Rui Costa crowned road race world champion

Movistar's Rui Costa has sealed a dramatic victory in a sprint finish at the Road World Championships in Florence.

The 26-year-old clinched the world champion's rainbow jersey for the first time in his career by pipping Team Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez in a thrilling finale.

The pair were part of a four-man breakaway - including Giro d'Italia champion Vincenzo Nibali and Alejandro Valverde - with 10 laps of the 16.6km circuit to go.

Costa and Rodriguez were wheel-to-wheel coming down the strait, but it was the Portuguese rider who prevailed by half-a-bike's length.

TOP 10:

1. Rui Costa (7:25:43s) 2. Joaquim Rodriguez (ST) 3. Alejandro Valverde (+17s) 4. Vincenzo Nibali (ST) 5. Andriy Grivko (+31s) 6. Peter Sagan (+34s) 7. Simon Clarke (ST) 8. Maxim Iglinskiy (ST) 9. Philippe Gilbert (ST) 10. Fabian Cancellara (ST)