To save it for what, exactly? They will absolutely be dropped, much as I'd hope they won't, they just don't have the quality to stick with the field on the bigger climbs when the 'war' starts, no chance.
They have quite literally one chance to show themselves in any way and that is by attacking early. If they don't do so, this is how their race is very likely to go: staying invisibly somewhere in the peloton for 100-150 kilometers, then being dropped and either finish way behind or (likely) DNF, without anyone having ever seen them. Which would suck for them and for fans, I definitely want to actually see these riders!