[Vincenzo Nibali has not raced since early February, missing 20 days of training due to the triple whammy of COVID-19, tonsillitis, and another infection.

He will miss Saturday's Milan-San Remo, but will compete in the Emilia Romagna and Tuscany stage race, the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, which starts next Tuesday.

The five-day stage race is expected to mark the 2022 season debut of Mathieu Van der Pol (Alpecin Phoenix), who is returning from a back injury. Chris Froome (Israel Premier Tech), Marc Hirschke (UAE Team Emirates), and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) are also expected to compete in the stage race in Italy next week.

Peter Sagan (Total Energies) and Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-Easy Post) also return to racing in Milan-Torino. Former world champion Peter Sagan suffered gastroenteritis in Tirreno-Adriatico, and Tuscan-born Alberto Bettiol returned after contracting COVID-19 during high-altitude training.

Bettiol has not raced since Etoile de Besseges in early February and has given up hope of competing in the Spring Classics, but will compete in Milan - San Remo in place of Magnus Court, who broke his collarbone in Tirreno - Adriatico. Sagan will also run the Milano-Sanremo as well as the full Cobblestone Classic.

For Nibali, the Settimana Coppi e Bartali will be his first step toward the Giro d'Italia. Nibali had planned to run the spring classics, but will change his race calendar.

The Astana Cazacustan rider will continue racing for the next two weeks, then it looks like he will head to the highlands. He will then compete in the Giro di Sicilia as part of the Italian national team, followed by the Tour of the Alps in late April. He made his 2022 debut at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in early February, but now must rebuild his form before the Corsa Rosa.

"I am getting better, but I have to progress step by step," Nibali told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I was unable to train for 20 days because of COVID-19 and tonsillitis. I also had the streptococcal virus and had to go to the emergency room of the local hospital. I had to take antibiotics for eight days."

"I am happy to be back racing in Milan-Torino. I want to race again to see how I feel. I've been away from racing for a few weeks so I have to be careful."