Italian sports fans may have some anxiety as the Azzuri struggle to get to the next World Cup, but they could cheer a monument success on home soil as Vincenzo Nibali took his second Il Lombardia, repeating his success of two years ago on a very similar course by a margin of 28 seconds over Julian Alaphilippe.
The Sicilian, one of the world’s best descenders, was always going to have the advantage over his rivals on the technical, narrow descent of the last climb of the race that peaked at Civiglio, and so it proved. He crested the final peak with a small but growing gap over Thibaut Pinot, and his nearest contender would soon be Julian Alaphlippe, the notably excellent descender, who managed to hold on for second ahead of a group of main favourites that was led by Gianni Moscon, who took the closing sprint.
The race started with an attack from Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (Dimension Data) and Davide Ballerini (Androni Sidermec), who would then be joined by Matthias Le Turnier (Cofidis), Lennard Hofstede (Sunweb), Pier Paolo De Negri (Nippo Vini Fantini) to create the day’s break. They managed to get a serious advantage over the peloton that would eventually stretch to 12 minutes, which sparked a reaction from two teams especially; Cannondale-Drapac, looking to set up Rigoberto Uran, and Bahrain-Merida, who were riding for Vincenzo Nibali. They managed to halve the gap, aided by the steady climbs that took place before the 100km mark.
By this time Movistar had now invested in the chase and when Lotto-Soudal, Trek-Segafredo and Team Sky decided to join in the action it was clear that the race was on. Jesus Haerrrard attacked for the Spanish team, and it would not be long before he was joined by Mikael Cherel (AG2R La Mondiale), Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo), Laurens De Plus (Quick-Step Floors), Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) and Rodolfo Torres (Androni Sidermac).
On the Madonna del Ghisallo, the race’s first notably recognisable climb, Le Turnier went and dropped Ballerini, as De Cherel and Plus chased behind. The Frenchman would be dropped over the top but he would make his way back to the group on the descent, and this front group would have 38 seconds on a second chase group that would have added Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates) and Winner Anacona (Movistar).
Then came the Sormano. Cherel was strongest on the narrow roads up and had an advantage of 30 seconds over his now lone chaser De Plus, and the field were now packed and waiting, just a minute behind the leader.
Upon the descent, De Plus would suffer a sickening crash that had many fearing the worst. Thankfully that was not the case, and information quickly confirmed this, De Plus going to hospital with no further injuries, remarkably.
Attacks going downhill came from Philippe Gilbert, Alessandro De Marchi and Pello Bilbao, who would be within 15 seconds of Bilbao with only 30km to go.
He would be caught up the Civiglio along with the other pairing, and Gianni Moscon then took off, followed by Sam Oomen (Sunweb), Thibaut Pinot and Vincenzo Nibali. Pinot caught and passed the leaders but Nibali was tracing his every move and the two combined brilliantly to gap Moscon, now joined by Rigoberto Uran, by 45 seconds.
They would be caught on the last ascent when Diego Rosa (Sky), Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R), Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Fabio Aru (Astana) made manoeuvres, but this was now all about the Italian in the lead who was going to make it 50 pro wins in the best style.
