Cheered on by a partisan home crowd, the Yorkshireman destroyed the field with a impressive run to underline his status as triathlon's outstanding athlete and an early gold medal favourite for London 2012.

 

It was the 21-year-old Briton's fourth victory from the four world series events he has entered, lifting him to the top of the elite rankings following earlier victories in the series in Kitzbuhel, Washington DC and Madrid.

 

He will now go into the final race of the Series in Australia on September 13 top of the rankings an in favourite to claim the top prize of being named world champion.

 

The only blot on the afternoon was the abrupt end to his eagerly-awaited duel with closest rival Javier Gomez, who had beaten to win the European Championship last month, after the Spaniard crashed during the cycling, leaving him with large grazes across his back and shoulders.

 

Britain's Tim Don finished in ninth while Brownlee's brother Jonathan came 27th.

 

The Brownlees were prominent as the field left the water, Alistair in fourth and Jon fifth with Gomez ahead in third.

 

Perfect conditions ensured a fast pace was set in the cycling with the Brownlees embedded in a leading group that included a large Russian contingent.

 

Alarmed that the gap with the chasing pack was being whittled away, Alistair cajoled those around him to increase the tempo but the two groups eventually merged.

 

Gomez and Jarrod Shoemaker of the United States crashed out and the drama continued during a chaotic second transition that saw breakaway leaders Ruedi Wild and Bruno Pais set off on an extra lap, unaware they had already completed the designated 10 despite the bell being rung.

 

A crash in the transition area held back both Brownlees but Alistair soon led the running - his strongest discipline.

 

By the midway stage he was out on his own and as he charged down the home straight a quick look over his shoulder confirmed he was in an unassailable position ahead of Germany’s Steffen Justus, who took silver, and Kris Gemmell from New Zealand who took bronze.

 

Brownlee said:  “I can’t believe it.

 

"It was tough. It’s great to win at home.

 

"The crowd was unbelievable, one of the best I’ve ever raced in front of.

 

"The atmosphere was incredible.

“I couldn’t have expected this at the beginning of the season."

 

Earlier Britain's Helen Jenkins (pictured), the defending world champion, was edged out into bronze medal place in a dramatic race to the line in the women's event.

Switzerland's European champion Nicola Spirig secured victory at the event beating second-placed Lisa Norden from Sweden and Jenkins, who had earlier led for much of the run phase, in a thrilling final sprint finish.

Jenkins said: “It’s brilliant to have all the support [from the crowd] when you’re running through and when me and Jodie Stimpson are both running together at the front.

 

"It was great to have two British triathletes up there for the first bit of the run.

 

"A finish on the podium in front of the home crowd is just great.”

Spirig secured the top place in the final metres of the race despite a difficult cycle leg which saw her close a 42 second gap coming out of the swim to join the lead pack of riders.

The three women were neck-and-neck going into the final straight but Norden admitted she did not have anything left to hold off Spirig’s sprint finish.