It was Vinokourov's biggest victory since returning from a two-year suspension for blood doping. There were plenty of whistles when Vinokourov, who won the race in 2005, crossed the line.

It was another second place in a major race for Russia's Kolobnev, who was a world championship runner-up twice over the past three years.

"It is magnificent. It is a revenge. I dreamed of this," said Vinokourov. Victory was all the more remarkable because Vinokourov raced in Italy earlier this week where he won the Tour of Trentino.

Vinokourov won the 258-kilometer (160-mile) race, the oldest and one of the most prestigious classics in cycling, in 6 hours 37.48 minutes, holding a six-second gap over Kolobnev.

Alejandro Valverde, who won the classic through Belgium's southern Ardennes in 2006 and 2008, took third place, 1.04 minutes behind. The Spaniard beat Belgian Philippe Gilbert and world champion Cadel Evans in a sprint among the chasers.

Vinokourov's Astana teammate and pre-race favorite Alberto Contador finished tenth, 1.07 behind.

Vinokourov was banned for blood doping during the 2007 Tour de France while he was racing for the Astana team, which stuck with him after his suspension ended.

"Everyone deserves a second chance. Vinokourov reacted in a great way," Astana sporting director Laurenzo Lapage told VRT network.

Vinokourov's reemergence is a major boost for Astana as it tries to lead Contador to his third Tour de France title.

Basking in sunshine and ideal cycling conditions, the favorites in the pack remained together with only two of ten hills and 20 kilometers (12 miles) to go.

Then a group of 17 that included many of the favorites broke away. The move threw open the race, with Vinokourov and Kolobnev breaking away from the elite group.

Gilbert, Evans and Valverde set up the chase to make it a five-man race.

At the front, Vinokourov sought to shake Kolobnev off, to no avail. Behind them, Gilbert broke away from the chasers to look for the leaders on his own and make up 20 seconds over the last 6 kilometers (4 miles).

It proved too big a task, as the two leaders powered on and Vinokourov made the decisive jump in view of the finish line.