Alexander Kristoff of Katusha has won the 105th Milan San Remo.
The first big one day race of the season which has been running since 1907 is one of the longest at 299kms and saw rain and sunshine on the start line in Milan.
The field was extremely strong for this race with the like of British champion Mark Cavendish competing but it was Matteo Bono (Lampre Merida), Nathan Haas (Garmin-Sharp), Nicola Boem (Bardiani), Antonio Parrinello (Androni Giocattoli), Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin), Jan Barta (Netapp-Endura), Marc de Maar (UnitedHealthCare), who went away after fifteen kilometres.
They took a lead which went out to 10.30 after 124 kilometres, whilst at the finish line, there was reports of snow.
With just over seventy kilometres and in pouring rain, Nicola Boem dropped off the back of the lead group.
Into the final fifty five kilometres and there was only Bono, Tjallingii, Barta and de Maar left on the front with a lead of 6.40 as the race headed for the Capo Mele climb on the coast.
The gap was down to 4.10 as Michal Kwiatkowski and Mark Renshaw abandoned before the Capo Berta climb.
Barta dropped away from the leaders who were 2'56 clear of a peloton which was about fifty strong and included Mark Cavendish and Fabian Cancellera with 36km to go.
Nine kilometres later and only two riders were left in Tjallingii and de Maar as Cannondale on the front set a fast pace up the Cipressa, followed by about twenty riders including Ben Swift of Team Sky and Mark Cavendish.
With 25.7km left, Vincenzo Nibali went off in chase of two lone riders. He caught Bono and was just under a minute behind as the group of favourites failed to react.
Nibali was first to start the climb to the Poggio di San Remo, with gradients rising to 8%, with a 33 second lead over Tjallingii as Segan and Gilbert started to position themselves at the front.
The chasers which had Cavendish in the first fifteen riders reached the start of the final climb 22 seconds behind. The hammer went down and Nibali was dragged back on the Poggio with 9kms left.
Rast of Trek Factory racing stormed past Nibali and Enrico Gattaglin of Bardiani went past him.
With seven kilometres remaining, Philippe Gilbert closed down Rast and Gattaglin and a new attack started with Luca Paolini of Katusha on the front.
BMC's Greg Van Avermaet was the next to try along with Bauke Molena of Belkin and Benatti of Tinkoff Saxo.
Colbrelli attacked and was shut down as Andre Greipel joined the front group with 1.4kms to go.
Katusha led going into the flam rouge and this was anybody's race. The sun was out but there was puddles and there was one crash at the back of the group.
However, it came down to a sprint in the city of flowers and it was Alexander Kristoff of Katusha who won in 6.55.56 ahead of Cancellera and Ben Swift in third. Lobato was fourth and Cavendish fifth.
Kristoff told Dan Lloyd: "I feel great a fantastic victory. "I did not believe when I crossed the line. I was hoping for a top ten finish. "Normally, I dont do so much power but I was happy with the win."