The home favourite clocked a time of 1min 30.13sec in the final, 1.11 seconds quicker than Olympic champion Molmenti, to earn his first World Cup gold medal.

The pair squeezed into the final earlier in the day, taking the last two spots from the semi-final with Molmenti slightly quicker down the fast channel.

Like Molmenti, De Gennaro incurred a two-second penalty on his final run, but both had enough flat line speed to offset the two-second deficit.

"I feel great, it’s awesome to share this moment with my friends and family," said De Gennaro.

"The crowd was amazing and the atmosphere was brilliant.

"I have been waiting for this moment for a long time."

Poland’s Dariusz Popiela posted a penalty-free time of 1:31.58 to take the bronze medal. 

Czech Republic’s Michal Jane won the C1M with his time of 1:33.37 bettering that of Switzerland’s Thomas Koechlin by 2.22 seconds

France’s Kilian Foulon completed the podium in 1:39.61 as the top three all posted clean runs.

Five-time Olympic medallist Michal Martikan of Slovakia was the quickest to the line but received a 50-second penalty on gate 24 that relegated him to ninth place.

Australia’s Jessica Fox continued her domination of the C1W class, registering a time of 1:53.92 to fend off Britain’s Mallory Franklin and Kimberley Woods, the silver and bronze medallists in 1:54.17 and 1:54.89 respectively.

Action in Ivrea is due to conclude tomorrow with the K1W and C2M semi-finals and finals.