The Briton took silver in the senior W21 class in 2012, bronze in 2014, gold in 2016 and silver in 2017.

On this occasion, returning after a year out to have a child, she most successfully negotiated the many narrow streets, passages and fences in Viborg town centre to finish in 22min 08sec, some 39 seconds clear of nearest challenger, Veronika Kubínová of the Czech Republic.

Fellow Briton Clare Dallimore was third, 43 seconds behind the winner.

It was the first time two British riders had won medals in the same WMTBOC race.

Russia also had two medallists in senior men’s race as Anton Foliforov, the defending champion and four-times winner, finished behind compatriot Grigory Medvedev, the silver medallist of 2018.

Medvedev won in 22:27, with Foliforov a second behind and Yoann Courtois of France third in 22:38.

The World Junior Championships are running concurrently and home rider Thomas Steinthal produced a golden performance in the M20 junior class as he finished in 17:34.

Czech Republic’s Jan Hasek was four seconds behind and Danil Buzovkin of Russia finished in 18:48.

In the women’s W21 race, France’s Lilou Pauly won world junior sprint gold in 14:29, with home rider Nikoline Splittorf second in 15:00 and Finland’s Kaarina Nurminen third on 15:19.

More than 140 riders – 89 men and 55 women – from 25 countries will compete at the Championships.

Middle-distance races are due to be contested on Tuesday (July 30).