Trek-Segafredo announced a last-minute change to their roster for Milan-San Remo, with defending champion Jasper Stuyven out with illness after racing Paris-Nice. Mads Pedersen, winner of stage 3 in the French WorldTour race, will take his place as leader on Saturday.
"Getting sick at this time of the season is a big disappointment," Stuyven said the day before his scheduled pre-race press conference. "Of course, I was excited to race with the number 1 on my back after winning my first Monument last year. I thought I had safely got through Paris-Nice, but obviously I picked something up there."
"For me, the focus is now on getting healthy before the upcoming cobbled classics," Stuyven said.
Pedersen, clearly on sparkling form after wins in Paris-Nice, Étoile de Bessèges and a podium in the GP la Marseillaise, intended to skip Milan-San Remo to build his peak form toward Paris-Roubaix, which is one week later this season due to the French elections. Instead, he will make his debut in the race.
"As I said in many interviews last week, it wasn't the plan for me to race Milan-San Remo, but sometimes plans change," Pedersen said.
"It's a late change, but I'm feeling motivated and know that my shape is good. Of course, it's a big pity for Jasper that he doesn't get the chance to defend his title, but we will do our best to make it two in a row for the team."
