"It's good to have multiple cards to play" - Kasper Asgreen looks to thrive at Milano-Sanremo together with Julian Alaphilippe

Soudal - Quick-Step will not have Remco Evenepoel at Milano-Sanremo but still aim for an outsider result and possible surprise at Via Roma. After a superb return to form last summer at the Tour de France, the Dane has his confidence back into an important spring campaign.

"I definitely want to try. Julian [Alaphilippe] is our leader, and our main card to play. He has already won here, so he's our best bet," Asgreen told In de Leiderstrui ahead of the race. "However, in current cycling and with the way races are being ridden these days, it's good to have multiple cards to play. It would be good for us if we have more than one rider at the front after the Poggio."  

Asgreen is a rider that does well in the long races but Sanremo is a race that he has never finished among the best. He may play a support role for Alaphilippe but the Frenchman has not shown the best of signs and so that is not an overly realistic possibility. A split leadership between the two is the most likely, and if Asgreen finds himself at his best level he could very well be among the best as well.

"What are my numbers? My coach is the one who looks at my files. During the races, I don't look at my Garmin much. I follow the race and react to what happens, that's better for me. I hope to gradually be the best Kasper I can be, that was the goal this winter. My coach has assured me that I'm on track, so if the form isn't there now, something went wrong. Let's hope the form is indeed there."

After the rise of many strong classics specialists, the Dane has not had an easy time being consistent with his results throughout the spring, but he's looking to turn that around. He also knows what to expect this afternoon as one team has made it clear of their intentions.

"UAE Team Emirates has made no secret that they want to make it a hard race leading up to Saturday, that's no surprise to anyone. That's how they've always done it with Tadej. Let's hope we can throw a spanner in the works," he concludes.