Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) has decided to miss his first big season target after his partner Lore lost their first baby earlier today due to a miscarriage. The Belgian prefers to stay with her in these difficult times and won't travel to Italy fir Sunday's race.

The Milan-Sanremo has lost one of its biggest profiles after Tom Boonen has been forced to miss the first big classic of the season. The Belgian prefers to stay at home to support his wife Lore who lost their first child earlier today, due to a miscarriage.

Boonen had originally intended to do the race as the first major goal in his spring classics season but will now leave an open spot on the Omega Pharma-Quick Step roster. The team was set to be built around Boonen and Mark Cavendish for a sprint finish while Michal Kwiatkowski would cover the late attacks on the Poggio.

With Boonen out, the hierarchy on the team may, however, be a bit clearer as it presented a challenge for the team management to handle the egos of the two sprinters of Cavendish and Boonen. There is now no longer any doubt that the team will do its utmost to lead Cavendish to his second Sanremo win.

The team still hasn't announced their complete roster for Sunday's race