The defending world champion had come into the event off the back of a perfect World Cup season having won each of the six rounds.

It left Schurter as the clear favourite heading in to the Championships and the Olympic gold medallist delivered in impressive fashion in Australia.

He was strongly challenged during the race featuring a start loop and seven laps of a 4.3 kilometres circuit.

The Czech Republic’s Jaroslav Kulhavy, the London 2012 Olympic champion, went head-to-head with the Swiss star throughout the race.

Schurter had too much for his rival in the closing lap, pulling away on the final climb to take the victory in 1 hour 27min 44sec.

Kulhavy ended as the runner-up seven seconds down with Schurter’s compatriot Thomas Litscher coming through to take the bronze medal in 1:27:59.

"It was a really tough one, Jaroslav was super strong today," Schurter, who now has six world titles to his name, said.

"I was already from last season super stoked and now this year is even better.

"I can't believe it, it is going so well at the moment.

"I am at the pinnacle of my career and I am really enjoying it."

Jolanda Neff had triumphed earlier in the day for Switzerland in the women’s elite race, breaking clear on the fourth lap of the race.

The 24-year-old went solo to the finish, claiming the world title in 1:27:17.

Annie Last became the first British woman to win a medal in the cross-country event at the World Championships, coming in 2:23 behind the winner to earn the silver medal.

The podium was completed by France’s Pauline Ferrand Prevot, who finished in 1:30:21.

Sina Frei, who had joined Neff and Schurter in winning the team relay title earlier in the Championships, also grabbed an individual honour.

The European champion emerged the winner of the under-23 competition, achieving a time of 1:15:10.

Kate Courtney of the United States and Switzerland’s Alessandra Keller won the silver and bronze medals, finishing in times of 1:15:59 and 1:17:28 respectively.

The Championships are due draw to a close tomorrow with the downhill races for men and women.