Evans, 32, defied his reputation as cycling's nearly man to win the rainbow jersey ahead of Russia's Alexandr Kolobnev, who took silver, and Joaquin Rodriguez of Spain in third.
 

The trio led home an elite group of 22 riders at the end of 262.2 kilometres around the Swiss town of Mendrisio.

For Evans the win was a good end to a disappointing year.
 

He had failed to live up to expectations in the Tour de France after finishing second in 2008 and was denied a win in the Tour of Spain by a puncture.

Evans - who lives nearby during the season - was only too happy to make amends.

He said: "The finish line is three kilometres away from my home away from home, so to win a world title here, after having seven World Championship medals at home, none of which are gold, is quite exceptional given the bad luck I've encountered this season.

"I'm very proud to win the first elite world championships for Australia."
 

The British team were able to enter the maximum nine riders for the first time thanks to ranking points accumulated by the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.
 

But three Britons were confirmed as non-finishers - David Millar, Ian Stannard and Russell Downing dropped out before the end - while none of the other six were close to contention.
 

Millar crashed early in the race and Downing had to expend a great deal of energy dragging him back into the peloton.

Millar said: "The team was riding excellently, that's what is gutting about it.
 

The British team now head home without any medals from these Championships despite travelling with expectations in the time-trials and the women's road race.
 

But while Wiggins, Emma Pooley and Nicole Cooke had realistic chances to do well in those, the men's road race was not thought to suit the British team even if their trump card, Cavendish, had been fit to ride.
 

Coach Rod Ellingworth had said they were aiming for a top-20 placing and to use the race as a team-building exercise ahead of next year's race in Melbourne when the flat finish will be much more to the liking of Cavendish.
 

The Isle of Man rider, who pulled out with a lung infection, has established himself as the world's leading sprinter in the last two seasons and will be among the favourites.
 

Millar said: "The team as a whole is riding incredibly well and that's something we'll carry forward to the next worlds where the course will suit Mark very well."