The end of a great year of racing is marked by the final World Tour race.
The careers of two of the sport's legends are coming to an end due to the race of the falling leaves.
It feels like Italy's Vincenzo Nibali has been in the autumn of his career for a while, but that's nothing compared to his Spanish counterpart, Alejandro Valverde, who is five years older.
For the past 20 years, the pair have entertained across the Alps and the cobbled classics with explosive riding that has inspired a generation of fans and commanded the highest respect.
They are cyclists.
It was all in his race craft. The three-week Grand Tours were won by a higher form of athlete who had power and strength.
He was the only rider to beat Team Sky and win the Tour de France.
He had won a Vuelta a Espana and Giro d'Italia before grabbing the pink jersey with just two stages to go.
Going downhill was one of the things that made Nibali great. His balletic poise on the bike while travelling at speeds of 100kp/h would see him power to victory, sometimes wheelie-ing over the tricky trickles of icy water.
It was a surprise that he didn't win the legendary season- opening'monument' from Milan-San Remo more than once.
In the year of 2018, 'The Shark' blew away his rivals with a fast run into San Remo.
It's fitting that Nibali ends his World Tour career in Italy, where he is the only Italian rider in recent times to come close to past heroes, given he is the only one in recent times to do so.
Nibali told Eurosport that winning can be addicting. It's a mixture of emotions that goes to your soul but also your head when you cross the finish line.
He said he couldn't forget that he left home when he was 15. It's time to give back to the people who sacrificed things for me now that I'm done with cycling.
His speciality is a one-day race, which is why he will be at home.
There was a time in his career when he was almost unbeatable. He won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege four times.
Even though he did win the Vuelta a Espana in 2009, his frame was perfect for the short, sharp climbs of Belgium.
"Liege-Bastogne-Liege is a really hard race, very demanding," he said. Any World Tour race is difficult. The race atmosphere is very special and the race also suits my characteristics.
His career has been decorated and he is treated royally by his team. The Spanish squad's struggles on the road and in the team bus were highlighted in a documentary.
His CV is seen by some as lacking. Britain has a lot to do with that, given the country's success in the Sky/Ineos era, which often put paid to the efforts of both these matriarchs of the peloton.
He remembers that one of the greatest races of his life was a victory after the death of his friend.
The races are beautiful, but the year I won was a bit more special because it was the year after I won the race.
Another goodfella was Scarponi. After a total of five seasons with them and 17 on the road, Nibali will end his career with them.
The results in recent years haven't come easily, but the pair coming over the line within 10 seconds of each other for first and second in a shortened stage of the Tour de France demonstrates why they were so admired.
The riders and their fans are going to have to get used to the fact that the peloton will soon lose two of its legends.
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