Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) produced a superb final sprint to take the biggest win of his career in a rain-hit Milan-San Remo, with Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Factory Racing) and Ben Swift (Team Sky) completing the podium.
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) had ignited the racing as he attacked on the Cipressa with 28km remaining. The Italian quickly established a gap of 45" but was slowly reeled in before being caught on the lower slopes of the Poggio.
A flurry of attacks on the final climb of the day came to nothing as a group of around twenty riders arrived to contest the finish in San Remo.
Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) and Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) opened the sprint but it was the Norwegian Kristoff who bided his time before launching himself to a comprehensive victory.
Threatening skies greeted the peloton on the start line in Milan as the riders looked forward to the small matter of 298km on the road to San Remo, the longest one-day race of the year.
Consisting of Jan Barta (NetApp-Endura), Nicola Boem (Bardiani-CSF), Matteo Bono (Lampre-Merida), Marc de Maar (UnitedHealthcare), Nathan Haas (Garmin-Sharp), Antonio Parrinello (Androni-Giocattoli), and Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin Pro Cycling), the break went early and quickly opened a maximum advantage of ten minutes as the heavens opened and the temperature dropped.
The weather never deteriorated to the point of last year's heavy snow, but conditions took a toll nonetheless, with a number of riders including José Joaquin Rojas (Movistar), an outsider for the victory, abandoning in the first half of the race.
As the race hit the tre capi with 50km remaining the gap to the leaders had fallen below five minutes for the first time, with Katusha leading the chase behind.
With the rain still falling, conditions were ripe for a Nibali attack as they hit the Cipressa, and the Italian did not disappoint, opening up a small gap on the Cannondale-led peloton by the top of the climb.
And as is his way, Nibali swept down the descent, catching the remains of the break in the process, and taking a 45 second lead onto the nine kilometres of flat road between the Cipressa and the Poggio.
But with the sprinters still in contention, the peloton was unlikely to allow Nibali to give them the slip, and with Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale) and Salvatore Puccio (Team Sky) leading the chase, the Italian's time at the front of the race was all but over by the time they hit the Poggio.
Taking the right turn off the coast road it was Lotto-Belisol at the front of affairs with André Greipel well placed in second wheel, but the attacks soon came, with Gregory Rast (Trek Factory Racing) making the first move.
The Swiss rider was quickly joined by Giro stage winner Enrico Battaglin (Bardiani-CSF) who worked hard to draw out a 10 second advantage, but with Sky pushing the pace behind they were never able to open a significant gap.
Approaching the top of the climb, and with Ciolek, Sagan, Cavendish, and Kristoff all well-positioned, time was running out for the puncheurs. Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) managed a half-hearted attack, before Lars Petter Nordhaug (Belkin Pro Cycling) attacked over the top.
With assistance from Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing), the Norwegian was able to open a small gap, but as they hit the outskirts of San Remo with three kilometres remaining it was gruppo compacto, the predicted bunch sprint fast approaching.
Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF) made a brief bid for glory but was quickly caught as the teams of the sprinters organised themselves for the finale.
Under the flamme rouge and it was Luca Paolini (Katusha) who led the group, Kristoff locked in his wheel, before Gilbert moved to the front as they entered the finishing straight on the Lungomare Calvino.
The Belgian was the first to launch his sprint on the left hand side of the road, as Cavendish followed Sacha Modolo around the right of the group. With 200m to go the Manxman launched his sprint, coming around the outside of Modolo.
As for Kristoff, blocked by the trio of Gilbert, Modolo, and Cavendish, things were not looking good.
But at 150m Gilbert faltered, falling back, allowing Kristoff to extract himself from the wheels, and with Cavendish unable to respond, the Norwegian was able to ride away to take the victory by a couple of bike lengths, as Cancellara and Swift sneaked up the inside to complete the podium.
Milan-San Remo Result
1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha 6:55:56
2. Fabian Cancellara (Sui) Trek Factory Racing
3. Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky
4. Juan José Lobato (Esp) Movistar
5. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
6. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani-CSF
7. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
8. Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida
9. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN-Qhubeka
10. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
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