Italy's Filippo Ganna will start 90 seconds ahead of his Ineos Grenadiers teammate and time trial world champion Rohan Dennis.

Ganna recently beat Dennis in the Tirreno Adriatico 10km time trial, setting a new course record and beating Dennis by 26 seconds. Ganna won the bronze medal in Yorkshire last year behind Dennis and Remco Evenpole (Belgium), but was caught and passed by Dennis in the 54 km time trial. [The two are part of a special Ineos bubble at this year's World Championships, created by a wealthy WorldTour team to protect riders from the risk of COVID-19 infection a week before the start of the Giro d'Italia.

According to Cycling News, Geraint Thomas is also part of the Ineos protective bubble, rather than staying with the British Federation team. Ineos provides safe accommodation, carers, mechanics and a chef, and is coordinated by the team's Australian director sportif, Brett Lancaster.

Being together has undoubtedly deepened their friendship, but it has also strengthened their friendly rivalry.

"Certainly Rohan is no loser. His results show it," Ganna said at the Italian team's video press conference about Dennis and his impressive time trial results. We are teammates, almost like brothers, but the World Championships are different."

"Actually, I can only learn from him. I beat him in Tirreno and he is in great shape and motivated. I just hope he is not as strong as he was last year and that he does not catch up with me."

Ganna is only 24 years old, but has made great progress since leaving UAE Team Emirates for Ineos Grenadiers. He is a two-time winner of the individual Pursuit event at the Track World Championships and the current Italian national time trial champion. With Vincenzo Nibali doubting his form in Sunday's road race, Ganna is Italy's best hope of winning a world title in Imola after Italy replaced Switzerland as host nation for the UCI Road World Championships.

"No extra pressure," he said. I'm still in good shape." I've climbed to high altitude for my final training for the Giro d'Italia. The time trial in Tirreno was 20km shorter than this 31km course, so I have to judge my effort.

"This is my second Elite World Championships and I want to do well again. It won't be easy this year, but I'm not running just to make it count. When I cross the finish line and stop the clock I will know how good I am."

Ganna revealed that she had seen Chloe Dejerre's high-speed crash in the women's time trial, suggesting that she would be more cautious on that section of the course.

"We went fast in training and we practiced our race plan on the course," Ganna said, recognizing the risks of time trials in a bid for the world title.

"You have to keep your hands down on the brakes in that section. The guardrails are like razors, you never know what can happen when you hit them. I hope Chloe Dygert is okay and makes a full recovery."