With yesterday's announcement that the Pompeiana climb has been removed from the Milan-Sanremo course, André Greipel is the first sprinter to announce that he will change his race schedule to ride the classic. The German will combine forces with Tony Gallopin and Jurgen Roelandts to make sure that Lotto Belisol have covered their bases for every possible race scenario.

When it was announced that RCS Sports had decided to include the new Pompeiana climb in the finale of Milan-Sanremo, most of the big sprinters were quick to announce that they had no plans of doing the Italian classis. With the race being turned into one for the climbers, they preferred to keep their powder dry for races they could realistically win.

Yesterday rumours were finally confirmed that landslides have made the roads of the Pompeiana too dangerous to include in the historic classic, meaning that the race finale will be the traditional one with just the Cipressa and Poggio to climb. As the organizers had already removed Le Manie which was included for the 2008 edition, the new course suddenly makes the 2014 edition the easiest since 2007.

The organizers have stated their intentions to include the Pompeiana in future editions and so many expect that the sprinters will take one could be one final chance to go for glory in Samreno. Today the first fast finisher has announced his participation as André Greipel has changed his mind and will now do the Italian classic.

"Now the Pompeiana is no longer part of Milan-Sanremo I have decided to participate," he said. "It's unfortunate that the decision has been made so late, when the teams have already made up their programmes. Because not only the Pompeiana is left out of the course, but also Le Manie doesn't have to be climbed, the sprinters have more chance. But at Lotto Belisol also Tony Gallopin and Jürgen Roelandts can win."

Greipel has done Milan-Sanremo three times, with his best result being 33rd in 2011.