Filippo Ganna on Friday became the first Italian to win the men’s time trial at the road cycling world championships — and he did it on home turf.
Ganna was the penultimate rider to set off and he was cheered on passionately by Italian fans lining the 32-kilometer (20-mile) route, which started and ended on Imola’s auto racing circuit.
The 24-year-old beat Wout van Aert of Belgium by 26.72 seconds. Swiss cyclist Stefan Küng was third, 29.8 seconds behind Ganna.
Two-time defending champion Rohan Dennis of Australia was only fifth fastest, behind British cyclist Geraint Thomas.
The worlds were moved to Imola after Swiss host Aigle-Martigny backed out because of a government ruling limiting mass gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The revised event features only elite men’s and women’s categories, eliminating junior and under-23 races.
The women’s road race takes place on Saturday and the men’s road race on Sunday — exactly a week after the Tour de France ended.
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