).

The line-up is completed by: Roy Curvers (NED), Tom Dumoulin (NED), Chad Haga (USA), Koen de Kort (NED), Albert Timmer (NED) and Zico Waeytens (BEL).

"We had a good ride today, seeing the course and getting one last long ride in. I'm happy with my shape and how I am feeling and am looking forward to Sunday," Degenkolb said.

"After Paris-Nice you need some time to recover to it has been a steady week, and I had a small cold at the start of the week but I am feeling good now.

"It's a shame that Simon [Geschke] is out of the race as he plays a good role on this course, and Nikias [Arndt] too, but we have a strong team with everyone here in decent condition. We should not hesitate to go for the result that we are after here, to be on the podium in Sanremo."

"We're here staying in Sanremo and I am getting excited about the race now. I have a good feeling about my shape and think that the others are all the same too," Curvers said.

"We should go into this race with one clear target, to get John into the final in as fresh a shape as possible with support, that is our most important task.

"It looks like it might be a bit wet on Sunday but after the past two years we are used to the bad weather here and this shouldn't stop us. We will be ready.

"We did a good recon ride of the final 50km today, taking in the last climbs and seeing the finish again. I am looking forward to getting racing again now."

"I'm really looking forward to racing such a prestigious event on Sunday, but even more so to using the form that I have been building up to help John try to win here," Haga said.

"I think the team that we have here is well rounded and has a lot of experience as a group together so that should serve us well."