It was a near-perfectly paced ride from the 2022 Vuelta a España general classification winner to cross the line after 55min 19.23sec.

Italy's Filippo Ganna, who is a track cycling Olympic champion, came across the line 12.28 later.

The 2020 and 2021 world time trial gold medallist Ganna was then followed by British 19-year-old Joshua Tarling who was 48.20 off the pace.

Evenepoel powered up the cobbled climb to Stirling Castle, around 30 miles from Glasgow, to complete the 47.8-kilometre ride and become the first Belgian man to win the title.

"It's amazing and this was one of my biggest goals of the season," the 23-year-old said.

"And to do it on a tough course which is not perfect for my weight is special.

"At the second intermediate I knew I was ahead and I still had some terrain to come which was better for me but the final climb to the finish was brutal, a knife in the legs."

Tarling's performance turned a few heads, including the likes of 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas.

The Welshman finished 10th on the day as he gears up for this year's Vuelta which begins on August 26.

"He's a big boy," Thomas said of Tarling.

"He's got power and this is his forte.

"It's unbelievable to see him riding so well so early in his career and he's got a bright future."

In the Para cycling events, seven-time Paralympic gold medallist Oksana Masters of the United States won her first world championships title in the sport.

Masters finished the women's H5 road race after 1:32:00 to beat Dutchwoman Chantal Haenen and Germany's Andrea Eskau by a whisker.