Defending their title, the Australians looked to be settling for bronze before the 23-year-old Commonwealth Games silver medallist outsprinted American Kevin McDowell over the final 100 metres.

France, the 2015 world champions, were comfortable winners in 1:20.06.

Australia’s 2017 WTS silver medallist Ashleigh Gentle set Birtwhistle up in an impressive third leg after debutant Natalie Van Coevorden had handed over to revitalised Rio Olympian Aaron Royle.

Anchoring the Australians home a day after finishing fifth in the individual race, Birtwhistle picked up where Gentle left off, passing Japan’s Makoto Odakura and then Britain’s Tom Bishop to move into the medal positions with 2km to go.

With half a minute to make up over 1.5km, the former under-23 world champion caught McDowell within sight of the line. 

“It was a tough finish,” said Birtwhistle, who also anchored Australia to Commonwealth Games victory on the Gold Coast in April.

“I really didn’t have much of an idea how far McDowell was ahead. But when I could see he was starting to struggle I thought ‘I’ll have a crack here’ and I was happy to (just) pip him in the last 100 metres.”

Triathlon Australia performance director Justin Drew praised the determination of a team that has won gold and three silvers over the past four years ahead of the event joining the Olympic program in Tokyo.

“This is becoming one of the great sporting events where there are high stakes, high pressure and it’s a great global event which will continue to grow,” he said.