Hans-Peter Durst began Germany’s success in the Italian town with a strong display in the Italian town, completing the 11.4 kilometre men’s T2 course in a time of 18min 22.40 sec.

The United States’ Steven Peace and Spain’s Joan Reinoso Figuerola achieved times of 20:00.08 and 20:19.42 respectively to finish second and third.

Five-time Paralympic champion Michael Teuber also finished top of the podium, with the 49-year-old German clocking 16:35.34 to win the C1 time trial.

Teuber, who won the event at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, ended 27.62 clear of his compatriot Erich Winkler.

The podium was completed by Giancarlo Masini, with the Italian ending a further four seconds back.

Kerstin Brachtendorf continued Germany’s fine start in the women’s C5 class, as she won the event in 16:43.19.

Britain’s Crystal Lane and Canada’s Nicole Clermont would claim podium positions, coming home with times 37.92 and 42.06 slower than the winner.

Denise Schindler was the sole competitor in the women’s C3 event, with the German achieving a time of 17:25.91 in the event.

Ireland also enjoyed a positive opening day of competition, with Colin Lynch delivering the first of their two gold medals.

Lynch completed the men’s C2 event in a time of 16:05.64, with Canada’s Tristen Chernove ending narrowly adrift in second, 3.23 shy of the winner’s time.

Arslan Gilmutdinov was also close to earning victory, with the Russian a further second back.

Ireland’s second gold was earned by a more comfortable margin, with Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal triumphing in the women’s tandem event in a time of 32:23.72.

Canada’s Robbi Weldon and Audrey Lemieux were 1:34.19 slower on the 24km course, with their compatriots Shawna Ryan and Joanie Caron taking bronze, nearly one minute behind.

Steve Bate and Adam Duggleby of Britain won the men’s event in 28.59.81, finishing 37.82 clear of the Netherlands’ Vincent Ter Schure and Timo Fransen.

Spain’s Ignacio Avila Rodriguez and Joan Font Bertoli were 1:07.28 behind the winners to take bronze.

“Adam and I haven’t done that much,” said Bate.

“We’ve enjoyed a winter off really so it’s nice to come back and stake a claim at the top of podium.

“We thought we’d come here and go well.

“It’s really encouraging thinking about the training I’ve got ahead now.

“There’s certainly a lot more to come.”

The women’s T1 title was earned by Yulia Sibagatova in a time of 25:58.95, with the Russian’s sole rival Shelley Gautier of Canada ending 53.40 behind.

Jill Walsh claimed the T2 crown, as the American’s time of 20.58.92 was 29.60 faster than her Australian rival Carol Cooke’s effort.

Germany’s Jana Majunke was a minute slower than the victory in third.

France’s Quentin Aubague secured the men’s T1 event in 22:14.73, while Russia’s Sergei Semochkin was 36.46 behind to win silver.

The Czech Republic’s Jiri Hindr won bronze in 23:56.77.

There was a victory for Canada’s Michael Sametz in the men’s C3 time trial, as he achieved a winning time of 31:45.82.

Russia’s Sergey Ustinov and New Zealand’s Fraser Sharp were over one minute behind to round off the podium places.

Australia’s Kyle Brigwood and Brazil’s Lauro Cesar Chaman won the men’s C4 and C5 events in times of 30:33.28 and 30:43.20 respectively.

Alyda Norbruis of the Netherlands and Australia’s Meg Lemon won the women’s C2 and C4 races in 18:20.76 and 17.38.88.

Road racing will take place tomorrow and Sunday (May 14), when the event will draw to a close.