Cancellara dominanted on the pan-flat 10.1 kilometres course in San Benedetto del Tronto to set a formidable time of 11min 8.00sec.

The four-time world and Beijing 2008 Olympic champion is attempting to return to his best form in what he plans to be his final year as a professional before retiring after Rio 2016.

In catching not only the rider who started a minute ahead of him, but also the one who started two minutes before him, he showed he is already close to his best.

The 34-year-old Trek-Segafredo rider finished 13 seconds clear of France's Johan Le Bon, who finished in a surprise second place in a race that is part of the UCI WorldTour. 

Germany's London 2012 silver medallist Tony Martin finished third, one place ahead of British time trial champion Alex Dowsett.

It followed on from Cancellara's victory in the time trial at the Volta ao Algarve last month, where he also finished ahead of Martin.

Van Avermaet, who started the day seven seconds clear of Czech Republic's Zdenek Stybar in a congested overall classification, did enough to hang on for the overall victory.

He became the first Belgian rider to win Tirreno-Adriatico since Roger de Vlaeminck in 1977.

It came despite a late burst from Slovakia's Peter Sagan, who got within one second overall after a strong time trial. 

A disappointing time trial by Stybar saw him fall to seventh overall as Luxembourg's Bob Jungels finished third overall, 23 seconds behind the winner. 

Most of the riders in the field will now focus on the Milan-San Remo race, which is also part of the UCI WorldTour, on Saturday (March 19).