Davide Piganzoli went all in to bag a home win in Bologna on Saturday as the autumn classics opened with the Giro dell'Emilia, where world champion Brandon McNulty gave his rainbow jersey its first outing.
A week ahead of Il Lombardia, British duo Tom Pidcock and Oscar Onley rounded out the podium in a chase from two kilometres out that the 24-year-old Piganzoli won by springing a surprise attack in the run-up to the Madonna di San Luca climb just outside the city.
"We handled this race perfectly as a team. It means a lot to me to add this great race to my (list of honours)," said the winner.
Olympic mountain bike champion Pidcock came second to Tadej Pogacar last season and will be one of the men to watch next weekend as he hits form after an injury-marred season.
The American McNulty had been in the mix until the final climb and eventually came tenth, 45 seconds adrift of the winner a week after his surprise world title.
The race also served as a farewell outing to 36-year-old Nairo Quintana of Colombia who won the Giro d'Italia in 2014 and the Vuelta a Espana in 2016.