• Road World Championships

Cavendish blazes to gold in Denmark

Mark Cavendish is the new world champion © PA Photos

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Mark Cavendish cemented his status as the world's best sprinter with a thrilling victory in the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Denmark.

The Manxman topped an impressive season, outsprinting Australian Matt Goss to add the rainbow jersey to the green jersey he won at this year's Tour de France - becoming the first man to complete the double since Belgium's Freddy Maertens in 1981.

It was a superb team performance from the British team, whose tactics were geared towards ushering Cavendish to the final stages in a sprint finish. The seven-man GB train were in control for much of the 266km race, dictating the pace at the head of the peloton and chasing down an early breakaway group which had established an eight-minute lead.

The Australian team made a move in the closing stages to release Goss, and although Cavendish appeared to be blocked on the inside, he found a gap and powered through to claim a narrow victory and become the first British champion since Tom Simpson in 1965. Cavendish's rival Andre Greipel claimed the bronze medal in a photo finish from Fabian Cancellara.

"We had eight of the best guys in the world. It was incredible, we took it on from start to finish," Cavendish said. "Three years ago when this course was announced we put a plan together to come with the best group of guys to this race and bring the rainbow jersey back to Britain.

"It's been three years in the making - the guys have worked so hard to collect points throughout the season to get eight riders here and then they rode incredible. I'm so proud."

Reigning world champion Thor Hushovd of Norway was one of a number of big names who lost time after a crash on the sixth of the race's 17 laps around the Copenhagen suburb of Rudersdal.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.