Nibali, riding for Bahrain-Merida, made his decisive move with a spectacular solo attack on the Poggio - the slope that precedes the final descent into San Remo - to bring Italian cycling fans a result they have dreamed of for more than a decade.

With a headwind discouraging attacks for the vast majority of the race and the sprinters' teams seemingly in control, the 109th edition of the race - one of the jewels in the International Cycling Federation World Tour - came down to a battle for victory on the Poggio.

Nibali followed a move by Latvian champion Krists Neilands, riding for Israel Cycling Academy, before taking off on his own.

Nathan Haas and Enrico Battaglin tried and failed to respond but there was hesitation from the other major favourites as last year's runner-up Peter Sagan of Bora-Hansgrohe and defending champion Michal Kwiatkowski, riding for Team Sky, looked at each other.

Nibali's lead was up to eight seconds by the top of the Poggio with 5.4 kilometres to go, and was still the same by the bottom of the descent as the sprinters' teams moved back to the front to set up a gripping final kilometre.

Nibali's lead was trimmed down second by second throughout the final kilometre, but with the teams massing behind him the lone Italian had just enough left to cross the line in front, clocking 7 hours 18min 43sec for the gruelling 294km race.

Australia's Caleb Ewan, riding for Mitchelton-Scott, was second, a few metres back, with third place going to Arnaud Demare of France, the Groupama-FDJ rider.

Slovakia's triple road race world champion Sagan, who has finished runner-up here twice, must continue seeking his first win after finishing sixth, with the first ten home all on the same time.

The women's World Tour will continue tomorrow with the Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio in Italy.