Ballan, but no Evans for Milan-SanRemo

Reigning world champion Cadel Evans will not be on the BMC team's roster for the Milan-San Remo, the first one-day classic of the season.

Evans, who showed his early season form by finishing third overall Sunday in Italy's Tirreno-Adriatico stage race is on a different program designed to see him at peak fitness the Giro d'Italia.

However BMC will be led by Italian classics specialist Alessandro Ballan, who preceded Evans as world champion in 2008, with American George Hincapie, Dutchman Karsten Kroon and German Marcus Burghardt expected to play key roles.

“It can be a selective race or it can be one for the sprinters,” BMC sporting director John Lelangue said. “This is a race that you really have to learn. So we will do reconnaissance of the last 80 km so we’re ready for the final climbs and the last 10 km of terrific downhill off the Poggio.”

At nearly 300km long, Milan-SanRemo is known as one of cycling's five one-day 'Monuments' alongside the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy.

The Cervélo Test Team also announced their final roster for Milan-San Remo which includes Australian Brett Lancaster, however another Australian, Heinrich Haussler will not be at the start line after re-injuring his knee in a crash at the Volta ao Algarve.

"Heinrich is currently receiving intensive medical treatment from our medical team so he will recover as soon as possible to be ready for the upcoming Belgian classics," said sports director Jean-Paul van Poppel.

"Thor [Hushovd], who proved at Tirreno-Adriatico that he is in good form now after a difficult season start, will be our team leader in Milan-San Remo."

BMC Racing Team for Milan-San Remo:

Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Brent Bookwalter (USA), Marcus Burghardt (GER), George Hincapie (USA), Karsten Kroon (NED), Jeff Louder (USA), Michael Schaer (SUI), Danilo Wyss (SUI).

Cervélo Test Team for Milan-San Remo:

Thor Hushovd (NOR), Xavier Florencio (ESP), Roger Hammond (GBR), Jeremy Hunt (GBR), Andreas Klier (GER), Brett Lancaster (AUS), Gabriel Rasch (NOR), Dominique Rollin (CAN).