Filippo Ganna, joining a long list of riders who have fallen ill before Milano-Sanremo, revealed that he has been sick this week and even struggling with his riding.

But like all Italians who really "feel" the importance, prestige, and magic of Milan-San Remo, he promised to give his all with his Carpe Diem strategy, not ruling out the outcome of the race.

"It's good to be able to breathe," he said.

"I had a high fever on Sunday and Monday after Tirreno-Adriatico. I didn't ride Monday or Tuesday, and I struggled on the rollers on Wednesday. Thursday I rode for 2 hours and felt a little better by the second hour. Today was the same. Hopefully after 7 hours in Milan San Remo my body will adjust and help me.

"I think 85-90% of the group has the same problem. Being out of shape is bad for everyone, and everyone wants to run in perfect shape and feel good.

"You have to be mentally stronger so you can focus on the finale of the race. Physical condition is not a problem. If I get a result, that's great. If I don't get anything, nothing will change."

Ganna is in Milan-San Remo for the fifth time in his career. He hopes to improve his results year after year as he lowers his chase time on the track.

In 2021, he pulled up the peloton with the speed of a poggio to set up his Ineos Grenadiers teammates. This became a scandal in Italy, and Tifosi and the Italian media were angry that Ganna, a world champion in time trial and track, had to sacrifice his chances in the Italian classics and work as a mere domestique. He had to explain after the race that he had been ill, Polemica continued.

Ganna's impressive career trajectory and many racing skills have given him the freedom to test his cards this year as team leader at Ineos Grenadier with Tom Pidock, Michal Kwiatkowski, and Elia Viviani, despite his recent illness Meaning.

Tadei Pogachar is expected to race hard to pull away from the sprinters, while Wout Van Aert is in great form and looks capable of attacking on Poggio and sprinting on Via Roma.

He may be able to withstand the high pace on the Cipressa climb with 25km to go, but he will have to hold off attacks by Pogachar and Van Aert on Poggio. Only then will he have a chance to time trial to the finish alone.

Ganna quietly admitted that his best chance was to attack in the last 2km after the descent of the poggio, like Jasper Stuyven did last year and 2008 time trial world champion Fabian Cancellara.

"I've done Milan-San Remo four times: the first time I went to Imperia and was dropped at Cipressa, the second time I went over Cipressa but was dropped at Poggio. The third time last year, he pulled halfway up Poggio and was dropped. This year I would be happy if I could get over the Poggio," Ganna said honestly about his strategy.

"For sure I can't sprint and I can't keep up with Taddeji and Wout Van Aert on the climbs. If I could attack like Fabian Cancellara, it would be perfect. But it won't be easy.

"There are some strong riders in the race who can attack on the climbs, but the finale starts after 280km. It will be a matter of who conserves as much energy as possible during the race and who fuels up well and keeps going.

"You have to race the carpe diem," he added, applying the oft-used Latin phrase to Milan - San Remo.

"You have to feel the moment in order to make a great effort. Milano-San Remo is a strange race, you can have a great leg before the poggio, but after the two corners, for some reason, the effort is too much.

"It is difficult to attack before the Cipressa and too late to attack after the Poggio. I don't have a crystal ball to see the future. Let's see what happens in the race."