Mar 12th, 10.  Mark Cavendish won last year's Milan - San Remo after great support from his HTC Columbia team.  Unfortunately, Hayden Roulston won't be there to help defend the title next Sunday.

Mark Cavendish was the surprise winner of Milan - San Remo last year ©TDWSport.com

This year his season start was delayed due to a dental issue, and he hasn't managed a win quite yet.

Cavendish is currently racing in the Italian stage race Tirreno - Adriatico. While he doesn't look to be firing, in fact he appears to be struggling over the climbs, he might well be saving himself for next weekend and just getting in some good race kms.

Valerio Piva, HTC Columbia's sports director for the seven-day Italian event, hinted as much before the race started.

"Cavendish will use Tirreno-Adriatico as another important step toward Milan-San Remo. That said, there's no way he'll be going in too deep. You don't want to burn yourself out in Tirreno-Adriatico and not have enough strength left to do well in Milan-San Remo," he said.

Last year's Milan - San Remo win came from a combination of Cavendish's pre-season focus on climbing, and great teamwork.

"At San Remo, it's not about being the best climber. It's about being positioned on the climbs. I was in the best position because of my teammates," Cavendish said about last year's win.

After Hayden Roulston's great showing in his early season races, the Kiwi's race programme was changed and he was to be one of the teammates helping get Cavendish into great position this year.  Unfortunately, due to the illness which forced him out of the Paris-Nice tour, Roulston now won't be racing.  The lack of lead in race kilometres counts against him.

Instead, Roulston will be racing a smaller race in Holland next Sunday before kicking back into his original plan, Waregem on the 24th, Gent Wevelgem on the 28th then 3 Days of de Panne, Tour of Flanders and then Paris Roubaix on April 11th.

Roulston is back in his European home, Girona, Spain where he's recovering from his virus.  He's still tired and is sleeping long hours, but hopes to be back on the bike tomorrow.

"I'll still be ready for the big ones, that is a promise!" Roulston said.

Boonen is motivated and in fine form ©TDWSport.com

Boonen keen to take Cavendish's title

While Cavendish may be late to shine, Quick Step's Tom Boonen took his fourth victory of the season today.  His first ever win on Italian soil has give the classics specialist new motivation.

"Throughout my career I've won at all latitudes, a little all over the world, but I had never won in Italy. I like Italy a lot and I also like Italian races; with this success I've made up for a little something that was missing on my resume, and I'm really happy."

"It's an important victory that gives me and all the team some hope and faith," said the Belgian Champion on his team website.

"The next few days here at the Tirreno-Adriatico will be very important to further fine-tune our condition as we look forward to the great events of the starting season, the first of which will surely be the Milan - San Remo."

"I was motivated for the classics before I even arrived in Italy and now, after this success, I'm even more so," Boonen continued.

Boonen was 3rd in Milan - San Remo back in 2007.

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