On the back of his Tirreno-Adriatico win, Greg Van Avermaet will lead BMC Racing Team at Milan-San Remo this Saturday.
 
Van Avermaet showed his form when he took the win on Tirreno-Adriatico stage 6 yesterday and secured the overall race win in today's Individual Time Trial, BMC Racing Team Sports Director Valerio Piva said.
 
"Greg is in great shape going into Milan-San Remo and he will be supported by some of our best Classics riders. We're going into the race confident and of course we want to win," Piva confirmed.
 
Van Avermaet is looking for his second Classics win of the season when he lines up at Milan-San Remo after taking the win at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
 
"My victories at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Tirreno-Adriatico give me a lot of confidence. I know I'm in good shape so it will be all about tactics on the day. At 291 kilometers, it's a long race but that's what I love and where I really get to show what I've got," Van Avermaet said.
Philippe Gilbert was set to line up this Saturday, however an upper respiratory infection diagnosed at Paris-Nice has ruled him out.
 
"We were hoping that Philippe would have enough time to recover and be fit and healthy to race at Milan-San Remo. Philippe had another medical examination yesterday and he, after consultation with BMC Racing Team management and our medical team, agrees that it is not in his best interests to race," Piva explained.
 
Milan-San Remo (19 March)
Marcus Burghardt (GER), Damiano Caruso (ITA), Alessandro De Marchi (ITA), Jempy Drucker (LUX), Daniel Oss (ITA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Danilo Wyss (SUI).