MENDRISIO, Switzerland — Cadel Evans of Australia got the biggest win of his career on Sunday, breaking free on the final climb to win the men's race at cycling's road world championships.

The two-time Tour de France runner-up finished finish in an unofficial time of 6 hours, 56 minutes, 26 seconds on the 162.9-mile course.

Alexandr Kolobnev of Russia crossed 27 seconds behind to take silver, beating Spain's Joaquin Rodriguez in a sprint finish.

Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara was in contention on the final lap, but finished fifth as he sought a historic gold medal double after winning the time trial on Thursday.

The race covered 19 laps on a tight, hilly course that challenged riders with two climbs, technically demanding downhill sections and little recovery time.

The 32-year-old Evans became the first Australian to take gold in the 76th edition of the world championships, triumphing on roads just a few miles from his home in Switzerland during the European summer season. Evans was coming off a third-place finish in the Spanish Vuelta last Sunday.

The race featured a dramatic final lap with all the prerace favorites in the lead group. Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, who returned from a two-year doping ban last month, made the first move but was soon hauled in.

Cancellara went to the front with Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez on the descent following the steep Castel San Pietro climb, before being joined by Evans, Kolobnev and Rodriguez.

The three eventual medalists broke clear together and Evans made his decisive break on the final Novazzano climb.

Racing in bright, sunny weather on the Swiss-Italian border, six riders broke clear after the first lap on the 8.6-mile circuit.

The group grew to 10 cyclists early in the fourth lap and built a lead of nearly 10 minutes. The peloton closed to within six minutes at the race's halfway stage.

The Italian trio of defending champion Alessandro Ballan, Michele Scarponi and Giovanni Visconti then helped force the pace in a chasing pack, and the leaders were caught after going alone for nearly 125 miles.

With three laps left, a new breakaway of 22 riders formed, including Ballan, 2005 winner Tom Boonen of Belgium and Australia's Michael Rogers.

The peloton got to work with 12 miles left and bridged the gap going into the final circuit.