Cosnefroy had joined a late attack by Germany’s Lennard Kämna on the tenth and final lap of the 191 kilometre course.

Kämna had initially followed a move by France’s Benjamin Thomas on the climb up Salmon Hill, but he would eventually be caught on the descent by Cosnefroy.

The pair worked impressively together, as they sought to hold off a reduced chase group, which were seeking to set up a sprint finish to the line.

Heading into the closing kilometre the duo had a narrow advantage, but they proved able to hold on as Cosnefroy opened the sprint.

The Frenchman had enough to stay clear of Kämna to take the gold in a time of 4hr, 48min and 23sec, with his German rival earning silver in the same time.

Denmark’s Michael Carbel Svendgaard pipped Britain’s Oliver Wood to bronze, as he led the chasing pack across the line just three seconds adrift of the winner and runner-up.

“I had a brilliant level of team support, that really helped me to save my energy right up to the last lap,” Cosnefroy said.

“I knew that a World Championships is often won on the last lap and I waited right until then.

“I was worried about using up energy by going full out on the descent, but then I said to myself, you might as well try, you don’t want to leave this race with any regrets.”

“I said to myself I had to try with the break, it was one chance out of two, winning is just incredible.”

The women’s junior race saw another attack prove key on Salmon Hill, with Italy’s Elena Pirrone making her bid for victory on the penultimate ascent of the climb.

Having won the time trial gold on Monday (September 18), the Italian was able to double her account by staying clear until the finish of the 76.4km race.

She would cross the line in 2:06:17 to achieve the same double managed by the United States’ Chloe Dygert at the 2015 World Championships.

Emma Norsgaard Jorgensen of Denmark finished as the silver medallist, leading the chasers over the line at 12 seconds back.

She was followed by Letizia Paternoster, with the Italian joining her gold medal winning team-mate on the podium.

The men’s junior and women’s elite road races will take place tomorrow, which will be the penultimate day of the Championships.