Sir Bradley at the Lee Valley Velopark having cycled 54.526km in one hour. Image:@OfficialWiggins

35 year old Sir Bradley Wiggins has broken the UCI Hour Record in East London tonight by cycling 33.88 miles in an hour.

That’s 54.526 km in an hour for those more familiar with the metric system.

Sir Bradley has thus surpassed the record set in May by fellow British cycling champion Alex Dowsett.

Lee Valley VeloPark was packed and rocking with roars of support and enthusiasm.

Sunrise @LeeValleyVP Will it be the dawn of a new #MyHour #worldrecord ? @OfficialWIGGINS good luck! @SkySports 7pm http://t.co/ex6whr4MFD

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NPAS London (@NPASLondon) June 07, 2015

Sir Bradley said afterwards that the experience had been ‘torturous.’

He quipped ‘That’s the closest I have ever come to what it’s like to a have a baby.’

News of his success was the top trending # on social media tonight.

Bradley Wiggins breaks the record for the furthest distance travelled in an hour. Reaction: bbc.in/1Mzafm1 http://t.co/4na3I4el6a

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BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 07, 2015

It has begun! #MYHOUR #WIGGINS http://t.co/mj2leV0XJw

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Wiggins (@OfficialWIGGINS) June 07, 2015

After 200 laps, @OfficialWIGGINS is just under a minute ahead of the #UCIHourRecord time: telegraph.co.uk/sport/otherspo… http://t.co/pcTiZOunUW

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Telegraph Sport (@TelegraphSport) June 07, 2015

Congratulations Sir Bradley Wiggins! #MYHOUR #Wiggins http://t.co/AYwCtMNhbR

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Wiggins (@OfficialWIGGINS) June 07, 2015

What an astonishing effort by Bradley Wiggins. Brilliant!

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Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 07, 2015