He dominated the competition.
The Italian Filippo Ganna won the time trial of the cycling world championships on Friday, organized this year in his country, around the Imola racing circuit.
The rider, usually a member of the Ineos-Grenadiers formation, beat Belgian Wout Van Aert, second at 26 seconds, and Swiss Stefan Küng, third at 29 seconds.
Briton Geraint Thomas, winner of the 2018 Tour de France, finished fourth ahead of Australian Rohan Dennis, title holder.
The first Frenchman Rémi Cavagna, author of a good time on Saturday on the Tour de France at the Planche des Belles Filles (6th), takes seventh place at 48 seconds.
The Blues bet on Alaphilippe on Sunday
Ganna, 24, completed the 31.7 kilometer course at an average of almost 53 km / h.
World champion in pursuit, he gave Italy his first title in this event, which has been on the World Championships since 1994.
The road race for the Worlds takes place on Sunday on much rougher terrain than the very flat course on Friday.
Julian Alaphilippe will be the best French chance in a race where Wout Van Aert, silver on the clock and impressive on the Grande Boucle (2 stage victories) with the Jumbo-Visma, will be among the favorites.