The Briton races that distance in an attempt to regain the world individual time trial title on Thursday at this lakeside resort where six world road championships will be decided starting on Wednesday.
Boardman, a double world number one two years ago, has already reclaimed the world 4,000 metres pursuit track crown and the world hour record, following his disappointing 39th overall placing in the Tour de France.
Success on Thursday will cap seven weeks in which Boardman will have won two world titles, set two world records and also mopped up five time-trial victories.
The race marks the end of a hectic 14 months re-establishing himself after a crash cut short his 1995 season. A close-season priority is to have surgical pins removed from the ankle he shattered in that fall.
The world road and track championships, traditionally combined over a two-week period, have been separated this season so that the road racers find themselves title-chasing nine months after their crammed season began.
``World championships are about finding the best riders. July or August is the best time, not October,'' said Boardman. ``Some big names are on form and several ordinary riders will be motivated, but for many the season is finished.
``Because I had a bad Tour I wanted to do something to salvage my season. It was a shame that there were not so many high-profile targets for me.''
Boardman is braced for a fierce challenge in Thursday's 40.4 kms time trial. ``Tony Rominger and Alex Zuelle will be motivated because the championships are in their country, and if I were Rominger I would be after my scalp for taking the world hour record.
``Zuelle should be fired up after winning the Tour of Spain, and the time trial course with two distinct hills should suit him.
``They are the most dangerous, but I am reasonably confident. I took a hiding in the Tour because I had a viral infection. Now I am enjoying the best form of my life. I am not just maintaining that level but building on it.''
Boardman took bronze in the Olympic time trial, beaten by Miguel Indurain and Abraham Olano. It was a gold-silver repeat for Spain of last year's world time trial championship in Colombia.
Olympic and world number one Indurain has decided not to defend the world title in Lugano, and Boardman said: ``I do not believe that Olano will be in shape for this.''
Olano also won the last professional road race championship in Colombia but Sunday's race over 252 kms is wide open, with the winner becoming the first champion of the ``elites,'' the new class amalgamating professionals and leading amateurs.
France's threatening challenge comes from Laurent Jalabert and Richard Virenque while the hosts have Olympic champion Pascal Richard, Laurent Dufaux and Rominger.
Denmark provide Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis, and the Italian assault is headed by in-form Gianni Bugno, world champion in 1991 and 1992.
The women's time trial over 26.4 kms opens the four-day programme on Wednesday when French defending champion Jeannie Longo will be keen to put behind her an Olympic defeat by Russian Zulfia Zabirova.
Longo and Fabiana Luperini, winner of the women's Tour de France, are also highly rated for Saturday's 100 kms road race.
Born November 10 1969, Isola della Scala. Professional since 1993. Teams: Mecair (93), Gewiss (since 94). Major Victories: 1993: 1 stage Trois Jours de La Panne, 1 stage Settima bergamasca. 1994: 1 stage Tour de France (Portsmouth - Portsmouth), 1 stage Catalan Week, 2 stages Tour de Romandie. 1995: Paris - Tours, 1 stage Giro d'Italia, 3 stages Vuelta a Espana, 2 stages Tirreno - Adriatico, 1 stage Vuelta a Valencia, 3 stages Catalan Week, 1 stage Vuelta a Aragon, 3 stages Tour of Denmark. 1996: Paris - Tours, 4 stages Vuelta a Espana, 2 stages du Tour de Burgos, 1 stage Tour of Denmark.