Alistair, 22, was locked in a fascinating battle with Javier Gomez of Spain over the final 10 kilometres run around the heart of the Hungarian capital, and went on to claim an exceptional win, pulling away in the final 500 metres.

Two hours later, his younger brother, Jonathan, 20, was crowned world champion after an emphatic win.

Jonathan's hopes of retaining the title, which is awarded over a series seven races held acrros three continents between April and September, he had won last year disappeared before the season even started when he suffered a stress fracture and missed the opening two races in Sydney and Seoul.

The Yorkshireman bounced back when he won the third event, in Madrid, in June.

That was then followed by a disastrous performance at Hyde Park in London where he hit the wall and needed medical attention after finishing tenth, his first defeat in the World Championship series.

Hopes that he would quickly bounce back were dashed in Kitzbühel when he faded again on the run to finish 40th.

"This year has been really hard," said Brownlee (pictured).

"It's great to come here and win."

Gomez took advantage of a poor performance from Germany's Olympic champion Jan Frodeno, who had started the day as the Series leader but slipped back badly in the run to finish 41st and fall out of the overall top three, finishing fourth.

It meant Gomez (pictured) regained the title he won in 2008 but lost last year to Brownlee.

"The second Championship feels even better than the first," said Gomez, 27.

"I had to fight so hard for it today.

"I would have loved to win today's race as well, but winning the world title was the goal, so I couldn't be happier."

Despite his problems, Brownlee still finished sixth overall in the final rankings.

"In terms of training and fitness I'm not the athlete I was last year," Brownlee said.

"Maybe in my head I raced a bit better today - I used my strengths tactically

"The last five-six weeks have been really hard with that heat exhaustion, fatigue and injury at the beginning of the year.

"It’s fantastic to come out and race here today.

"I really didn’t know how it was going to go.
 
 Jonathan started his battle for the under-23 world title minutes after Alistair had won.
The swim start was 5km from the finish area, so he had not seen his brothers race unfold.

Jonathan got to the front of the swim, raced aggressively on the bike, and started the run leg with a lead that stretched as the race went on.

He had plenty of time to celebrate as he weaved up to the finishing line to claim the under-23 world title - which Alistair also won in 2008 - by 27 seconds from New Zealand's Ryan Sissons.
 
"It was a real hard race," said Jonathan Brownlee, who added the title to the ITU Sprint Triathlon World Championship crown he had claimed in Lausanne last month.

"I started the run and straight away got a gap of five seconds.

"I didn’t slow down at all till the last 100m.

"I wasn’t easing up at all, I was going as hard as I could, but I really enjoyed the last 100m.

"Our start was five minutes after Alistair finished.

"I heard some commentary but it wasn’t in English so I couldn’t understand it but I knew from the British coaches that he had won.

"I’m really pleased for Alistair as it’s been a bit of a strange season for him."

The women's world under-23 title was won by Australia's Emma Jackson.


Related stories
July 2010: Brownlee hits wall as Gomez wins in Hyde Park
July 2010: Brownlee looking to defend London title against star-studded field
July 2010: Spaniard sounds warning to Brownlee with brilliant victory in Hamburg
July 2010: Alistair Brownlee wins European triathlon title
June 2010: Brilliant Brownlee caps comeback with sensational World Championship series victory