At the end of a 260-kms ride from Copenhagen, Manxman Cavendish beat Australian Matthew Goss, with German Andre Greipel coming home third. "There couldn't be another result after the way the guys rode today. I'm so so proud," Cavendish said.
"Hopefully we can make the double with this title and the Olympics next year."
Cavendish, who has already 20 Tour de France stages to his name, benefited all day from tremendous work by his Team GB team-mates who controlled the field, working tirelessly in front of the peloton.
The 26-year-old 'Manx missile' was sheltered and nurtured by Bradley Wiggins, David Millar, Geraint Thomas, Jeremy Hunt, Ian Stannard, Steve Cummings and Chris Froome.
Tour de France green jersey winner Cavendish, widely rumoured to join Team Sky next season, sneaked through in the slightly uphill final straight and then left no room for doubt.
He succeeds Norway's Thor Hushovd who lost all chance when he was held up by a massive crash with 85 kms left.
The crash 85 kms out cost Hushovd and around 90 other riders about a minute.
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