After an indifferent season, the Commonwealth Games champion was ranked to start in 67th spot near the rear of the field for the exhausting nine-lap race at Crans Montana.
He climbed his way through the field with an extraordinary display to finish 12th, 3min 17sec down on winner Alan Hatherly (South Africa), who produced a solo display to win his second successive rainbow jersey.
The South African pushed to the lead on the second lap and was never threatened, winning by a significant 1min 16sec from Italy’s Simone Avondetto and Frenchman Victor Koretzky.
The performance from Gaze turned heads as he passed 18 riders on the first lap, and another 16 on lap two. He continued to pass riders on the tight and testing course.
"It was a very hard day out and I was really restricted in the beginning from my start position which was a reflection of the season I’ve had," Gaze said.
"I was caught up a bit but then I found a good tempo and I could ride a good solid speed with lap times there or thereabouts with the leaders.
"Twelfth in the world — I am content with how it went considering my start from the back of the pack. I am now looking forward to the remainder of the year and to improve on my season from here out."
New Zealand team-mate Anton Cooper, who rides for the Lapierre Racing professional team, found progress difficult through the packed field, and did not finish.
Earlier, Christchurch rider Amelie Mackay was 36th in the women’s under-23 race.
The cross-country competition was completed over two weeks of world championship racing comprising eight disciplines. — Allied Media
