World champion Julien Alaphilippe will miss Saturday's Milan-San Remo race due to bronchitis, his Belgian team has announced.

The Frenchman, who won the Italian race in 2019 and is perfectly suited for the aggressive finale over the Cipressa and Poggio climbs, will miss his first race in six years in order to make a rapid recovery and be in top form for the Ardennes Classics.

Quick-Step Alphavinir has selected sprinter Fabio Jacobsen for its seven-rider team, but has ruled out any chance of success.

2009 champion Mark Cavendish will not be available, and Belgian Yves Lampert will also miss out after suffering in Paris-Nice.

The following seven players were selected for Belgium: Andrea Bagioli, Davide Ballerini, Mattia Cattaneo, Mikel Honoré, Fabio Jacobsen, Florian Senechal, Zdenek Stybar.

"Milan-San Remo is our favorite event and we are always happy to race there, but we know that this year we will not have the chance because we cannot rely on Julien.

"We also have Fabio, who has done a great job so far this season and this will be his first time competing. He is not among the favorites to win, but he is motivated to have a good race."

Alaphilippe suffered a serious crash on Strade Bianche, but recovered well in the Tirreno-Adriatico stage and attacked several times, including on the mountainous stage over Monte Carpeña, in an aggressive race.

In Milano-Sanremo, he was expected to challenge Tadej Pogachar in La Classissima as the team leader of Quick-Step Alphavinir. However, due to illness, he will be watching the race from his home in Andorra. As an important preparation for the Ardennes Classics, he will most likely return to racing in the Iturria Basque stage race on April 4-9.

"He will miss Saturday's Milan-San Remo. Bronchitis + fever = x," Alaphilippe wrote on social media.

"Sad to leave the team. Especially after a difficult week of racing in Tirreno where I felt my legs were recovering well despite the crash at Strada Bianche. I need rest and patience. See you soon."

Fabio Jacobsen won six sprint races early in the season and was hoping to make the Milan-San Remo Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl team, but was unable to convince team manager Patrick Lefebvre.

"It has nothing to do with Fabio's talent or condition. But this week we have also seen how UAE Team Emirates and Jumbo Visma race." [They will accelerate from Capo Berta. With the loss of Alaphilippe, Quick-Step Alfavinir's hopes for success are much lower, and Jacobsen debuted in Milan-San Remo, giving him a chance to learn for future races.