Just about every year, Italian fans could count on a thrilling but ultimately futile attack from Vincenzo Nibali in the closing kilometres of Milan-San Remo. For 12 long years, since the country last had a home winner in Filippo Pozzato, the tifosi have prayed that Nibali could do it.
Vincenzo Nibali wins Milan-San Remo
Cavendish suffers brutal crash in Milan-San Remo
Caleb Ewan confirms his Milan-San Remo sprint credentials
Sagan praises Nibali after Italian dominates Milan-San Remo
Kwiatkowski: When Nibali went, we fell asleep
Nibali: We raced really well and then this pearl came out of it
Demare: There are plenty of positives to take from Milan-San Remo
2018 turned out to be the year for Nibali to time his move perfectly and, countering an attack from young Latvian champion Krists Neilands (Israel Cycling Academy), the Bahrain-Merida rider powered away from a peloton filled with the sport's top sprinters.
This time guile and daring trumped pure speed and, thanks in small part to the fast-men watching each other, Nibali soloed in with a narrow margin of victory to claim his second Monument in a row after last autumn's Il Lombardia triumph.
Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) led 2016 winner Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) in for second.
Watch how it all unfolded in the highlights video above.
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1