Vincenzo Nibali storms to Il Lombardia victory

Updated 07/10/2017 at 18:44 GMT

Home favourite Vincenzo Nibali produced an inspired late attack to win the prestigious Il Lombardia.

Second-placed French Julien Alaphilippe from Quick-Step floor team, first-placed Italian Vincenzo Nibali from Bahrein-Merida team and thrid-placed Italian Gianni Moscon from Sky

Image credit: Getty Images

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The so-called ‘Race of the Falling Leaves’ is the fifth and final Monument of the season and offers a chance for some of the sport’s strongest climbers to show their skills on the hills around the picturesque Lake Como in northern Italy.

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And the eye-wateringly testing terrain delivered in spades, with drama throughout the day.

Hearts were in mouths when Laurens de Plus crashed over a roadside barrier on a technical descent and dropped out of sight, but his Quick-Step team later revealed the rider had thankfully not sustained any serious injuries in the incident.

But it was on the ascents where the race was always like to be won, and Nibali, riding for Bahrain-Merida, launched the race-defining assault on the final climb to burst clear of Thibaut Pinot and Rigoberto Uran and increase his lead on the descent into Como.

He crossed the finish line 28 seconds ahead of France's Julian Alaphilippe, according to provisional results. Another Italian, Gianni Moscon, took third place after the 247km ride from Bergamo.

Nibali told reporters after the race:

This is a great cherry on top to conclude the season. I've trained a lot on these roads and I really know them. I really felt good and I played my cards well. I got big support from my team I had great physical condition from the end of the season, but everyone was looking to me as the favourite so it wasn’t easy to win. Today my plan was just to have a great race. I’ve had a lot of good placings this year but without the big win that I was looking for and to win a Monument it is always something great.

The Italian's victory is the second Tour of Lombardy win of his illustrious career.