Fabio Aru, who is currently at the Volta ao Algarve, will not be present at the start of Paris-Nice. Indeed, his Astana team has decided to reduce his number of day races. The Italian rider will aim for the podium at the Tour de France and the staff is convinced that his original program was too loaded with races.

"The change in plans was decided after careful consideration that we have made together," Astana directeur sportif Giuseppe Martinelli told Tuttobiciweb. "Simply we realized that Fabio’s programme was too intense at this early stage of the season, and it was better to lighten it. If we had confirmed his presence in the French race, immediately after the Algarve Fabio would have to fly over to Teide for a session and leave the day before the race and then keep going with Catalunya and the Basque Country."

After the Portugese race, he will travel back in Italy for a few days of rest. Then he will go to a training camp in Tenerife before he lines up at Volta a Catalunya, followed by the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.