Mark Cavendish has admitted he's highly unlikely to repeat his Milan-San Remo win of 2009 this year, after being dogged by on-going health problems.
The Manx rider will take his place in the race tomorrow (Saturday) but he knows he isn't in the same condition as he was 12 months ago.
Dental problems forced him to delay the start of his season, and last month he pulled out of the final stage of the Tour of Andalucia, citing the same tooth pain.
"I can't suffer like I used to," Cavendish told the Independent. "It's just on that red line of suffering for six kilometres up the Cipressa. That's that, I can't do it, I haven't got the form."
Twelve months ago, Cavendish had recorded six wins before surprising many to win the Classic race on his debut in an astonishing finish which saw him pip Heinrich Haussler on the line by the narrowest of margins.
This season, the Briton – winner of 10 Tour de France stages in two seasons – hasn't yet had a win and he believes the 188-mile race will be beyond him.
"San Remo is not about climbing, it is about resilience," added Cavendish, who crashed in the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy this week before crossing the line.
"You don't have to be a climber to win San Remo, you have to be resilient. It's about suffering. And you can't suffer without training. I can't suffer, that's the thing.
"I was stronger last year because I did a lot more training. I did not do as much training this January. I missed 2,000km, that's a lot."
The small frame, the aggressive posture, lots of standover height.
As i've said before, the police should be sued for a lot of money when someone they have knowingly ignored has gone on to commit a serious crime....
'Bad parking' blocks firefighters multiple times on same emergency call-out...
Cambridgeshire boy, 13, crashes Audi into garden wall after taking it from home...
Good stuff. Now do it on cycleway C9 through Hammersmith to Chiswick.
It's technically allowed but it's not known as "London's Orbital Car Park" for nothing.
You're defending bombing hospitals and refugee camps and starving children.
Used car salesman is a complete attention-seeking plank....
I don't know if they're any better, but they's certainly become more boring.
At risk of being cynical, and stereotyping the police, it's so they don't have to leave the comfort of their panda cars and pursue on foot when...