Pallant, a 1500 metres bronze medallist on the track at the 2008 World Junior Championships, switched sports following a succession of injuries which meant she struggled to make the breakthrough to senior ranks.

Lack of swimming ability  has prevented her from making a serious impression in the triathlon but she has proved formidable over the run-bike-run event.

Midway through the 40 kilometres cycle-leg, the 26-year-old broke clear in a group of three with French defending champion Sandra Levenez and Japanese rival Ai Ueda. 

Australia's Gillian Backhouse made a late charge but the leading trio remained in the podium positions after the concluding 5km run, with Pallant breaking away from fast finishing Ueda to win by 30 seconds in 1 hour 58min 21sec.

Levenez faded to third in 1:59:24

“During the bike the three of us were working as a team to stay away but when Gillian came up to us it suddenly became a lot more tactical and we kept trying to break each other," said the winner.

“I knew the quality of girls around me and I knew it was going to be a fight to finish, but I felt good going onto the final run.”

In the men's race, 2012 world gold medallist Martin reaped the benefits of aggressive tactics, leading from start to finish to win by eight seconds in 1:47:11 ahead of France's defending champion Benoit Nicolas.

Britain's Mark Buckingham finished a distant third almost a minute behind the winner in 1:48:09.

“It is very important to win here because three years ago I won and last year I came third," said Martin.

"This year I came out with race number four and I took a chance and I won. I am very happy to win this championship for Spain."

Belgium's 2013 champion Rob Woestenborghs finished fourth in what is expected to be his final World Championship appearence. 

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