Britain’s Sir Bradley Wiggins broke the UCI Hour Record on Sunday with a distance of 54.526km at the Lee Valley VeloPark .
The 35-year-old, roared on by a capacity crowd in London, beat fellow Briton Alex Dowsett’s distance of 52.937km.
Wiggins becomes only the sixth rider in history to have won the Tour de France and held the hour record.
"It's tortuous," Wiggins told Sky Sports.
"It's such a relief and was such a build-up. We've been through so much, my wife and children know so much about air pressure now"
"It's done now. I always compare myself to the greats and I am just glad to be in the company of those guys. To get up there and do that... to put yourself on the line takes a lot of courage and it's a mental game as much as anything."
Congratulations Sir Bradley Wiggins! #MYHOUR #Wiggins pic.twitter.com/AYwCtMNhbR
— Wiggins (@OfficialWIGGINS) June 7, 2015
Wiggins had set himself a target of over 55km (220 laps) and a record which would last a generation but the high air pressure conditions were not conducive to such a distance.
Commenting on the achievement, British Cycling president Bob Howden said: "This is another extraordinary moment in an extraordinary life.
"Sir Bradley deserves all the praise coming to him as what we've seen today is a landmark in the history of British sport and testament to the amazing dedication which has characterised his career."
