Mark Cavendish has become the first Briton for 46 years to win the road race title at a world championship.
Cavendish, who has 20 Tour de France stages to hs name, won a mass sprint at the end of the 260 kilometre race, beating Australia's Mathew Goss and the German Andre Greipel into the minor placings.
The Isle of Man rider succeeds Norway's Thor Hushovd who lost all chance when he was held up by a massive crash with 85 kms left.
The top New Zealand riders Greg Henderson, Jack Bauer and Julian Dean finished just outside the top 100, nearly nine minutes behind the winner.
