Norwegian God of Thunder Thor Hushovd sprints to world championship victory in Elite Men's Road Race at 2010 UCI Road Cycling World Championships. Denmark's Matti Breschel wins silver and Australia's Allan Davis takes the Bronze medal.

Norwegian God of Thunder Thor Hushovd (normally riding for Cervelo TestTeam and from 2011 for Team Gamin-Cervelo) won the road world championship in Australia this morning, charging clear of a bunch sprint on the final straight to edge out Denmark's Matti Breschel in a dramatic finish thereby becoming the new World Champion. Watch Thor Hushovd become the new World Champion in our Roadcycling.com videos section (US distribution rights only).

Hushovd completed the 257.2 kilometer race in 6 hours, 21 minutes, 49 seconds, powering away in the last uphill sprint to beat Breschel and Davis who were credited with the same time. Filippo Pozzato of Italy was fourth and Greg van Avermaet of Belgium fifth.

"It's a dream ... It was amazing, I'm speechless," the two-time Tour de France points champion and multiple Tour de France stage winner Thor Hushovd said in a televised interview after crossing the line on his Cervelo bike in 6 hours 21 minutes and 49 seconds.

Hushovd added "Now I will just enjoy this, try to enjoy every day ... just look at the jersey because I had this chance and maybe it won't happen again."

Frank Schleck of Luxemborg was 16th and defending champion Cadel Evans of Australia was 17th among a field of 178 riders. The first 18 finishers were credited with the same time as Hushovd.

Thor Hushovd is the new World Champion! Congratulations Thor from the whole team here at Roadcycling.com! Photo Fotoreporter Sirotti.

Hushovd claimed his first world championship road title on a hilly course between Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria state. Nicknamed "the God of Thunder", Hushovd is one of the world's top sprinters, having won the green jersey for overall points classification on the Tour de France.

A group of five low-profile riders made the first breakaway in Sunday's race, building a lead of 23 minutes as the peleton was content to sit back and let them lead out. The lead was still more than 20 minutes when the leaders started the first of 11 laps of a 15.9km course in Geelong city.

The peloton reduced the gap and reeled in the leaders well before the finish. Evans, the hometown favorite, and other favorite Philippe Gilbert were both among a crucial chase group that formed with about 100 kilometers to go, but Thor Hushovd was left behind in the chasing pack. "For a while, of course, I thought it was over for the peloton at that moment," Hushovd explained to Roadcycling.com.

On the third-last lap, the lead group broke up but Evans managed to stay near the front. The race re-formed and at the start of the last lap there were 32 riders at the front, featuring all the eventual medalists. Cadel Evans' title defense succumbed on the final straight after he was prominent throughout. A strong and very impressive performance by the defending world champion.

Photo Fotoreporter Sirotti.

Pre-race favourite Philippe Gilbert of Belgium attacked on the first of two big climbs and built a lead of 21 seconds, chased by Evans and a small group of riders. The peleton then roared past that group and Hushovd dashed to the front on the last uphill leg.

"Right now, I'm really disappointed about coming so close and still not be able to take the win. The setup was perfectly created by Anders Lund and Chris Anker Sørensen (teammates on the Danish national team) and I gave it everything I had but Thor (Hushovd) was simply stronger than I. I'm looking forward to a rematch on home ground in Copenhagen next year," silver medalist Matti Breschel told Roadcycling.com.

Ted King (Cervelo TestTeam) was the top American finisher in 73rd place in what played out as a race of attrition. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Transitions), Danny Pate (Garmin-Transitions) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) all finished as a part of the second main group.

Twenty-two year old Van Garderen had a notable performance for the U.S. team, making the final selection with approximately 30 kilometers remaining. The youngster was however forced to abandon before the finish.

"The plan was to help Tyler out, so we were drifting the climbs a little bit," Van Garderen commented after the finish and added "I was getting a little nervous though because every time we'd do that a group would go off the front. I was thinking this could be a little dangerous so one of the moves I just jumped with and that ended up being the move."

The whole team here at Roadcycling.com and Roadcycling.mobi congratulates Thor Hushovd on his great and powerful win! Well done Thor!

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Watch 2010 World Road Cycling Championships video highlights in our Roadcycling.com videos section shortly after each event. (Only access from the USA)

Click here for complete 2010 Cycling World Championships Elite Men's Road Race results and more photos.