A superb timing of 10min 34.40sec in the individual race enabled Clergeau to gain more than 30 seconds and climb from sixth to first in the laser run.

Italy's Matteo Bovenzi had led by 25 seconds at the start of the race after a stunning 1:57.68sec swimming effort, but had to settle for fifth after a laser run of 11:30.40.

A Hungarian duo completed the men's podium, with Botond Tamas second after a 10:33.10 effort in the laser run and Zalan Jasso third after clocking 10:53.30.

Clergeau then combined with Coline Flavin, who was fifth in the women's individual race, to take a second gold for France in the mixed relay.

They started with a 40sec advantage in the laser run after the fencing, obstacle and swimming, and extending that by a further second by finishing with the quickest time in 12:55.10.

Silver medallists Farida Khalil and Mohamed Sherif of Egypt trailed by 41sec, with South Korea's Lee Hwan-hee and Shin Su-min finishing 53sec off the pace in third.

Malak Ismail took the women's individual gold for Egypt, although Shin came close to pinching victory in a thrilling laser run.

Ismail recovered from a slow start in the fencing to take a 27sec lead over the South Korean athlete at the start of the race, but encountered some difficulties in the shooting range which had the pair neck-and-neck at the final shoot.

However, Ismail held firm to finish in 12:20.60, which was 6sec clear of Shin.

Zora Zeman of Hungary completed the top three, finishing 22sec off the pace with her time of 11:52.40 to beat Ralitsa Miteva of Bulgaria by 3sec.

Swiss twin sisters Florina Jurt and Katharina Jurt beat Italy's Annachiara Allara and Teresa Gioia by just 4sec to clinch the women's team relay gold, and Lee Ju-chan and Cho Han-seo triumphed in the men's team relay by 11sec ahead of Italian pair Denis Agavriloaie and Matteo Bovenzi.

France took the overall men's team title, with Egypt topping the women's team standings.

This was the first edition of the UIPM Under-19 World Championships featuring the obstacle discipline, which is set to replace riding as the sport's Olympic format from after Paris 2024, although it remains off the initial programme for Los Angeles 2028 and critics led by the Pentathlon United group fear it will fail to win over the International Olympic Committee.

Pentathlon United argues the UIPM has neglected the riding element of the sport, has criticised the manner in which it has been replaced by obstacle and has called on the leadership including long-serving German President Klaus Schormann to resign.

The UIPM has insisted the addition of obstacle can attract a new fanbase and will make the sport more accessible.

Schormann claimed the obstacle discipline justified its inclusion at the Under-19 World Championships and the Under-17 World Championships earlier this month in Alexandria.

"This is a historical moment for the young people, no longer competing in four disciplines as they did in the Youth Olympic Games in the past, but now with five disciplines," he said.

"This is a strong message for the future, and I listened to the young people and could see how excited they were - they love what they are doing now.

"The change is coming in the right moment, we had the Under-17 World Championships in Alexandria already with great messages, and now you can see that the Under-19 athletes have much more experience already.

"We are creating a showcase for the Olympic Games in future."

The Under-19 World Championships featured athletes from 35 countries.