The reduction in the number of teams from seven to just six for Milan-San Remo is expected to add a new variable to the sport's most unpredictable classic, with many riders expecting uncontrollable racing and possible attacks beginning on the Colle della Nava climb with 70km remaining. Expect attacks that could be.

Until 2018, La Classissima brought eight-man teams to Milan, and strong teams often protected and guided their sprinters on the poggio, ensuring that the race would end in some sort of group sprint.

Perhaps coincidentally, since the UCI reduced the number of WorldTour one-day races to seven teams, attackers have dominated Milan-San Remo; in 2018, Vincenzo Nibali broke away on the poggio and won solo. Last year, 10 riders escaped after Julian Alaphilippe broke away on the same climb. They finished 27 seconds ahead of the sprinters, with Alexander Kristoff bringing the peloton home. With so many big names on the front line and the sprinters' team on their knees chasing an earlier attack, no one was able to contain the attack.

In contrast, Alessandro Petacchi had five Fassabolotto teammates in the last kilometer in 2004, but lost the sprint to Oscar Freire.

"The same thing can't happen now," Marco Vero, who was Petacchi's lead out that day and is now one of the Milan-San Remo bike race controllers, told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Teams can't afford to sacrifice one or two riders early on, so it will be difficult to control the attack. Unless, of course, the teams agree to cooperate, in which case the race will be even more controlled than usual."

Secrecy and intrigue are the salt of major races like Milan-San Remo. Cofidis, with Elia Viviani, and Groupama-FDJ, with Arnaud Demaret, will be looking for a sprint finish, while other teams will either distance themselves from them or bluff their way to a six-rider sprinter-attacker lineup.

Dečuninck-Quickstep has Alaphilippe and Sam Bennett, Lotto-Soudal has Philippe Gilbert and Caleb Yuan, and Team Ineos has Michal Kwiatkowski and Ben Swift. Peter Sagan, who has twice finished second in Milan-San Remo, is the lone leader of Bora-Hansgrohe, but could be late again in a very tactical finale.

Six-man teams make every aspect of the race more difficult. Because of the heat, domestiques will have to go to the team cars more often to get their bidons. Greg Van Avermaat and Matteo Trentin are racing for a win and a new contract.

Caleb Yuan is rightly concerned about the attack at Colle della Nava, the fast 30 km descent to the coast, and the full-blown cull at Cipressa and Poggio.

"One less rider in a 300 km race would definitely change things," said David Bramati, director of the Detunink-Quick Step.

"Few would risk using a rider in the early or middle part of the race. We have Sam Bennett, who is looking for a sprint finish, but we are not the pre-race favorite. It will be up to the other teams to take control of the race."

"You have to adapt, but it's the same for everyone," Alaphilippe said.

"The team with Tim DeClercq is really strong. He's really motivated and looks forward to doing his job. Ultimately, it's all about the feet.

Viviani is not so happy.

"I don't agree with the reduction in the number of teams. The decision was made 10 days before the race and most teams had already decided on their lineups. Everyone lost a key rider. In our case Marco Mathis was supposed to control the race. Other teams have made similar decisions, and no one knows who will control the race. ......" The Italian said.

Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and others are ready to take advantage of any outcome. 'Even if Milano-Sanremo ends up being a sprint, nobody is afraid. Even if Milano-Sanremo ends in a sprint, I'm not afraid of anyone.