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San Remo — Vincenzo Nibali carried off a daring solo attack to perfection to win the Milan-San Remo classic on Saturday and add to his long list of major achievements in cycling.
The Italian accelerated away from the pack on the Poggio, the final climb of the 294-kilometer (183-mile) race, with 7 kilometers to go.
Nibali then showed off his downhill skills on the technical descent and narrowly held off a pack of chasing sprinters on the flat finish.
Nibali looked back only once, with 50 meters remaining, and realized he had time to raise his arms in celebration before crossing the line in a time of 7 hours, 18 minutes, 43 seconds.
"I saw I created a gap right away," Nibali said. "When I looked back it was a special emotion. It's a race I didn't expect to win because I'm not (a sprinter).
Caleb Ewan of Australia crossed second and Arnaud Demare of France finished third, both with the same time as Nibali.
Nibali, who rides for the Bahrain Merida team, has also won all three Grand Tours: the Giro d'Italia — twice — the Tour de France and the Spanish Vuelta.
Always looking for the fastest lines, Nibali at one point came so close to the fences that he knocked a cell phone out of a fan's hand.
"When I pull these things off sometimes even I don't know how I'm able do it," Nibali said.
Mark Cavendish, the British sprinting standout, slammed into road furniture with 10 kilometers to go and flipped over his bike onto the asphalt.
Results from the 109th edition of the Milan-San Remo one day classic on Saturday:
1. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/Bahrain) 294km in 7hrs 18mins 43sec
2. Caleb Ewan (AUS/MIT) same time
3. Arnaud Dmare (FRA/FDJ) s.t.
4. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/EAU) s.t.
5. Jurgen Roelandts (BEL/BMC) s.t.
6. Peter Sagan (SVK/BOR) s.t.
7. Michael Matthews (AUS/SUN) s.t.
8. Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN/AST) s.t.
9. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA/BAH) s.t.
10. Jasper Stuyven (BEL/TRE) s.t.
