French team Française des Jeux will have a strong line-up at Milano-Sanremo, with Bernard Eisel, Baden Cooke and Philippe Gilbert. Austrian rider Eisel scored already three victories this season and placed 12th there in 2003. Baden Cooke is giving his season's debut at the "Classicissima", and young Belgian talent Philippe Gilbert has been coming on strong this year already. Brad McGee will also be at the start in Milan, having abandoned Tirreno-Adriatico yesterday following hypoglycemia.
Meanwhile, holding on at the Italian stage race is Stuart O'Grady, who has been struggling with stomach problems for two days now. His participation in he Italian Classic is not certain at the moment, as the physical condition of the Australian sprinter could still deteriorate. O'Grady placed third last year on the Via Roma. His French squad Cofidis has announced a provisional roster for the race on Saturday:
