Setting an early marker time for the bigger riders to come was Matteo Sobrero of Team Jayco AlUla, posting an effort of 13:51.
Rigoberto Uran threatened to post a faster time, going quicker than Sobrero at the intermediate time check. The Colombian faded somewhat in the second half however, eventually coming home 24 seconds down.
A teammate of
Remco Evenepoel, Mattia Cattaneo then came closest to Sobrero's time, missing out by just 8 seconds at the line.
Finally, Sobrero was unseated by the INEOS Grenadiers rider, Magnus Sheffield. The American clocking a time of 13:42.
Jay Vine posted a good time, putting himself in a provisional fifth place when he crossed the line, 16 seconds down on Sheffield.
The European time-trial champion, Stefan Bisseger narrowly missed out on Sheffield's time, finishing 8 seconds slower.
Stefan Kung then eclipsed Sheffield by 11 seconds. With
Wout van Aert unable to match the Swiss rider, finishing 10 seconds slower, Kung just had to wait for Remco Evenepoel.
The winner of two Giro d'Italia time-trials wasn't at the same level here though, coming home second, six seconds behind Stefan Kung.