America’s Shawn Morelli broke the C4 pursuit world record to claim gold ©Twitter/UCI Para-Cycling

America’s Shawn Morelli broke the women’s C4 three kilometres pursuit world record to claim her first title at the International Cycling Union (UCI) Para-cycling Track World Championships at the Montichiari Velodrome in Italy.

Morelli faced the daunting prospect of taking on Susan Powell, Australia's current world record holder, in the gold medal ride.

The American dethroned the reigning world champion by shaving over a second off the record by finishing in 3min 55.006sec, with Powell finishing 4.273 seconds off the pace.

Powell’s compatriot Alexandra Lisney finished in 4:04.491 to beat America’s Megan Fisher to bronze.

Britain’s Sarah Storey earned the 12th world cycling title of her career, stretching her unbeaten run in the C5 pursuit to 10-years, overtaking China’s Zhou Jufang.

The bronze medal was claimed by Anna Harkowska, the Polish cyclist ending three seconds clear of Britain’s Crystal Lane in 3:51.419.

Harkowska earned a gold medal later in the day, lapping the field in the C4-5 scratch race.

Storey claimed the silver medal and Spain’s Mariela Analia Delgado won bronze after the final sprint.

The men’s C4-5 scratch title was won by Brazil’s Lauro Cesar Chaman after he defeated Australia’s Gallagher in a sprint finish.

China’s Liu Xinyang ended a lap adrift of the pair to claim the bronze medal.

Britain's Sarah Storey earned a gold and a silver medal on the penultimate day of competition
Britain's Sarah Storey earned a gold and a silver medal on the penultimate day of competition ©Getty Images

Gallagher had triumphed earlier in the day in the C5 pursuit, posting a time of 4:38.467, although his team-mate Alistair Donohoe was just 0.53 seconds off his pace.

Ukraine’s Yehor Dementyev overtook China’s Liu to triumph in the bronze medal ride.

The world record holder Jozef Metelka claimed the gold medal in the C4 pursuit, the Slovakian posting a time of 4:28.000 to beat Australia’s Kyle Bridgwood by 16 seconds.

Russia’s Sergey Pudov finished two seconds clear of Diego German Duenas Gomez to win the bronze medal.

In the men’s visually impaired kilometre time trial, Britain’s Neil Fachie and Peter Mitchell clocked 1:00.633 to win the gold medal.

The Netherlands’ Tristan Bangma and Teun Mulder rode a time of 1:01.780 to win the silver medal.

Their fellow countrymen Stephen De Vries and Patrick Bos won the bronze medal in 1:02.214.

Larissa Klaassen and Haliegh Dolman triumphed in the women’s event as the Dutch tandem crossed the line in 1:06.095.

Britain’s Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott won silver in 1:07.483.

The podium completed by Australia’s Jessica Gallagher and Madison Janssen in 1:07.575.