VERONA, Italy (AFP) - Roman Kreuziger of the Czech Republic won the junior men's world road race crown following a 132km race around Verona here.
Kreuziger, 18, who won a silver medal in the time trial four days ago, sprinted ahead of Tunisian rider Rafaa Chtioui at the finish line to claim the gold medal in a time of 3hr 25min 39sec.
Simon Spilak of Slovenia dominated a group of five riders who arrived six seconds later to claim the bronze medal.
It was Chtioui who made the move which effectively decided the medals, the 18-year-old - the only rider from his country in the race - attacking three kilometres from the finish line on the descent of the Torricelle climb.
He was soon joined by Kreuziger, and together the pair went on to build a 15-sec lead on a five-strong group of pursuers.
In his haste to get to the line however Chtioui almost came a cropper as he took a couple of the numerous bends on the final kilometres too tightly.
As the pair built slowly on their lead, Spilak attacked his group of riders and gained a slight lead to stake his claim for a medal.
In the home straight, the two-man sprint for the finish line was hardly a close affair. Kreuziger moved in front, Chtioui tried briefly to follow, but ultimately the Tunisian ran out of juice.
Spilak easily held off his group of riders to claim a deserved bronze.