Despite crossing the line in first, race winner Rob Woestenborgh from Belgium was disqualified for "unsportsmanlike and dangerous behaviour" after an appeal from compatriot, Jurgen Dereere.

 

Woestenborgh was alleged to have ridden aggressively on the opening cycle lap, endangering the athletes around him.

 

As a result Belgium ’s Bart Aernouts was moved up to second place with Portugal ’s Sergio Silva in bronze.

 

With the disqualification Amey was crowned as ITU Duathlon World Champion for the third time having previously won in Newcastle, Australia, in 2005 and Gyor, Hungary, in 2007.

 

However was disappointed to have won in the circumstances:

 

He said: “It’s pretty disappointing to win the world championships in this way.

 

"Rob definitely deserved to win.

 

Saying that, it’s great to have won my third world title, this is also my second championship medal of the year having won silver at the European Long Distance Triathlon champs a few weeks ago.”

 

Scotland’s Catriona Morrison took the silver medal in the senior women’s race behind Olympic triathlon silver medallist Vanessa Fernandes from Portugal.

 

The Glasgow athlete had recovered from knee surgery in April to win the World Long Distance Duathlon Championships last month in Belgium.

 

Spain ’s Ana Burgos took bronze.

 

There was further success for Britain in the younger categories as Sophie Coleman added the World junior duathlon title to her 2007 European junior title whilst Montrose’s Ritchie Nicholls took the bronze medal in the men’s under-23 race.