Sir Bradley Wiggins has hailed the hour record as "the purest form of cycling" as he prepares for his attempt to break the record in London.
The 35-year-old will try to beat the current record of 52.937km cycled in a hour, held by fellow Brit Alex Dowsett.
"I really enjoy doing this type of thing, how quantifiable it is. I find that mentally easy. If I could have had a career doing hour records, I would have done, because it gives you what you want," Wiggins said at a press conference ahead of the challenge.
"There's no worrying about your teammate attacking or something else. It's the purest form of cycling."
Wiggins has admitted that he is targeting a distance of 55km, and that he is motivated by the prospect of joining an elite club of riders to have won both the Tour de France and broken the hour record.
"That's partly why I'm doing it – to put my name up there along with those people. Having won the Tour as well, putting my name on the Hour Record alongside other Tour would put me into a bracket.
"It would add more kudos to the record if more people try it. I hope someone goes for the record again – even if they fail. It's what records are about. I think there's been a bit of rush [from other riders] to get in and do it before I do."
Seven riders – Jens Voigt, Matthias Brandle, Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, Thomas Dekker, Gustav Erik Larsson and Dowsett – have attempted the record since cycling's world governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale, relaxed the rules last year.
Joe Sharratt
