The Dutchman, who finished fifth in last year’s edition and is a rider for Alpecin–Fenix, said in the lead up to the 293 kilometre race that he did not expect to compete after suffering an injury that forced him to abandon from the cyclocross season.

"To abandon the CX-season was a tough decision to make but I think it was the right one and in the end, I’ve had really proper time now to take care of the problem," Van der Poel said.

"I didn’t really expect to get to the classics, because the progress was really slow, but then it started to go well.

"And then the last two weeks I made some really good steps which I and the team didn’t really expect."

The 27-year-old’s presence ensures that there will be one more contender competing to become the new title holder.

Belgium’s defending champion Jasper Stuyven is out of the race due to illness.

The Trek-Segafredo cyclist will miss the event alongside Italy’s Sonny Colbrelli, a member of the Bahrain Victorious team, and France’s world champion Julian Alaphilippe, a Quick-Step AlphaVinyl racer, who also have illnesses.

With the race wide open, joining van der Poel on the list of those expected to fare well are Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar and The Netherlands’ Wout van Aert.

However, Team Emirates’ rider Pogačar has warned he is also suffering from sickness and is not "100 per cent" for the 300-kilometre race.

Despite this, he has vowed to participate at Milan-San Remo to build on his latest successes at Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico.

The 23-year-old will be aided in his quest by Italian teammates Diego Ulissi and Alessandro Conti, who are ready to participate.

Van Aert has finished first in eight races so far this season, including a double triumph at the International Cycling Union Cyclo-cross World Cup.