Absalon (centre) celebrates with Naef (left) and Vogel

The 27-year-old Olympic champion completed the gruelling, six-lap, 51.4 km course in 02:17:06.

Swiss riders Ralph Naef and Florian Vogel claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively.

British number one Oli Beckingsale was 35th with England's Commonwealth gold medallist Liam Killeen down in 44th.

Beckingsale, who has suffered health problems in 2007, as has Killeen, said the race had reflected his season.

"I'm disappointed, but my whole season has been pretty disappointing," he said.

"I wanted to be at my best but I've not quite been at my best - it sums up my whole season really."

Fellow Brits Ian Wilkinson, Paul Oldham and Nick Craig put in solid performances, with Wilkinson finishing a gutsy 42nd, Paul Oldham in 55th and veteran Craig - the oldest man in the field - an impressive 61st from a 100-strong field.

The powerful Absalon showed his class, leaving the rest of the world's top riders fighting it out for second place.

At one point, the world number one led by over minute and eventually came home 25 seconds ahead of Naef.

"There was no way I was going to lose it," said Absalon.

"I rode a perfect race on a perfect course and it was a special day for me."

In the women's event, Britain's women struggled to make their mark against a strong field.