A tale of two bubbles, from Team Dennis to Team Ineos A year ago, Rohan Dennis was preparing for a lonely time trial for the UCI Road World Championships when his contract was terminated by Bahrain-Merida after he abandoned the Tour de France.

Despite not racing for 10 weeks, Dennis successfully defended his title on a no-brand bike, and the slogan on his wife Melissa Hoskins' baseball cap was a straightforward reference to the Australian's contractual status.

Twelve months later, Dennis could now rely on support from his trade team for the World Championship time trial on Friday. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Dennis is staying at the Ineos Grenadiers in Imola instead of joining the national team at their hotel.

World Championship rivals Filippo Ganna (ITA) and Geraint Thomas (GBR) are also staying at the Ineos Grenadiers in Emilia Romagna. The three riders could compete in the Giro d'Italia, which features three time trials, and the British team has opted to limit contact for the Corsa Rosa, which opens in Palermo on October 3.

Dennis, Ganna, and Thomas will participate in the individual time trial but will miss the road race at the Imola World Championships.

In Innsbruck and Yorkshire, Dennis will be directed by Brad McGee to win, but the Australian national coach was unable to travel to Europe due to a coronavirus outbreak. 2004 Olympic Team Pursuit Gold with McGee Medalist Brett Lancaster of Ineos Directeur Sportif drives behind Dennis on Friday afternoon.

Denis has raced twice since the season resumed in August, at the Tour de Pollogne and Tirreno-Adriatico. This final stage was his third time trial in the rainbow jersey this year, following his second place in the Australian championships in January and the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve in February.

Ganna was 26 seconds ahead of Dennis at 10 km on the Tirreno-Adriatico stage. However, Dennis had a strong Tour de France a year ago, and former BMC director Marco Pinotti, alongside Ganna, has listed him as a five-star candidate for Friday's 31.7-km flat and fast test.

The defending champion did not hold a pre-race press conference ahead of the Imola World Championships, instead making a brief statement through Cycling Australia.

"The World Championships have been on my mind throughout the competition. Regardless of the category, it is a great honor to race in the rainbow jersey. Like Tony Martin and countryman Michael Rogers, Dennis, who is aiming to win the World Championship time trial for the third year in a row, said, "Every time I put on the rainbow jersey, I am racing to win."

"I'm in good shape, it's always special to be part of the most important race of the year, but to have the chance to be in contention for the win three years in a row and join the ranks of the special champions who have achieved this feat is amazing."

Luke Durbridge, who beat Dennis to the Australian time trial title in January, will also be in action at Imola. Durbridge, who belongs to Mitchelton Scott, was the 2011 under-23 time trial champion in Copenhagen. His results at the elite-level World Championships are not commensurate with his pedigree, but this year's route seems to fit his characteristics.

"I really like the course, it's really fast," Durbridge said. 'It's pretty short, but it has a lot of different aspects to it.' I think it will be a good spectacle, with some nice runs rolling down the back straight with the vineyards on the side. It's a good track for me, I like it and I'm looking forward to it."